In India, we generally prefer to drive bikes and scooters instead of cars. It is because of the road condition, very heavy traffic and bikes are more pocket friendly than cars.

As we all know petrol prices are at an all-time high in our country. Also, Indian cities are ranking among the most air-polluted cities all across the world. 21 of the world's 30 cities with the worst air pollution are in India. Given the current conditions, it looks like it will be a sensible decision to shift towards battery-powered vehicles. 

In India, we are seeing many new players entering the segment. New brands such as Ather, Revolt, Ultraviolette Automotive, and existing brands Bajaj, Hero alike are showing interest in launching new e-scooters. 

Ola Electric, an EV arm of ride providing company Ola is planning to launch a big manufacturing plant in the country with an annual production capacity of 2 million units. Last year it also acquired Etergo BV, an Amsterdam-based electric scooter company.

There are many benefits of owning an elective bike. The cost of the bike is lower compared to their fuel-operated counterparts. This point may not be true for some premium bikes currently available in the market but in general comparison, you will find that owning an electric bike saves you money during the overall period you own the bike. It required less maintenance since it has fewer parts and has less wear and tear on the parts. It is environmentally friendly, it does not produce any toxic gases, it also drives with little to no noise further decreasing noise pollution. It gives bragging rights to the owner. It signals how woke you are to all the people who stop to ask which vehicle you are driving.

I really like the Ather 450x it has a cool modern look and is fully packed with features. It has a range of 85km and 26Nm torque. It has a fast-charging capacity which provides a 15km range in 10 mins. It has a great touch screen dashboard while showing you all the required information about the speed, battery percentage, and total km traveled. It also acts as a navigation screen to show you the map. You can also store your vehicle document copies and driving license copy in it. 

So far the overall infrastructure for the smooth use of electric vehicles is not present across major cities. We do not have enough charging ports and public charging facilities. But this can change when individuals start to make a shift to electric vehicles. The government also has to play their part and start to implement policies which promote the use of electric vehicles, set up more renewable energy power plants, etc.

According to me, the future for electric scooters looks bright. There are lakhs of students who want to have their first vehicle and lakhs of households who buy a second vehicle for shorter and daily use commutes. 

What is your opinion on electric scooters? Do let me know in the comments below...