Quick summary
- For someone who rides about 50 km a day, 26 days a month, gas for Brazil's most economical motorcycle costs about R$ 136 a month. An e-bike's electricity costs about R$ 26 to R$ 27.
- A bike of up to 1,000 W locked at 32 km/h needs no plate or license.
- Renting a bike costs about R$ 95 a week (about R$ 410 a month) and, in the example given, comes without insurance: if it's stolen, the charge can reach R$ 5,000.
- Buying a bike with a passenger seat for about R$ 6,000 pays for itself in about 15 months of rental.
- For work, what counts isn't power, it's the battery, the load and the seat.
BNDES, Brazil's development bank, approved credit for delivery riders to buy electric bicycles, and that is just one of the signs of the switch. Luan does the math the listing doesn't and shows which bikes can handle a whole day of deliveries, with a warning about choosing the battery well.
The numbers behind the switch
According to the data cited in the video, trips on motorized bicycles and self-propelled vehicles grew more than 10-fold in the period counted, from 703 to 7,268, and e-bike production at the factories in Manaus grew 77% in a year, not counting imports, which are the majority on the streets and on Mercado Livre. Since July, delivery riders can finance an e-bike at 0.99% interest per month for up to 4 years, starting payments only after 60 days.
The math: motorcycle versus e-bike
For a delivery rider covering 50 km a day for 26 days, Luan uses Brazil's most economical motorcycle, the CG 125 (62.8 km per liter), with gas at R$ 6.55. That comes to about R$ 136 a month in gas alone, against R$ 26 to R$ 27 of electricity for the e-bike: five times less. And that still leaves out vehicle tax, licensing and oil changes.
Buy or rent?
iFood rents electric bicycles for about R$ 95 a week, with maintenance included, but they have no insurance and the rider may have to pay up to R$ 5,000 if it's stolen. A bike with a passenger seat like the BW1, at about R$ 6,000, pays for itself in about 15 months of rental. Luan's rule: if you're testing whether bike deliveries are for you, rent. If you've already decided, buying is much cheaper.
Watch out for the financing
The government financing only applies to bicycles made in Brazil, and many of those Mercado Livre sells are imported. Check whether the model qualifies for the program before buying.
The 4 Luan recommends for work
The V9 Max with two 20Ah batteries does about 80 km for real, according to owners, carries 150 kg and has a seat for two, from R$ 8,147. The V8 Pro S, with two batteries, delivers about 80 km, with reports of more than 100 km in a flat city, and has front and rear suspension, from about R$ 8,467. The GT 2000, the one with the biggest battery, does 70 to 90 km, weighs about 64.5 kg and costs close to R$ 10,000, and the listing must say 1,000 W. The BW1 is the most affordable for work: a 960 Wh battery, about 45 to 50 km, a seat for two people and a battery that comes out with a key, from R$ 6,000.
Conclusion
For delivery work, the math favors the e-bike: it costs less and needs no plate or license. The care to take is choosing by battery and not by power.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost per month to ride an e-bike?
In the video's example, for 50 km a day over 26 days, electricity costs about R$ 26 to R$ 27 a month, against about R$ 136 of gas for the motorcycle.
Is it better to buy or rent?
For those testing, rent. For those who have already decided, buy, because the bike pays for itself in about 15 months of rental.
Does the government financing apply to any bike?
No. Only to bicycles made in Brazil, and many on Mercado Livre are imported.
Prices and opinions reflect the video on the recording date. Prices change all the time (all in Brazilian reais); always check the listing.
V9 Max S
Read the review · Price and shipping updated on Mercado Livre.
