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Is an electric scooter worth it for a delivery rider in India?

You run the case. Read the prompt, answer questions from the notes below, and share data only when the candidate asks for it or gets stuck. Score at the end.

Case timer

00:00

Target length:

1. Read the prompt aloud

Read it slowly, then pause. Let the candidate ask questions before they structure.

A delivery rider in Bengaluru rides 30 km a day, 300 days a year. A petrol scooter does 50 km per litre and petrol costs INR 100 per litre. An electric scooter uses 3 kWh per 100 km and electricity costs INR 8 per kWh. The electric scooter costs INR 30,000 more to buy. How long does the rider take to earn back the extra price from fuel savings? Ignore maintenance for now.

2. Answers to clarifying questions

This case has no scripted clarifying answers. Answer from the prompt, and say "assume what you think is reasonable" if the prompt does not cover it.

3. A model structure

Compare the candidate's structure with this one. A different split can be just as good if it is clean and fits the problem.

Payback = extra purchase price divided by yearly running cost savings
- Petrol cost per km = petrol price divided by km per litre
- Electric cost per km = kWh per km x electricity price
- Yearly saving = saving per km x km per year

4. The working, step by step

Each step shows how a strong candidate works it out. Share a new fact from it only when the candidate asks or is stuck, and let them do the math: the result in the dark box is what they should reach.

Step 1: Petrol cost per km
What a strong candidate does: INR 100 divided by 50 km.
Petrol cost (INR per km): 100 ÷ 50 = 2
Step 2: Electric cost per km
What a strong candidate does: 3 kWh per 100 km at INR 8.
Electric cost (INR per km): 8 × 3 ÷ 100 = 0.24
Step 3: Yearly saving
What a strong candidate does: Saving of 1.76 per km on 9,000 km a year.
Yearly saving (INR): (100 ÷ 50 - 8 × 3 ÷ 100) × 30 × 300 = 15,840
Step 4: Payback
What a strong candidate does: Extra price divided by yearly saving.
Payback (years): 30,000 ÷ 15,840 = 1.89

The recommendation to listen for

At the end, say: "The CEO walks in. What is your recommendation?"

The rider should buy the electric scooter, because it earns back the extra INR 30,000 in about 1.89 years. First, petrol costs INR 2 per km against INR 0.24 for electricity. Second, at 30 km a day for 300 days, the saving is INR 15,840 a year, which means heavy users such as delivery riders gain the most. The risk is battery life and resale value. As a next step, confirm access to charging or battery swapping near the rider's routes.

Score the candidate

Score each criterion from 1 to 5. A 2 or a 4 sits between the descriptions.

This case has no exhibit. Score Exhibit reading on how the candidate used the data you gave them: did they pick out the number that matters and say what it means?

Structuring

1: No clear structure, or a memorized framework that does not fit the problem.
3: A sensible structure, but with some overlap, a gap, or no clear priority.
5: A structure built for this problem, with no overlap and no gaps, a stated hypothesis, and a clear first step.

Math

1: Frequent errors, no units, or needed heavy help to finish.
3: Right answers but slow or messy working, or one error caught late.
5: Accurate and clearly narrated, with units, a sense check, and what the number means.

Exhibit reading

1: Read the chart aloud without finding the number that matters.
3: Found the key number but gave only part of the so-what.
5: Pulled the right number quickly and said what it means for the case.

Synthesis

1: Summarized what was done, with no clear answer.
3: Gave an answer, but with weak reasons or no next step.
5: Answer first, then two or three reasons with numbers, the main risk, and next steps.

Communication

1: Hard to follow: long silences, no signposting.
3: Clear most of the time, with some rambling.
5: Calm and concise, signposted each step, and checked in with the interviewer.

Total

0 out of 25

Score all five criteria to see the band and the feedback template.