Top 5 Pros And Cons Of Electric Bikes

The experience of riding an electric bike is very different from riding a petrol-powered one. That means even its ownership experience is quite unique. While there are a lot of pros, there are an equal amount of cons as well. So in case you’ve been thinking about getting an electric bike, here are 5 pros and 5 cons that come with it: 

Pros

1. No petrol costs

Given how eye-wateringly expensive petrol has become, it’s a nice feeling to just ride past petrol pumps on your electric bike without ever having to stop at one.

2. Smooth riding experience 

Given that there’s no actual engine and a lot less moving mechanical parts, electric vehicles are incredibly smooth to ride. The TVS iQube, for example, impressed us all with just how quiet it is. And given how chaotic even a normal commute is in India, the quietness of an EV can put you in a Zen-like mode. It feels like you’re disconnected from all the chaos around you, snuggled up into your own quiet little space.

3. Low maintenance costs 

Electric bikes have fewer moving parts than a petrol-powered bike and that means there’s a lot less maintenance required. There’s no need to replace engine oil, spark plugs, fuel filters, etc and all you need to really care about are the tyres, brakes, chain and the bike’s electrical system, bringing down costs significantly. The battery and motor require little to no regular maintenance and all you have to do is charge the bike properly and monitor the battery health every now and then.

4. All the power all the time

Electric motors produce peak torque instantly, that is from get go. Anyone who’s ridden an EV will know what we’re talking about. Just twist the throttle and EVs surge ahead with impressive acceleration. And that makes for a very different and exciting riding experience. 

The Ultraviolette F77, for example, might not be as fast as say a KTM RC 390, but because it accelerates from 0 to its top speed in one single motion and because it has such excellent acceleration, the riding experience is still exciting for sure. 

5. They’ve a lot of features

Electric bikes are built on newer, more modern platforms and they boast of a ton of features. The Ultraviolette X47 Crossover recently became the first affordable bike (not counting the exorbitant superbikes) to get radar assistance as standard. The F77 boasted of useful features like hill hold way before anyone in its segment.

Cons

1. Higher purchasing cost

Electric bikes often cost at least 20-30% more than their petrol-powered rivals. That’s quite a difference in the amount you’ll have to pay upfront especially if you’re buying a bike on the affordable side of things. And the extra amount might be significant enough to drive some potential buyers away from electric bikes, and understandably so. 

2. Low resale value

You’ve used your electric bike for a couple of years and are now looking to sell it off. Well, the resale value might be a bit underwhelming, especially if your expectations are similar to that of selling a petrol-powered bike. And that’s mainly down to the degradation of the battery. And since batteries are the most expensive part of an EV, it’s not feasible to just buy a battery for your electric bike and then sell it off, hoping for a better resale value. 

3. Limited range 

Most electric bikes have a range of less than about 200km. And while that can be enough for about a week of commuting, it just cannot compare to an ICE bike. Under 200cc, most bikes can run for more than 500km on a full tank. So if you’re planning to own an electric bike, you’ll definitely have to do some calculations each time you step out. Better keep the calculator ready! 

4. Long charging times

As we mentioned above, petrol powered bikes not only have a higher range on a full tank but can also be fuelled up in minutes. With electric bikes, you’ve to plan your visits according to your battery status. Of course a lot of cities now have fast chargers but it’s still not like a little 5 minute visit to a petrol pump. Even a little top up, just enough to get your commute done, might just require the bike to be charged for at least half an hour and that can be a bit annoying after a long day. 

5. Charging infrastructure 

Lack of widespread charging infrastructure is often the biggest downside for most people when it comes to buying electric vehicles and understandably so. While some of the big cities now have fast charging, it’s still not distributed all over the city. It can be more difficult to find a charging station in smaller cities. Then there are stories of charging stations not functioning properly or being inoperational. This can cause extended queues at those that are functioning. 

It’s not completely impossible to live with electric bikes, and there are examples of people who have even done long distance tours on one. While there are some drawbacks, the pros can easily outweigh them if you understand how to plan your commutes and charging.