Your electric scooter keeps breaking: What companies don’t tell you about your rights

Electric scooters are rapidly becoming part of everyday life. If you live in a city, you’ve probably noticed how common they’ve become, quiet, compact vehicles weaving through traffic, parked outside apartment buildings or lined up at office buildings. For many riders, the appeal of lower running costs, no petrol stops, and the satisfaction of choosing a cleaner mode of transport is obvious.

But for some new EV owners, the excitement of buying an electric scooter has been diminished by repeated trips to the service centre.

If you’ve bought an electric scooter that keeps developing faults, refuses to start, or constantly needs repairs, you may be wondering whether you’re just unlucky or whether there’s something you can actually do about it.

The truth is that consumers across India are increasingly challenging manufacturers when vehicles repeatedly fail and some are even winning compensation for poor service.

When a new scooter turns into a constant repair job

Electric scooters are very different from traditional petrol vehicles. Instead of a conventional engine, they rely on batteries, sensors, controllers and complex software. When everything works well, the experience is smooth and convenient. But when something goes wrong, it can quickly become frustrating.

Many EV owners report similar issues, the scooter might develop problems within weeks of purchase. The battery may stop charging properly, the display may develop a fault, or the scooter may suddenly lose power while riding.

So, the owner takes it to an authorised service centre, expecting a quick fix, but instead they’re hit with a long wait. Parts aren’t available, the technician is waiting for a software update, the list goes on. If the vehicle is fixed and is returned to the owner, the same problem can reappear days later and what should have been a reliable daily vehicle becomes something that spends more time in the repair shop than on the road.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it’s easy to assume there’s nothing you can do except keep chasing the service centre. But consumer law gives you options.

A recent case that shows consumers can win

In a recent case, an electric scooter owner faced exactly this kind of situation. After purchasing the vehicle, the rider began experiencing ongoing technical problems.

Despite repeated visits to the service centre, the faults weren’t properly resolved. The consumer continued to face inconvenience and delays, with the company failing to provide a satisfactory solution and eventually, the buyer decided to escalate the issue through a consumer complaint.

When the case reached the consumer commission, the forum ruled that Ola Electric had failed to provide proper service and was ordered to pay ₹20,000 compensation award for deficiency in service.

Cases like this are becoming more common as EV ownership grows in India. They highlight that companies have legal responsibilities after they sell you a product.

What companies are required to do

When you buy an electric scooter, you’re not just buying a vehicle, you’re entering into a contract with the manufacturer or seller.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, companies are expected to provide products that function properly and offer reliable after-sales support. If something goes wrong within the warranty period, they must make reasonable efforts to repair or resolve the issue. If they fail to do that, especially when problems continue despite multiple attempts at repair, it can be considered a deficiency in service.

That means the consumer may have the right to demand remedial action. Depending on the circumstances, that could include repairs, replacement of the vehicle, a refund or financial compensation.

For EV owners, this protection is particularly important because many electric scooters are still relatively new to the market. Service networks and technical expertise are still developing, which can sometimes leave customers stuck with unresolved problems.

Consumer forums exist to address exactly this kind of situation.

Why complaints about EV service are increasing

Electric vehicles are one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s transport market. Government incentives, rising fuel prices, and environmental awareness have all contributed to a surge in demand.

But rapid growth can also expose weaknesses. Some manufacturers have expanded sales faster than their service networks. Spare parts may be difficult to obtain, technicians may still be gaining experience with EV technology and customer service teams may be overwhelmed by rising complaint volumes.

The result is that some riders find themselves caught between long service delays and unclear communication from companies.

This doesn’t mean every EV brand has these issues. Many owners have positive experiences with their scooters. But when problems do occur, it’s important to know that you are not powerless.

What you can do if your scooter keeps failing

If your electric scooter develops repeated problems, the first step is always to report the issue to the manufacturer or authorised service centre. Make sure your complaint is officially recorded and ask for a job sheet or service report whenever the scooter is inspected.

These records are important if the issue escalates later, as they can demonstrate that the problem has been ongoing and that you have already given the company multiple opportunities to fix it. It’s also helpful to keep copies of your purchase invoice, warranty documents and any emails or messages exchanged with the company. Even photos or videos showing the fault can be useful evidence.

If the company continues to delay repairs or fails to resolve the issue, you don’t have to keep chasing them indefinitely. You can escalate disputes through formal complaint channels, including consumer complaint platforms and consumer commissions. Many companies respond quickly once a complaint becomes part of an official process.

And as recent cases show, when a company clearly fails to provide proper service, consumer courts can order compensation.

The evolving EV vehicle support industry

Electric vehicles are an important part of India’s future transportation system. As the market grows, both technology and service networks are likely to improve. But the transition to new technology doesn’t mean you should tolerate poor service.

If you’ve invested in an electric scooter, you deserve a vehicle that works reliably and a company that supports you when something goes wrong. When that doesn’t happen, consumer law exists to protect you.

Increasingly, riders who refuse to accept repeated faults and unresolved service issues are discovering that they can challenge companies and sometimes win.

If your electric scooter keeps breaking down

If you’re facing ongoing problems with your EV, raising a formal complaint can often be the first step toward getting the issue resolved. It’s important to track your complaints and track the company’s responses, making it easier to escalate issues if required. Consumer law is there to protect your rights. if the company fails to act.

If you have any thoughts on this topic, or any other consumer issues you would like us to cover, feel free to get in touch with us at support@resolver.co.uk

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