Bengaluru has been hailed as the Silicon Valley of India ever since the state capital grew into a well-known IT hub and attracted some of the world’s major technology-based companies and MNCs. It is home to many startups and Indian tech companies as well. On the flip side of this economic boom that it has witnessed in the last few years, it has become synonymous with traffic jams, unavoidable bottlenecks, and air pollution. People spend more time stuck on the road, rather than at work, home or anywhere else! In addition to that, the average Air Quality Index in Bengaluru is between Good and Poor. Poor AQI can have hazardous health implications over time and may also affect other forms of life which are essential to the ecosystem. One solution to beat all of these? Electric Vehicles, or more specifically, electric scooters.
Electric scooters fall under the broader umbrella of Electric Vehicles or EVs and are two-wheelers that come with a rechargeable battery fitted in. Unlike the traditional motorbike, an electric two-wheeler has motors that contribute partially or entirely to the movement of bicycles. The power of the engine usually ranges from 150W to 1000W.
The most significant contributing factor towards the tremendous popularity of e-scooters is that they are pro-environment and help cut down the emission of toxic greenhouse gases such as CO2. Every time a person uses an electric bike or any other electric vehicle, they’re doing their bit towards protecting the planet!
Many people continue to be sceptical of buying an electric scooter due to the initial purchase price, but this is a one-time investment and undoubtedly a wise one. Over time, owning and maintaining an electric scooter is cheaper than the cost of a fuel-powered scooter. And in an urbanized city like Bengaluru, fuel prices are constantly on the rise. With that, let’s look at the top three reasons for driving an electric scooter in Bengaluru and why it’s relatively affordable.
- Negligible per KM cost: With a population of 12.7 Million in Bengaluru city, commuting for various reasons like work, school, college, or leisure purposes has given rise to a traffic jam problem. On average, people here spend about 243 hours in traffic in a year, and your situation only gets worse if you are in a car. The average distance from your home to your residence in Bengaluru is between 10 to 15Kms. To make matters worse, fuel prices are skyrocketing. It only goes upwards every day, which affects our pretty penny. This is where electric scooters come in handy. They are easier to navigate through traffic and take up only one to three units of electricity per charge (approx Rs 10 per unit of electricity). Even high-end two-wheelers don’t consume more than 3.5 units per charge, so that you won’t be shelling more than Rs 30-35 per charge. This is a phenomenal difference as compared to ICE vehicles.
- Low maintenance costs: You no longer need to fret about maintaining your scooter. Thanks to the electric motor, you do not need to spend extra money or time on cumbersome tasks such as oil change, filters, and fuel, which would otherwise be mandatory with traditional two-wheelers. Since the number of moving parts in an e-scooter is a maximum of 10%, as opposed to that in an ICE scooter, the maintenance cost goes down tremendously. This plays a crucial role in enabling premium electric scooter manufacturers such as BGauss to ensure that their riders save up to Rs. 75,000 over three years (Assuming daily run is 30km, mileage of petrol scooter is 40 km and petrol price 100 per litre), merely eliminating expenditure made on fuel and maintenance. More the travel more the savings.
- Tax benefits and concessions made by the Karnataka government: Something people forget to account for is the state government’s initiative to educate and encourage the citizens to transition towards electric transport. They have been introducing many policies to attract revenue and workforce for both the demand and supply of electric vehicles and provide plenty of opportunities for developing R&D in electric mobility. The tech-savvy Karnataka government has set up 112 charging stations in Bengaluru for electric vehicles (EV) and encourages citizens to switch over from fuel-based automobiles. Of course, some electric scooter companies, including BGauss, fit their scooters with portable, detachable batteries that can be charged anywhere and don’t necessarily depend on charging stations or other such infrastructure. Karnataka was the first to develop an EV policy and has continued to incentivise purchases with tax rebates, scrapping and exchanging policies for switching to EVs and many such exemptions.
Considering all the factors like the cost of fuel, convenience of travel, safety, and the planet, going electric is the solution to most of your travel problems. When it comes down to the market offerings in this space, BGauss is one of the most popular brands of electric scooters in India. The company’s flagship scooters are fashionably functional with their sassy looks, unique shape and stylish cluster design. They can go up to a speed of 50Km/hr, which is ideal for riding around the city. They come with 2 battery options; Lead Acid battery is fixed to the bike, taking about 7-8 hours to charge fully. Their Lithium-ion battery which is a removable battery can be charged anywhere and takes about 2.5 to 4.5 hours to charge fully. Once the scooter is completely charged, it can travel a distance of 70 – 75kms; This is more than sufficient for both legs of your daily commute and can even make for an excellent long-distance trip within the city!
As for their growing presence in the city in question, Bengaluru has two BGauss showrooms located at Rajajinagar and Banashankari. Click on the link to help you get there and get a better look at these contemporary e-scooters if you’re interested in owning one:
Find the BGauss Store Near You
The affordable and advanced nature of the BGauss e-scooters, coupled with the government’s support and initiatives, makes it easier for us to transition from an ICE to an EV vehicle, particularly electric scooters. Let us not just be citizens of this state; let us unite to be sensitive and supportive citizens of the state. Let us not just live on the planet but also live to give back to the earth. With BGauss, we can help you do it in style!