With petrol prices putting pressure on household budgets, more riders are looking at electric bikes and scooters. The first question is almost always the same: “How much will it cost me to charge it?”
Short answer: a full charge costs roughly Rs 30 to Rs 120, depending on your battery size and your electricity slab. Here is how that breaks down.
The Basic Formula
Charging cost depends on three things:
- Battery capacity (kWh): the size of the battery
- Charging efficiency: about 85–90% of the electricity from the wall ends up in the battery
- Your electricity rate per unit: what you pay on your bill
Cost per full charge = (Battery kWh ÷ 0.85) × your rate per unit
You can find battery capacity by multiplying voltage by amp-hours and dividing by 1,000. For example, a 60V 30Ah battery is 60 × 30 = 1,800 Wh, or 1.8 kWh.
What Does Electricity Cost in Pakistan Right Now?
Rates in Pakistan depend on your monthly consumption slab. NEPRA’s proposal for 2026 kept the base tariff unchanged, at about Rs33 per unit for 201–300 units, Rs38 for 301–400 units, and a ceiling of Rs47.69 per unit for consumption above 700 units. Lifeline and protected consumers (those who stay at or below 200 units a month) pay lower rates.
Your actual per-unit cost is usually higher than the slab rate. Final charges can rise once taxes and surcharges apply. There are also monthly fuel adjustments: NEPRA approved an increase of Rs0.75 per unit for the June 2026 adjustment, and a further Rs2.52 per unit was proposed for July. Some adjustments go the other way. A quarterly adjustment cut prices by Rs1.99 per unit for June through August 2026.
For planning, it is safest to use Rs 35–50 per unit as your effective rate. Check your own bill for the real figure.
Cost Per Full Charge
These estimates assume 85% charging efficiency.
| Battery size | Typical bike | Energy from wall | Cost at Rs 35/unit | Cost at Rs 50/unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 kWh (48V 20Ah) | Basic city e-bike | ~1.2 kWh | ~Rs 41 | ~Rs 59 |
| 1.8 kWh (60V 30Ah) | Mid-range scooter | ~2.1 kWh | ~Rs 74 | ~Rs 106 |
| 2.9 kWh (72V 40Ah) | Long-range scooter | ~3.4 kWh | ~Rs 119 | ~Rs 170 |
If you are on a lower slab, for example Rs 22–30 per unit, these numbers drop noticeably.
Cost Per Kilometre
Most electric scooters use around 20–30 Wh per km. At 25 Wh/km and Rs 40 per unit, you spend about Rs 1 per km.
A petrol bike doing 50 km/l, with petrol at an assumed Rs 260/litre (plug in today’s price), costs about Rs 5 per km.
Monthly Cost Example
Say you ride 30 km a day, about 900 km a month:
- Electric bike: 900 km × 25 Wh = 22.5 kWh, so roughly Rs 800–1,100 a month
- Petrol bike (50 km/l): 18 litres, so roughly Rs 4,700 a month at the assumed price
That is a saving of Rs 3,500 or more every month, before counting the lower maintenance costs of an EV (no oil changes, spark plugs, or clutch work).
Will It Raise My Electricity Bill a Lot?
Not by much, but watch your slab. Adding 20–25 units a month is small, but if you are sitting near the top of a slab, those extra units can push you into a higher rate. This matters most for protected consumers close to the 200-unit mark. Since January 2026, fixed charges for domestic consumers are also linked to sanctioned load rather than consumption.
Tips to Lower Your Charging Costs
- Charge only when needed. Topping up from 30% to 100% costs less than a full empty-to-full charge, and it is gentler on the battery.
- Use the charger that came with the bike. Cheap chargers waste more energy as heat.
- Avoid charging overnight every night. Unplug once the battery is full.
- Consider solar. If you already have a net-metering or home solar setup, charging during the day can bring your cost per km close to zero.
- Keep tyres inflated and ride smoothly. Proper pressure and gentle acceleration add real kilometres per charge.
The Bottom Line
For most riders in Pakistan, charging an electric bike costs Rs 40 to Rs 120 per full charge, or roughly Rs 1 per kilometre. That is about a fifth of what petrol costs for the same distance. Tariffs change often, so check your latest bill and plug your real per-unit rate into the formula above.