Rising petrol prices boost demand for e-bikes in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Higher petrol prices have led to a sharp increase in demand for electric bikes in Rawalpindi, with traders and buyers saying more people are turning to battery-powered two-wheelers as a lower-cost alternative to conventional motorcycles.

On Circular Road, from Waris Khan Police Station to Banni Chowk, shops that previously focused on petrol-powered motorcycles are now selling e-bikes in large numbers. According to traders, the rise in sales has also pushed up production.

Locally assembled e-bikes are available in the market from Rs130,000 to Rs300,000, making them cheaper than many petrol-run motorcycles. Junaid Abbasi, a motorbike owner, said people had increasingly shifted to electric bikes as fuel costs climbed. He said maintenance was easier than for fuel-powered bikes and added that a protective shield was also available for rain and sun. "Only 1.5 units of electricity are used to charge the bike, which is enough to drive 30 to 90 kilometres. Lithium batteries are fitted in most e-bikes and come with a five-year warranty," he added.

Abbasi said electronic scooties were priced from Rs135,000 to Rs240,000, while e-bikes ranged from Rs150,000 to Rs300,000. He added that demand for regular petrol motorcycles had fallen, while helmets and accessory boxes were also being sold alongside the electric models.

Daily sales rise in main bazaars

Qari Khalid, president of the Motorcycle Association Circular Road, told Dawn that e-bike sales had risen many times over, with about 50 units being sold every day in the main bazaar. He said buyers were choosing them because they were easy to operate and involved lower upkeep costs.

"Usually, around Rs2,500 is spent monthly on petrol-driven motorcycles for motor oil changes and other maintenance, but there are almost no monthly maintenance charges for e-bikes," he added.

He said the battery in electric bikes was installed under the seat and added that many sellers in the main motorcycle markets on Circular Road and Murree Road were replacing petrol-driven models with electric ones. He also said both new and used motorcycles remained available, but their prices and fuel costs had gone up.

Muhammad Shoaib, a resident of Committee Chowk, said he had little choice but to replace his petrol bike because he could not afford to spend Rs1,000 a day on fuel for commuting. He said inflation had already increased household expenses and that the daily cost of 2.5 litres of petrol had become an added burden on his limited salary.

Women and students among key buyers

Mehwish Riaz, a university student, said electric bikes were a suitable option for women because they were easier to handle and cheaper to run than fuel-powered motorcycles. She said she had learned to ride a bike and was now able to travel to university and the market on her own while reducing expenses.

She said an e-bike took two to three hours to charge fully and only needed charging after 24 hours. According to her, many girls avoided public transport because of overcrowding, even though taxis and buses remained available alternatives.

Abdul Rehman, a student, said electric bikes were preferable to conventional motorcycles because petrol consumption was higher on regular bikes, while spare parts and maintenance items such as motor oil and filters had also become more expensive after the rise in fuel prices.

Traders and buyers also said electric foot scooties for children had become popular in the market.

Concerns over speed and repairs

Despite the growing demand, some users pointed to limitations. They said e-bikes had lower speed and could be risky during the rainy season, as water often accumulated on roads in several areas and people feared damage to the electrical system.

Muhammad Ayyan, a resident of Satellite Town, said electric bikes were more suitable for single riders and that mechanics for repairs were still limited. He said petrol motorcycles remained more practical for small families because mechanics for those vehicles were widely available. However, he added that the main advantage of e-bikes was savings on fuel.