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Delivery App Rider Reveals Earnings, Costs, and Challenges of Working with Electric Motorcycles. Find Out If It’s Really Worth the Switch.
A delivery app rider shared their experience of over a year using electric motorcycles from Voltz in their work routines. The account, which covers the entire year of 2022, shows not only the financial gains but also the maintenance challenges, performance, and hidden costs.
The analysis raises a crucial question: is it really worth swapping a gasoline motorcycle for an electric one for someone who depends on it daily?
The Routine of a Delivery App Rider with an Electric Motorcycle
During 2022, the professional used three different models of electric motorcycles, purchased for about R$ 10,000 through a battery rental plan partnership.
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The end of the automotive combustion era has already begun, but many in Brazil have not yet realized the magnitude of the shift towards Chinese electric cars.
The promise of fuel savings seemed advantageous at first, but practice revealed a different reality.
Even recognizing that the electric motor offers good torque from low RPMs, performance fell short of expectations. With just one battery, the range didn’t exceed 50 km, which they compared to a “70 cc motorcycle.”
With two batteries, the distance traveled increased to 60 to 80 km, equivalent to just “two liters of gasoline.”
Furthermore, the motorcycle couldn’t handle highways for long periods. The motor heated up quickly, compromising durability.
Maintenance: The Biggest Problem with Electric Motorcycle Work
The most critical point raised was maintenance. According to the account, the electric motorcycle requires more frequent care than a gasoline motorcycle.
The difficulty is amplified by the lack of spare parts in the national market.
Various components had to be adapted, such as brakes and screws, which showed early wear.
The handlebars, for example, have fragile fixings that can even cause accidents.
Another recurring issue was the brand’s after-sales service, which was considered nonexistent.
Workshops specializing in conventional motorcycles lack the technical knowledge to handle electric models, forcing the rider to improvise solutions themselves.
Hidden Costs: Battery and Lost Time
Although the electric motorcycle eliminates direct spending on gasoline, costs appear in other forms.
Charging two 4.8 kWh batteries at home incurs an average cost of R$ 6, enough to travel between 60 and 80 km — a value that, according to the rider, becomes “almost equal to gasoline.”
Another problem is the battery swaps at stations, which consume work time and reduce the number of deliveries made in a day.
Additionally, the batteries lose charge capacity over time, creating a need for replacement and driving up the final cost of the operation.
Real Gains in Working with Electric Motorcycles
In the final balance of 2022, the delivery app rider calculated an average of R$ 2,375 per month, totaling approximately R$ 28,500 over the year.
Although the earnings ensure their livelihood, they concluded that the electric motorcycle did not provide the expected savings.
Is It Worth Switching from a Gasoline Motorcycle to Electric?
For those who depend on the vehicle as a work tool, the electric motorcycle still presents more disadvantages than benefits.
The high maintenance costs, scarcity of parts, and poor after-sales service outweigh the savings on fuel.
Despite this, the rider acknowledges that they prefer to continue using electric motorcycles for personal choice.
However, their recommendation for colleagues in the profession is to stick with combustion models, such as CG or Pop, which offer greater reliability and lower long-term costs.
Electric Motorcycle: Promising Future, But Still Distant
The experience shows that, although the concept of electric motorcycles is appealing to delivery app workers concerned about savings and sustainability, the current reality of the Brazilian market still presents many hurdles.
The lack of technical support and the low durability of components drive away workers who need reliability above all else.
Until the technology matures and receives greater support from the industry, combustion motorcycles remain the most viable choice for those who make their living on two wheels.
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