Fake News Alert: Patanjali Electric Scooter Claims Debunked
Have you seen those exciting posts about a super-cheap electric scooter from Patanjali? The internet is buzzing with claims that the Ayurvedic company will launch an e-scooter with impossible specifications. According to EVIndia and cartoq, this news is completely fake!
The viral claims suggest a scooter with a 440 km range priced at just ₹14,000, supposedly launching by the end of 2025. These specifications are not just unlikely – they’re technically impossible with today’s technology.
The Too-Good-To-Be-True Claims
The fake news has spread through various micro-news portals and hyperlocal websites. These detailed but fabricated articles claim Patanjali will initially roll out their electric scooters in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
HBTU noted these reports appeared without any official confirmation from Patanjali. The viral stories are carefully crafted to look convincing, but contain technical claims that simply don’t add up.
- Claimed Range: A whopping 440 kilometers on a single charge (nearly double what top models offer)
- Advertised Price: Just ₹14,000 (about one-tenth of what basic e-scooters actually cost)
- Supposed Launch: By the end of 2025 with bookings through Patanjali outlets or app
Why These Claims Are Technically Impossible
EVMechanica explains that the battery technology needed for such range simply doesn’t exist yet for scooter-sized vehicles. Think of battery capacity like a fuel tank – there’s only so much energy you can pack into a small space. Current electric scooters have battery packs between 2.5-4 kWh (kilowatt-hours, which measures energy storage), while a 440 km range would require at least 8 kWh.
| Specification | Claimed (Fake News) | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Range | 440 kilometers | Top models reach 100-250 km at best |
| Battery Needed | Not specified | Would require 8+ kWh (too large for scooters) |
| Price | ₹14,000 | Minimum ₹90,000 for basic models |
For comparison, the Simple One electric scooter, which has one of the highest ranges on the market, offers 248 km with a 5.0 kWh battery under ideal conditions. Even this is considered exceptional in the industry. The laws of physics and current battery technology make the claimed 440 km range impossible for a scooter-sized vehicle without a massive battery that wouldn’t fit on a standard scooter frame.
The Financial Reality of Electric Scooters
The price claim of ₹14,000 is equally unrealistic. According to komaki, even the most basic electric scooters in India start around ₹50,000, with popular models costing between ₹90,000 to over ₹1.5 lakh. The battery alone for an electric scooter typically costs more than the entire claimed price of ₹14,000.
- Entry-level e-scooters: Start at around ₹50,000
- Popular models: Ola S1 Pro, Ather 450X, TVS iQube, and Bajaj Chetak cost ₹90,000 to ₹1.5 lakh
- High-range models: Simple One and premium Ola variants exceed ₹1.3 lakh
Real Electric Scooter Performance in India
E-VehicleInfo reports that the average electric scooter in India delivers between 80 km and 150 km per charge, with some models reaching up to 250 km in ideal conditions. BajajFinserv notes that leading models usually have ranges of 100 km to 200 km and prices above ₹1 lakh for most variants. This real-world data makes the viral claims about the Patanjali scooter even more obviously false.
How to Spot Fake EV News Yourself
When you see news about electric vehicles that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some red flags to watch for:
- Unrealistic specs: Range claims above 250 km for affordable scooters
- Too-low pricing: Anything under ₹50,000 for a full-featured e-scooter
- Missing official confirmation: No statements from the company on their official channels
- Suspicious websites: News appearing only on unknown or hyperlocal sites
EVMechanica stated that as of May 5, 2025, Patanjali has not issued any official statements confirming the scooter’s launch, specifications, or pricing. Cartoq reported that industry experts and fact-checkers deem the 440 km range and ₹14,000 price technically and financially implausible, confirming this is fake news.
Staying Safe from Misinformation
The detailed nature and convincing language of these fake articles shows how sophisticated misinformation can be. They even mention specific details like phased rollouts and booking procedures through Patanjali outlets or apps, all designed to seem legitimate.
As I warns: “Until we get the official statements, don’t click any links related to that. If any Official statement came, we immediately let you know in this channel MacroEdition.”
