The vehicle you choose for delivery quietly decides how much you keep. A car earns more per hour in some cities but bleeds money on fuel and wear; a bike costs almost nothing but limits your range. Here's how they really compare.
The cost-per-km question
What matters isn’t the headline earnings — it’s earnings minus running costs, and running costs are mostly about your vehicle. Lower cost per kilometre means more of every delivery stays in your pocket.
Bike vs e-bike vs motorbike vs car
| Vehicle | Running cost | Range / speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push bike | Almost $0/km | Short range, slow | Dense city centres, short trips |
| E-bike | Very low (charging) | Medium | City delivery, good all-rounder |
| Motorbike/scooter | Low-moderate (fuel) | Good range, fast | Spread-out suburbs |
| Car | Highest (fuel + wear) | Best range, weather-proof | Long distances, big orders, bad weather |
When a car actually pays off
A car only wins if the extra earnings beat the extra costs. Example: a car nets you $4/hour more than an e-bike, but costs ~$15/shift more in fuel and wear. Over a 5-hour shift that’s +$20 earnings vs +$15 costs — only $5 ahead. In a compact city, the e-bike often wins outright.
Track cost and earnings per vehicle and see which one really pays.
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