Electric Motorcycle vs Petrol – TCO Comparison
km
vehicles
USD / 100km
USD / 100km
$/10k
$/10k
Why These Default Numbers?
Industry data indicates that a commercial delivery vehicle typically covers 150–200 km per day. With an average of 20 active days per month, a vehicle would travel roughly 3,000–4,000 km monthly, which translates to 9,000–12,000 km per quarter. The 10,000 km default setting approximates approximately three months of real-world commercial riding for a single vehicle, making it a relevant and practical baseline for fleet operators evaluating switching from gas to electric.
Based on a blended commercial charging rate of approximately $0.11–$0.13 per kWh（Based on prevailing commercial electricity rates）and an average electric motorcycle consumption of 2.8–4 kWh per 100 km, the resulting cost ranges from about $0.30 to $0.52 per 100 km. The setting of $0.60/100 km adopts a slightly conservative approach to account for real-world variables such as charging inefficiencies, fleet depot overhead, and small variations in local utility rates, ensuring that the comparison avoids underestimating EV operational expenses.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the national average retail price for regular gasoline was $3.10 per gallon in 2025. A typical delivery motorcycle consumes less than 4 liters per 100 km in urban riding conditions.This combination yields a gasoline cost of approximately $2.94–$3.10 per 100 km. The $3.00/100 km default is a fair market midpoint derived directly from these two figures.
A city electric motorcycle incurs approximately $100–$200 in maintenance over a full year, primarily for battery health checks and occasional tire or brake replacement. For gas motorcycles, routine service costs vary by bike type: cruisers range from $100–$200 per basic service, while sportbikes range from $150–$300. Additionally, gas models require valve clearance checks every 10,000–15,000 km, costing $200–$400, alongside regular oil changes every 2,000–5,000 km, spark plug replacements, chain/sprocket maintenance, and air filter servicing. These differences result in gas motorcycle maintenance costs being approximately three to four times higher than EV costs, reflected in the default settings of $50（EV）and $200（gas）per 10,000 km.
When these default inputs are applied to a fleet of 50 vehicles covering 10,000 km each, the total fuel and maintenance savings from switching from gas to electric motorcycles typically exceed $18,000. With a fleet size of 50 vehicles, the annual per-vehicle savings amount to roughly $450–$500 based on the default settings. This demonstrates that EV adoption delivers substantial operational cost reductions while maintaining a conservative and defensible set of input assumptions.
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