Big Surprise: Electric Scooters Have Double The Problems Than Petrol Scooters, Says JD Power Survey
Did you know that in the Indian market, electric two-wheelers are more troublesome to own than conventional motorcycles and scooters? Well, we aren't the ones saying this. A recent study by J.D. Power, based on real owner feedback, states that electric two-wheelers are less reliable than Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) ones. According to the 2025 India Two-Wheeler Initial Quality Study, electric scooters report nearly twice as many problems as their petrol-powered counterparts.
Over 6,500 new two-wheeler owners were surveyed for the study, and it was found that electric scooters recorded 98 Problems Per 100 vehicles (PP100), compared to just 53 PP100 for petrol scooters.
More Kilometers, More Trouble
One of the key findings of this study was that the number of problems reported increases as customers ride their vehicles more. Owners who had clocked more than 2,500 kilometres within the first six months of ownership reported an average increase of 9 PP100 compared to those with lower mileage.
This issue was more prominent in electric scooters, where problems with brakes, lights, electrical components, and overall fit and finish were among the most common complaints.
Quality Issues in Electric Scooters
The study identified that electric scooter owners face significant concerns regarding durability. The most frequently reported issues in electric scooters included braking inefficiencies, electrical malfunctions, performance degradation, and component durability. These issues become more noticeable as the vehicle is used over time.
“While initial satisfaction with the vehicle’s performance and build quality is improving, faster wear and tear during the early ownership period leads to several concerns in consumers’ minds,” said Pronab Gorai, engagement director at Differential in Singapore.
He further noted that if initial quality expectations are not met over time, customers may hesitate to buy the same brand again and instead explore alternatives with better reliability- a complete loss of returning customers...
Petrol Two-Wheelers Remain More Reliable
For petrol two-wheelers, the overall industry average for 2025 stood at 86 PP100. The most common issues reported were related to the engine (18 PP100), electrical components and lighting (15 PP100) and braking systems (15 PP100). However, petrol-powered two-wheelers showed more consistent performance over time compared to electric scooters.
Interestingly, the study also found that customer satisfaction with two-wheeler quality has improved from the previous year. In 2025, 58% of two-wheeler owners said that their vehicles had fewer problems than expected, a significant increase from 44% in 2024. Notably, 61% of electric scooter owners also reported fewer problems than expected, despite their higher PP100 scores.
Top Performers in Initial Quality
The survey also had Royal Enfield as the highest-scoring brand in overall initial quality rankings. It managed to get a score of 68 PP100. Bajaj Chetak emerged as the top performer in the electric scooter category with 45 PP100.
Meanwhile, the highest-ranked petrol two-wheelers are TVS Jupiter (75 PP100), Honda Dio 125 (50 PP100), TVS Radeon (54 PP100), Hero Super Splendor XTEC & Honda Shine 125 (72 PP100) and TVS Apache RTR 160 2V (53 PP100).
Most High-Scorers Are Indian!
If you haven't noted it already, the results of this survey has several Indian brands as high scorers. This, we think can be co-incidental. Usually, for these surveys, steps are undertaken to ensure random distribution ( distributing a survey to a group of respondents where each member of the population stands an equal chance, ensuring a representative and unbiased dataset) among respondents.
The Future of Electric Scooters in India
While electric scooters are growing in popularity due to their low operational costs and (governmental) policy backing, their long-term reliability remains a concern for many. J.D. Power's study highlights the need for manufacturers to address these as electric mobility continues to expand in India. They will need to focus on improving braking efficiency, electrical system durability, and overall build quality to boost customer confidence in their products.
With the skyrocketing competition in the two-wheeler EV space and their expansion into more segments/body styles, ( remember the time when electric two wheelers were strictly confined to e-scooters? Well, that's long gone!), manufacturers will make their products deliver on long-term reliability to win the race.