I am a field engineer, and my expected daily running is around 130-150 km. I also need to carry approximately 70 kg of materials on a regular basis. Considering my usage pattern, which electric scooter would be suitable for me?

autocar.india

•6d

A new car buyer should not make a purchase decision based on short-term fluctuations in crude oil prices or geopolitical events. Even if crude prices soften, vehicle ownership is typically a 7-10 year decision, while fuel prices can change dramatically several times during that period. The best approach is to buy based on your usage pattern, not on what fuel prices may do over the next few months.If your usage is predominantly city driving with access to home charging, an EV still makes a lot of sense because of its low running costs, smooth driving experience and lower maintenance requirements.If you cover high monthly mileages and spend a lot of time on highways, a diesel can still be a compelling option, particularly in larger SUVs.For most buyers, however, a regular petrol or hybrid remains the safest and most hassle-free choice today. Modern petrol engines are already compatible with current ethanol blends and there is no urgent need to wait for flex-fuel vehicles.As for flex-fuel cars, the technology is promising, but it still has a long way to go before it makes complete financial sense. The government will likely have to keep E85 priced significantly below regular petrol to offset the efficiency penalty. In our recent E85 versus E20 mileage test on a flex-fuel Suzuki Gixxer SF 250, fuel efficiency dropped from 38.1kpl on E20 to 28.8kpl on E85, a reduction of over 24 percent. Even though E85 was around Rs. 20 per litre cheaper, the lower efficiency meant the running cost per kilometer was actually higher on E85.

autocar.india

•1d

Since your daily run is quite long and you value comfort and fuel efficiency over all else, we'd recommend you stick with a commuter motorcycle. In your budget, if you want a bike that's comfortable over bad roads, then the Bajaj Platina 110 is our recommendation. Its thickly padded seat, pliant suspension and neutral ergonomics will keep you comfortable for longer distances over all sorts of roads. The Platina's one big drawback is that it cannot be had with a disc brake, and its drums provide only adequate performance.In that vein, it would be prudent to look at the TVS Radeon. The Radeon has similar strong suits as the Platina, but it can be had with a front disc brake on its top variant, which is the one we'd recommend for reliable stopping power over a longer duration.Take test rides of both to see which one you resonate with more before you make your decision.