Lower Costs, Higher Earnings: Bajaj Aims to Disrupt E-Rickshaw Space

The landscape of last-mile electric mobility in India is evolving at a remarkable pace, particularly in the passenger segment dominated by e-rickshaws. Amidst this transformation, Bajaj Auto has unveiled a premium yet affordable e-rickshaw called Riki, which aims to redefine industry benchmarks to address longstanding gaps in India’s largely unorganised e-rickshaw sector.

On the sidelines of the launch of the Bajaj Riki, ACKO Drive interacted with Sumeet Narang, Head of Marketing, Bajaj Auto, to understand the needs and challenges of the electric three-wheeler last mile space, and how Bajaj plans to dominate it.

Premium Yet Affordable

Narang said that present e-rickshaws have “very basic frames, hardly any suspension, and very weak brakes”. Bajaj says the Riki has been developed based on feedback from current e-rickshaw operators. At a sticker price of ₹1,90,890 (ex-showroom), it is around ₹40,000- 50,000 more expensive than existing options. However, Narang called the Bajaj Riki a premium, yet affordable product that offers much better value. 

While its upfront cost is higher than those of its competitors, the real value emerges over the long term, according to Narang. Traditional e-rickshaws rely on lead-acid batteries, which need annual replacement, costing ₹40,000–₹50,000 each time. These batteries also cause corrosion and can shorten the vehicle’s lifespan to about three years.

The new Riki e-rickshaw, powered by lithium-ion batteries, promises a three-year battery cycle and longer overall vehicle life, drastically reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs. As a result, owners will enjoy lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and a significantly higher return on investment, he said.

Blending Modern Engineering Technologies 

Bajaj believes that as consumers begin using this vehicle, they will quickly realise its disruptive potential. Most existing e-rickshaws are built around basic, outdated automobile technologies and minimal engineering input has gone into their development. As one of the first automobile majors to enter the e-rickshaw segment, Bajaj says it has leveraged decades of expertise to deliver a structurally advanced vehicle.

As a result, the Riki is the first e-Rickhaw to be built on a monocoque chassis. This is paired with an independent anti-roll bar suspension with coil springs that offers a smoother, more comfortable and more planted ride. Most current e-rickshaws use stiff leaf-spring suspensions, and their rigid underpinnings often result in instability or even toppling on uneven roads.

Better Range More Income

Narang also gloated about the fact that the Riki offers 40 percent better range per full charge compared to conventional e-rickshaws. This translates directly into greater daily earnings for operators, who can now complete more trips before recharging. Local e-rickshaw drivers often lose a full day’s income due to long charging times, he said — typically around 10 hours. As a result, downtime is effectively reduced to a great extent.

“This increased earning, lower repair cost, longer life, lesser cost towards battery replacement, in our calculations  will actually end up lowering the total cost of ownership compared to local products. So it's a win-win in both ways”, said Narang.

The transition from conventional lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion ones enhances the vehicle’s lifespan while enabling faster and more convenient charging. The battery can be fully charged in approximately four hours — significantly quicker than the competition — and supports a simple plug-in mechanism suitable for home, market, or commercial charging.

As India’s electric vehicle ecosystem continues to expand, the availability of charging points is increasing through both formal infrastructure and informal, community-based initiatives. With a range of up to 149 kilometres per charge, Bajaj says the Riki is well-equipped to meet the demands of daily operations, even in regions with limited charging facilities.

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