Live Calculator

EV vs Petrol:
5-Year Cost Reality

Adjust your real commute, petrol price, and electricity rate. See the honest breakeven point and cumulative savings — no marketing spin.

// Your inputs
Daily commute30 km
5 km80 km
Petrol price (check today's price)₹103/L
₹85₹125
Electricity tariff₹7/unit
₹4₹12
Petrol scooter mileage45 km/L
3065
Compare against EV scooter:
Petrol scooter price₹90,000
₹70k₹1.3L
Assumptions: EV charges at 0.04 kWh/km average efficiency. Petrol maintenance ₹4,000/yr, EV maintenance ₹1,500/yr. Insurance equal. No residual value difference modelled.
Monthly saving
₹0
fuel + maintenance
5-Year total saving
₹0
vs equivalent petrol scooter
CO₂ avoided
0 kg
over 5 years
// Breakeven point
Month 0
After this point, the EV costs less in total than the equivalent petrol scooter purchase + fuel + maintenance.
// Cumulative 5-year cost
Total cost including purchase price, fuel/electricity, and maintenance. Lower is better.
// Monthly cost breakdown
Category
EV
Petrol
Fuel / electricity
—
—
Maintenance
₹125
₹333
Total monthly
—
—
// Best EV scooters on Amazon India — with affiliate links
Best Tier-2/3
Bajaj Chetak 3001
~₹94,500 post-subsidy · ~95 km real range · 63 km/h · Metal body
Buy →
Metro Pick
Ather Rizta S 3.7 kWh
~₹1,33,000 · ~110 km real range · 80 km/h · Ather Grid fast-charging
Buy →
Best Battery Warranty
Ampere Nexus ST
~₹1,24,900 · ~100 km real range · 93 km/h · LFP · 5yr/75k km warranty
Buy →
Compact City
Bajaj Chetak C2501
~₹84,500 · ~85 km real range · 55 km/h · Smallest Chetak · Front disc
Buy →
Premium Trim
Bajaj Chetak 3501
~₹1,17,500 · ~105 km real range · 73 km/h · Fast charger · TFT screen
Buy →
LFP Budget
Ampere Magnus Grand
~₹84,999 · ~65 km real range · 65 km/h · LFP · 5yr/75k km warranty
Buy →
LFP Entry
Ampere Magnus Neo
~₹81,999 · ~65 km real range · 65 km/h · LFP · 5yr/75k km warranty · Similar to Grand
Buy →
Clearance Pricing
Bajaj Chetak 2903
~₹95,000 · ~95 km real range · 63 km/h · Discontinuing — verify dealer AMC support
Buy →
🇮🇳 India reality check — what this calculator cannot model

This calculator assumes real-world range of 65–75% of IDC figures. It does not model: (1) Auxiliary battery drain issues on Chetak — adds occasional jump-start costs. (2) TecPac subscription on Chetak 3501 — ₹4,000–10,000 one-time. (3) Ather Eight70 battery warranty requires Pro Pack add-on purchase. (4) Resale value differential — Ather depreciates ~30% less than Ampere at 3 years. (5) PM e-Drive subsidy of ₹5,000 is already in listed prices above.

Best Picks
Best Electric Scooters on Amazon India →
Comparison
Chetak C2501 vs 3001 vs 3501 →
Guide
How to Buy an Electric Scooter in India →
Interactive
Full EV Scooter Comparison Dashboard →

ReadThisFirst.in participates in Amazon Associates India. We earn a small commission on purchases through our links at no extra cost to you. Commission never changes our verdicts. Calculator assumptions: EV efficiency ~4 km/unit (kWh), petrol maintenance ₹4,000/yr, EV maintenance ₹1,500/yr. Results are estimates — actual savings depend on riding conditions, charging behaviour, and fuel price movements.

EV vs petrol scooter in India: what the numbers actually show

At ₹103/litre petrol and a 30 km daily commute, a standard petrol scooter (45 km/L) costs approximately ₹21,500/year in fuel alone. An equivalent electric scooter at 4 km per unit and ₹7/unit electricity costs approximately ₹3,900/year. The annual fuel saving is approximately ₹17,600 — before accounting for the maintenance differential (₹4,000/year petrol vs ₹1,500/year EV).

The total 5-year saving for a Bajaj Chetak 3001 (₹94,500) vs a mid-range petrol scooter (₹90,000) on this commute is approximately ₹97,000 — effectively getting the EV for free after 5 years of riding. Higher commute distances accelerate this dramatically: at 50 km/day the 5-year saving exceeds ₹1.5 lakh.

The real range of EV scooters in Indian city conditions is 65–75% of the IDC laboratory figure. A Bajaj Chetak 3001 with 127 km IDC range delivers 90–100 km in real city riding. An Ather Rizta S 3.7 kWh with 125 km IDC delivers 95–130 km in Smart Eco mode. This calculator uses conservative real-world efficiency figures — not manufacturer claims.

The PM e-Drive subsidy of ₹5,000 per vehicle is already built into Amazon.in listed prices and applies to all high-speed models including Chetak, Rizta, Magnus, and Nexus ST. It expires 31 July 2026.