Petrol Biker in Delhi? Time to Trade in Your Bike for a Skateboard?

Imagine this :

Your dream finally came true—you were about to enter into the dealership, shades on, playlist ready, and ride out with that shiny new petrol scooter or motorcycle.

Life = Sorted

But hold up, your imagination.

If you live in Delhi, you might wanna slam those brakes—because your dream just got

Delhi-ed

Why? Because next year, you might not be able to buy one in Delhi.

Yep. Word on the street is that, starting next year, you might not be able to register any new petrol or CNG two-wheelers in the city.

No Activa, No Splendor, No Royal Enfield thump, No Duke drama just vibes and a whole lot of silence (thanks to EVs).

So now instead of asking “Kitna deti hai?”, you’ll be stuck asking,

“Bhaiya, charger kahan hai?” and

“Is it normal if my EV makes a weird eeeek noise at 40 kmph?

Because nothing screams 'freedom of the open road' like anxiously watching your battery % drop faster than your Murthal weekend plans during Delhi winters.

Why the Hype Over EVs?

Why’s everyone suddenly acting like petrol bikes are the Thanos of the Marvel universe? Like, they just snapped half the oxygen out of Delhi?

Seriously, One day you're cruising on your trusty Splendor, and the next—bam!—it's being ghosted harder than your last situationship.

All it ever did was be loyal, guzzle a little petrol, and get you through traffic like a champ. But now?

It’s being treated like it’s plotting the next season of Delhi’s pollution.

Well, Delhi’s chasing this tiny dream of turning 95% of all vehicles electric by 2027. That’s right!! Ninety-five percent, like they’re collecting EVs the way we collect online shopping carts, we’ll never check out.

Sounds amazing on paper, right? Like those Pinterest goals we all save—“Minimalist Home Aesthetic” when our room actually looks like a laundry explosion.

In reality? It’s like trying to fit a 12-foot Christmas tree into your studio apartment. Great idea, in theory.

Why two-wheelers, you ask?

Well, electric scooters and bikes are the cool new kids at school, you know, the ones with shiny helmets, zero noise, and a judgmental attitude toward your fuel tank.

They’re growing faster than that one cousin who suddenly got abs during lockdown—33% growth in 2024, and boom, 1.14 million units sold. That’s a lot of silent zoom-zooms on the road.

Delhi is Basically the Two-Wheeler Capital of the Multiverse

Alright, buckle up (or helmet up?) because we need to talk stats. Delhi isn’t just a city with a few bikes here and there—it’s basically Bikestan.

As of 2021, Delhi had 8 million+ registered two-wheelers.

Yup, 8 million—that’s not traffic, that’s a full-blown motorized stampede.

Need some perspective? Japan—yes, THE Japan—had around 10 million two-wheelers by 2023.

So basically, one city in India has almost as many bikes as an entire country that brought us anime and sushi. Think about that.

And now, the grand plan is to ban petrol two-wheelers? That’s like trying to ban pizza delivery because someone started a kale cleanse. Sure, salad's great—but don’t take away the cheesy happiness from everyone else.

Petrol Bikes Are the OGs: (Cheap, Practical & 100% Drama-Free (Unlike Your Ex)

Look, we get it—EVs are the latest buzz.

They’ve got all the slick marketing, LED lights, futuristic beeps, and vibes that scream “I charge, therefore I am.” But you know what they don’t come with?

Affordability... and peace of mind.

Take Ola’s new electric bike. ₹85,000. Fancy, right?

But that’s ₹10K more than the good old Hero Splendor, which is the bike equivalent of that friend

who always shows up on time and never borrows money.

Meanwhile, Ola’s scooters?

They’ve got more issues than a reality TV contestant—random shutdowns, mood swings, and the occasional "spontaneous combustion" just to keep things spicy.

Now your Splendor?

No tantrums, no charging anxiety, no random software updates when you're already late for work.

Just fill petrol, kick-start, and vroooom into the sunset like a desi Vin Diesel.

So, if Delhi really pulls the plug on petrol bikes, your options are:

Option 1: Drop your savings on an EV that might ghost you mid-traffic.

Option 2: Gamble on a Chinese knock-off that maxes out at 40 km/h, cries on speed breakers, and needs motivation to climb flyovers.

Either way, good luck, champ.

Welcome to the future—we hope you brought a power bank.

Charging Stations? What’s That, a New Netflix Series?

Ah, yes, the mythical creatures of the EV world—charging stations. You hear and read about them, but spotting one in real life?

That’s rarer than a polite Delhi driver in rush hour.

Right now, Delhi has more momos stalls than EV chargers. And even if by some miracle you do find a charger, the next boss level is finding a place to actually park and plug in.

Got your own house with a private garage?

Congrats, you're in the EV 1%.

But if you live in an apartment?

Oof. Most societies are like, “Charge your bike here? Bro, we’re still arguing about who gets the corner parking.”

And even if they do let you charge, someone’s uncle will definitely show up yelling about how "these battery bikes can explode anytime!" (Thanks to those budget-bin EV imports that gave every auntie anxiety.)

So yeah, this so-called “charging infrastructure”?

Right now, it’s basically like Delhi winter sunlight—you know it exists, but good luck actually finding it when you need it.

Jobs Are at Risk Too

Okay, okay, jokes aside—this part’s a little less “haha” and a little more “oh no.”

You know all those big names, Hero, Bajaj, Honda—the OGs of India two-wheelers.

These giants have been around longer than your uncle’s 1996 Bajaj Chetak, and they employ lakhs of people across their factories, supply chains, service centers, you name it.

Now, imagine if this petrol ban actually becomes a thing. Demand for regular bikes? Poof. Gone like your weekend plans when relatives show up uninvited.

And when that happens, companies will start doing what they do best in tough times—panic like it’s a boardroom fire drill and yell “financial crisis!” (which is just HR’s polite way of saying “good luck out there,” while handing you a Tupperware and a resignation form).

Because obviously, when in doubt, cut payroll, not executive bonuses. Classic!!

Enthusiast Nightmare: Bike Goes from Beast Mode to Bluetooth Mode

Now let’s talk about the real heartbreak for some of us. The people who live for the vibe of their petrol bikes. I’m talking about the folks who don’t just ride—they experience it.

KTM bros who think their revs are a public service.

And now? Y’all might have to trade in that growl for a polite “eeeeee” sound.

Yeah, that’s your future engine note — less macho, more mosquito.

They’re an experience, a lifestyle, and let’s be honest: you can’t replicate that with an electric motor.

EVs Are Cool: The Solution? A Little Patience

Delhi's pollution problem? Yeah, it’s bad. But banning petrol bikes overnight? That's like telling people to quit pizza because salad exists.

EVs are cool, but right now, they’re more like that flashy new thing no one knows how to use yet, especially with the lack of charging stations.

And let’s not forget the job losses. Hero, Bajaj, Honda—good luck explaining that to all the folks at the factory. Plus, bike lovers?

They’re not ready to give up the roar of their Royal Enfields for a silent scooter.

Bottom line: Fix the infrastructure, make EVs affordable, and then maybe let’s talk about goodbye to petrol bikes. Until then,

Let’s not ruin everyone’s ride literally.