Electric Scooters with Battery Subscription in India

Battery Subscription or commonly known as BaaS (Battery as a Service) has become a topical discussion in the electric mobility space. In a country like India, where charging infrastructure remains unevenly distributed across its vast geography, Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) emerges as a practical alternative for consumers seeking to transition to electric vehicles but lacking access to nearby public charging facilities.

BaaS is gaining traction in India’s electric two-wheeler segment as it addresses several structural barriers to EV adoption. By separating battery ownership from the vehicle purchase, BaaS can reduce upfront costs by 25–40 percent, making electric scooters more accessible to price-sensitive buyers. The model also alleviates concerns around battery degradation, as maintenance and lifecycle management are handled by the service provider. 

For gig economy riders and delivery partners, subscription-based battery access enables predictable operating expenses, improving income planning and cost control. Additionally, BaaS supports fleet operators and shared mobility services by simplifying asset management and reducing downtime through battery swapping.

However, adoption remains constrained by limited nationwide swapping infrastructure, which restricts scalability beyond major urban centres. Acko Drive reached out to two-wheeler OEMs offering BaaS, however, none disclosed how many customers have opted for the battery subscription model. Let us look at the two-wheeler OEMs that are offering battery subscription models in India.

Hero MotoCorp–Vida

Hero MotoCorp offers BaaS in two Vida models: VX2 Go and VX2 Plus with a battery rental plan starting as low as ₹0.90 per km. Under the BaaS model, users pay a monthly subscription fee similar to a prepaid mobile service and upon completion of the plan tenure, full ownership of the scooter is transferred to the rider. 

If a customer exceeds the kilometre limit of the selected plan, the additional usage is billed at the same per-kilometre rate, with adjustments settled quarterly or as agreed with the financier. At present, plans are fixed, meaning customers cannot modify their chosen plan after enrolment. In addition to the monthly charges, buyers must pay a one-time fee of ₹1,119 towards stamp duty and documentation.

Ather Energy

Ather offers its BaaS module for the Rizta and the 450 Series (450X and 450S) with battery rental schemes starting at ₹1.0 per km and a 48-month subscription tenure.. Under the BaaS model, prices of the Rizta and 450X drop to ₹75,999 and ₹84,341 (ex-showroom), respectively, a 30 percent decrease from their original prices. The plan typically requires a minimum monthly commitment of 1,000 km, translating to an estimated battery fee of about ₹1,000 per month at the base usage level. Ather claims that at this rate, the battery cost is effectively recovered over 3–4 years.

Also READ: Ola Announces Gen 3 Scooter, Bike Upgrade Programme for Current Owners

Honda Activa e:

Honda offers a battery subscription model for the Activa e: which is a little different from the other two brands. The Activa e: is offered with dual uses dual 1.5 kWh swappable batteries which users replace once they are depleted with charged ones at dedicated swapping stations. The advantage of this model is that it eliminates charging downtime and battery degradation risk. The disadvantage, however, for Honda is the lack of swapping stations across the country, which means the availability of Activa e: is limited to only a handful of centres.

The Activa e: is offered in two variants Standard and RoadSync Duo, priced at ₹1.17 lakh and ₹1.52 lakh (both ex-showroom). The battery cost is embedded in the subscription rather than the purchase price.