It’s electric

How about these electric bikes that don’t guzzle fuel and are therefore, green alternatives? If only they had speed and better pick-up

Before Henry Ford left Edison Illuminating Company to create one of the world’s biggest automobile companies, Ford Motor Company, in 1903, he was told that electricity is the future of automobiles while gasoline is only the present.
The prediction might have seemed preposterous then, but in India, as in many other parts of the world, electric two wheelers are fast zipping in. The concept is just a year old in India, but according to conservative estimates, more than 10,000 electric bikes are sold every month.

Priced between Rs 12,000 and 28,000, these bikes are for those who are concerned about the environment, just as they are about their own pockets. With more than 22 players in the market already, sales are set to zoom further.
“The first two years are crucial for this segment as it tries to eke out a space for itself and attain critical mass,” says Deba Ghoshal, director (marketing), Ultra Motor India.

“According to an ACNielsen report, this segment has a sales potential of 2 lakh vehicles in 2007-8 and we expect a 100 per cent jump in sales in the next fiscal. If we succeed in achieving these targets, then we will know for sure that there is a market for electric bikes and scooters,” Ghosal said.

In April this year, the UK-based company, in collaboration with Hero Electric, launched a range of four motorcycles and three scooters. Ghoshal claims there has been an overwhelming response to the products.

“We are selling 5,000 vehicles right now and there is a demand-supply gap as our production capacity is only 3,000,” he says.
Others in the business, Gujrat-based Electrotherm and Atlas, are revving up too. Electrotherm, which was one of the first to enter the Indian market with its ‘Yo bikes’, has sold as many as 7,341 vehicles between January and March 2007. Their numbers are only increasing — over the first quarter, the company witnessed a jump of 91 per cent.

The cost of running an electric scooter or bike is one tenth of what it takes for a petrol-driven two-wheeler. These vehicles attract minimal after-sale costs as the only servicing they need is when you replace the battery after 18 months.
The biggest plus is that these bikes do not spout toxins and so, are the most eco-friendly set of wheels. “The cost of running of these vehicles involves just the charging which costs one unit (Rs 4-5) for a full charge and that lasts 50-70 kilometers,” says Ghoshal adds.

It is the hi-end scooters with higher speeds that account for the maximum sales. While those in the 14-18 age group prefer electric bikes, the older lot prefers scooters.
According to the ACNielsen study, the market potential for these vehicles in towns with a population of over five lakh is above nine lakh units. It’s the tier II cities that seem more excited about these bikes. While Rajasthan, parts of Punjab and Gujrat are witnessing steady sales, big metros like Delhi and Mumbai are not seen as big markets.

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At the end of the test drive, you might be unhappy about the pick-up these bikes give you. The fact that the battery takes 6-8 hours to charge could also go against these bikes. Happy biking.