The comparison people actually make
EV Tej vs a petrol scooter
Most buyers aren't choosing between two electric scooters. They're choosing between this and an Activa. Here is that comparison, including where petrol wins.
| EV Tej | Petrol scooter | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence | Not required | Required |
| RTO registration | Not required | Required |
| Insurance | Not mandatory | Mandatory, ~₹1,200 a year |
| Minimum rider age | 16 | 18 |
| Running cost | ₹0.20 per km | ₹2.40 per km |
| At 20 km a day | ₹120 a month | ₹1,440 a month |
| Servicing | No oil, chain or clutch | Every 3 months |
| Moving parts | Very few | Many |
| Refuelling | 4 hours at home | 3 minutes at a pump |
| Range per fill | 50–110 km by pack | 200–300 km |
| Top speed | City speeds only | Highway capable |
| Noise | Nearly silent | Audible |
| Resale market | Small and new | Large and established |
| Best suited to | Up to ~10 km each way | Any distance |
Three years of running cost
At 20 km a day, excluding purchase price.
Petrol — fuel₹51,840
Petrol — insurance₹3,600
Petrol — servicing₹9,000
Petrol total₹64,440
EV Tej — electricity₹4,320
EV Tej — servicingFree year 1, then ~₹1,200
EV Tej total₹6,720
Difference over 3 years₹57,720
Where petrol genuinely wins
We're not going to pretend otherwise:
- Long distances. Above about 10 km each way, ours becomes tiring.
- Highway riding. Ours is a city vehicle. Don't take it on the ORR.
- Refuelling speed. Three minutes beats four hours when you're in a hurry.
- Resale. The used market for petrol scooters is deep and predictable. Ours isn't yet.
Our honest advice
If you ride more than 10 km each way, buy a petrol scooter. We will tell you that in the showroom too — a refund in a month costs us more than a lost sale today.