Quick Summary:

In India (2026), the cost per km for an electric scooter is usually the lowest because the cost of electricity for an e-scooter is very low and the maintenance is very light. Your real number is usually between ₹1 and ₹3/km, depending on how you use it. When you add up the cost of fuel, service, and depreciation, a petrol scooter costs ₹4–₹6/km more than an electric scooter. Because of base fares and surge pricing, cars and cabs are much more expensive (₹12–₹35+/km). E-scooters are the best way to save money on the last mile of your commute and get a good return on investment in India.

Quick fix (do this right away)

• Pick a foldable e-scooter if you travel 6–15 km every day (best ROI).


• To figure out how much it really costs you, use this formula: (kWh/km × tariff) + maintenance + depreciation.


• If you use cars or cabs a lot, you should be able to get your money back for the scooter in about 7 to 12 months.

Introduction

Most people look at "price" and miss the real number: the true cost per km, which includes fuel/charging, wear and tear, and depreciation. That one number determines whether your last mile commute cost stays in check or slowly eats away at your budget if you commute every day.

Here is a useful comparison that works for India using numbers from January 2026 (and ranges so it works in all cities).

The Numbers We Show Are From 2026

• Petrol (Delhi reference): ~₹94.77/L (9 Jan 2026); prices can be much higher in other cities.(Source- CarDekho)


• Electricity for the home: usually between ₹6 and ₹10 per kWh, depending on the state or slab.(Source - Nobroker)


• The standard for auto meters in Delhi is ₹30 for the first 1.5 km and ₹11 for every km after that (this is a good starting point for a "metered city"). (Source - NDTV)


• Cab aggregators: prices change depending on the city and time of day. In peak hours, surge pricing can be up to twice the base fare.(Source - NDTV)

Quick comparison: “True cost per km” (realistic ranges)

Mode	Typical True Cost Per Km (₹)	Why It Lands There
Foldable e-scooter	₹1.2 – ₹3.5/km	Very low electricity cost; total depends on purchase price + battery life
Petrol scooter (110–125cc)	₹4.0 – ₹6.0/km	Fuel + servicing + depreciation do most of the damage
Auto (metered benchmark)	₹12 – ₹18/km	Base fare makes short rides expensive; waiting/night adds more
Cab/auto via apps	₹18 – ₹35+/km	Base rates + peak surge + minimum distance rules

1) The real cost of an electric scooter in India per kilometre

The cost of electricity for an e-scooter is usually the smallest part.

A fair guess for a commuter:

• Energy use: about 0.03 to 0.04 kWh/km (this changes depending on the weight of the rider, the pressure in the tires, and the roads)


• Electricity costs ₹6 to ₹10 per kWh, which is ₹0.20 to ₹0.40 per km.


• Add: tires, brakes, cables, and small repairs → ₹0.20–₹0.40 per km


• Add: depreciation and battery ageing (the "silent cost") to get a total of ₹0.8–₹2.7 per km.

So, for a well-used foldable e-scooter, your real cost is usually between ₹1.5 and ₹2.5 per km.

Check the prices in the real world: foldable models like HoverPro's X1 series cost between 25,000 and 30,000, which helps keep depreciation/km low if you ride them a lot.

In short, e-scooter ROI India is usually good if you have a regular commute because the operating costs are low and you can replace expensive "paid rides" with owned kilometres.

2) The cost of petrol scooters vs. electric scooters (per km maths that matters)

Using the Delhi petrol reference (around ₹94.77/L): (Source- CarDekho)

• Estimated mileage: about 45 km/L (many riders see between 35 and 50, depending on traffic)


• Cost of fuel: about ₹2.1 per km


• Add: regular service, oil, filters, and worn parts → ₹0.4–₹0.8/km


• Add: depreciation, insurance, and registration (spread out over your use) → ₹1.5–₹3.0/km

That means that the real cost of petrol scooters is usually between ₹4 and ₹6 per kilometre, even before you take into account how prices change from city to city. (Source - GoodReturns)

3) Car or cab: the hidden cost of "small" trips

Cars: In a city with a meter like Delhi, the published structure (30 for the first 1.5 km and 11/km after that) makes short rides very expensive very quickly. (Source - NDTV)

For example: When you add in the base fare, a ride of about 5 km costs about ₹13 to ₹15 per km.

Cabs and aggregators are very convenient, but they cost the most per kilometre and are the least stable. This is especially true during peak times when surge pricing can legally go up to twice the base rate. (Source - NDTV)

Example of ROI (simple and honest)

If you walk 10 km every day for 26 days, you will have walked 260 km in a month.

• Changing from an auto to an e-scooter saves about ₹3,380 a month (₹15/km to ₹2/km).


• A ₹30,000 foldable e-scooter can "pay back" in about nine months (faster if your city's auto/app fares are higher).