Home / Technology / EV Scooters Overtake Petrol Models in India
EV Scooters Overtake Petrol Models in India
30 Aug
Summary
- Electric scooters are capturing mid-tier sales and challenging petrol leaders.
- Low total cost of ownership drives shift due to high fuel prices.
- Expanded dealership networks ease range and service concerns for EV adoption.
The Indian two-wheeler market is witnessing a significant shift towards electric scooters, with new launches poised to further accelerate sales. As of August 2026, electric models have firmly established themselves in the upper-middle ranks of the top 10 sales charts, consistently outselling popular 125cc petrol scooters. For instance, the TVS iQube and Bajaj Chetak collectively sold nearly 350,000 units between April and July FY27. The Bajaj Chetak saw a remarkable 307% surge in July, while the iQube set a record with 59,386 units in the same month. Ather's Rizta has also contributed to steady growth.
This structural shift is attributed to several factors. A primary driver is the substantially lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric scooters compared to their petrol counterparts. With elevated fuel prices, partly due to Middle East conflict volatility, and the cost-effectiveness of home charging, daily riders can recoup the initial price premium within 12-18 months. Moreover, legacy manufacturers like TVS and Bajaj have expanded their specialized EV dealership networks into tier-2 and tier-3 cities, effectively reducing range and service anxieties that previously limited adoption to major urban centers. The expanding charging infrastructure further supports this growing trend.
