Rapid fuel price hike boosts sale of e-bikes in capital

Bhubaneswar: Following a stiff rise in petrol prices, the sale of e-vehicles has increased substantially in the state. Apart from rise in petroleum products, subsidy by the state government and growing awareness about environment have also pushed the sale of e-vehicles.
E-vehicles not only offer a cheaper mode of transportation, they are also environment-friendly, said users.
“Last year, around this time, I sold around 30 e-bikes in a month. This year, over 100 e-bikes are being sold per month. With petrol prices rising, people are choosing e-bikes for its value for money and other benefits. By charging three hours, an e-bike covers 160km with a speed of 85 kmp/h,” said Santosh Kumar Sahu, an e-bike dealer.
As per the state government’s Odisha Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, customers can avail of 15% subsidy on purchase of electric vehicles. “For two-wheelers, the subsidy will be 15% of the cost up to a maximum of Rs 5,000. While the cap on 15% subsidy for three-wheelers is Rs 10,000, it is Rs 50,000 for four-wheelers,” an official source said.
“E-bikes are the best option now. Earlier, I used to spend Rs 500 per week on petrol for my bike, but now even Rs 1,000 is not adequate. After buying an e-bike, I am not only saving on petrol cost, but also enjoying benefits like zero-maintenance and high speed,” said Satya Ranjan Mishra, a marketing professional.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already announced to set up seven electric vehicle-charging stations across the city and extended discount on parking of e-vehicles.
“No doubt the benefits of e-bikes are many, but their prices are almost double that of petrol-run bikes. Therefore,people are thinking twice before investing in e-bikes,” said Ganesh Chandra Lenka, another e-bike dealer.