Coimbatore: Electric vehicles, especially scooters, are selling like hot cakes in the district, thanks to the petrol price that crossed the Rs 90 mark.
According to transport department officials here, more than 300 e-vehicles were registered in 2020, a two-fold increase compared to the previous year. “More people are buying e-vehicles also because they are environment-friendly and are exempted from road tax,” said an RTO official.
Depending on battery capacity, engine and speed, e-scooters are available for Rs 35,000 to Rs 1 lakh. “In the last two months, the number of inquiries we received almost doubled. We are receiving 10 walk-in customers and 15 to 20 calls every day. At least 40% of them would purchase a vehicle. Of late, we have been struggling to meet the rising demand,” said Sathya Chandran, a dealer of Wagon Wheelz.
“A basic e-vehicle can cover 30 km/h on a full charge. Vehicles that can give over 100 km mileage on a single charge will soon hit the market. It requires hardly one to 1.5 units of electricity to charge the battery, which amounts to less than Rs 1 per kilometre. E-vehicles are cheaper compared to petrol vehicles,” Chandran said.
Buyers do not require a driver’s license or register an e-vehicle that has a top speed of 50 kmph, said Abilash, sales executive of CK Motors. “The vehicles are zero maintenance for the first few years as they have a three-year battery warranty. We offer free service after the vehicle covers the first 1,000 km,” he said.
As the vehicles are not suitable for those who travel long distances and those who travel without proper planning, it is purchased mostly for college students and those who use them for short trips, said Muthukumar, dealer of Ampere Electric Bikes – Smart bykes. “There has been a 50% increase in the sales of e-vehicles in the last two months,” he said.
“Two-wheelers have become an inevitable part of life and it is difficult to use public transportation after using a motorcycle for years. While petrol prices are skyrocketing, the only alternative is an e-vehicle. You can cover 50 to 60 km on a single charge,” said S Prakash, a resident of Singanallur and owner of an e-vehicle.