Laxmi Nagar TVS Showroom Flooded With EV Inquiries Despite Selling Only Petrol
A significant surge in consumer interest and inquiries regarding electric scooters has hit the TVS showroom in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, despite the branch only selling petrol-powered models. Pawan Suryavanshi, the 32-year-old branch manager, reported receiving 70 to 80 calls daily regarding electric vehicles (EVs) since last week, while approximately 10 out of 15 daily walk-in customers are now asking for electric models.
The sudden spike in interest comes after the Delhi government announced a new electric vehicle policy this week. The policy offers buyer incentives, expands charging infrastructure, and will prohibit the registration of new petrol and CNG two-wheelers in the capital starting April 1, 2028.
Suryavanshi noted that his showroom does not stock electric scooters, as they are sold at a separate nearby branch. However, because his phone number was listed online, his desk has become a hub for inquiries about the TVS iQube, its subsidies, and its range on a single charge. Showroom managers across Delhi are reporting similar growing excitement around electric two-wheelers.
According to showroom employees, the shift in consumer sentiment has been building for months, driven largely by the economics of EV ownership. At an electricity tariff of around Rs 5 a unit, a full charge for an electric scooter costs roughly Rs 20 and can last about 100 km. Even assuming a customer rides that distance every day, the monthly charging cost works out to about Rs 600. By comparison, someone spending Rs 100 a day on petrol would spend nearly Rs 3,000 a month. Delhi's concessional electricity tariff of Rs 4.5 per unit for EV charging further attracts buyers.
Rising fuel prices linked to conflicts in West Asia and concerns over increased ethanol blending in petrol have also made buyers wary of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Suryavanshi mentioned that customers have complained about damage to internal combustion engines and a drop in mileage due to ethanol blends, contributing to negative sentiment around petrol vehicles.
The trend is also visible in West Delhi's Ramesh Nagar, where sales staff at petrol showrooms are finding it increasingly difficult to convince customers to choose petrol models over electric alternatives like the Bajaj Chetak.
