Scooters can aid your movement within the neighborhood. They can even be your ride to your office, depending on the closeness of the location. For students, electric scooters can be your ride to school. They are portable and environmentally friendly options that are great alternatives to electric bikes.
They are also more convenient to maintain than cars or bikes. Scooters that are well maintained wouldn’t need a tune-up, and that’s why they are preferred for short commutes.
One thing you wouldn’t like is to be left halfway through your journey because you forgot to charge the batteries. It can leave you utterly frustrated and angry with yourself.
Scooters use Lithium batteries, and if they are not charged properly, it will result in reduced performance, and you shouldn’t expect a long ride. The battery on your scooter can easily diminish after a short ride if you don’t charge it above the recommended minimum battery level.
5 Ways to Keep Your Scooter Charged
Charging your scooter is easy. All you need is to plug the charger into the socket in the charging port under the rubber cover on the scooter. It usually takes a minimum of two to four hours to charge a scooter, depending on the model.
However, improper charging habits can reduce the lifespan of the battery. On the other hand, good charging habits can prolong its lifespan and keep you trouble-free.
To charge your scooter, push the rubber cover aside to access the charging port; plug the adapter into the port; and unplug the charger once the LED turns green.
Below are five ways to keep your scooter charged all the time.
1. Try to Keep the Battery Above 40%
Some scooters manufacturers recommend you keep the battery level of your ride above 40%. Others state that you should charge when it reads 10% minimum. Ideally, I advise that you keep the battery level above 40%. It will take time to charge the battery up if it’s around 10%.
Once the battery level on your scooter is below around 40%, ensure to plug it immediately, and you shouldn’t unplug until it reads between 90% – 100%. You can always know if your scooter is charged fully from the LED indicator. If it shows green or stops blinking, it indicates that it’s full.
If you also plan on putting your scooter away for long, you should keep the battery charged above 40% as well. Then, keep it charged at 100% when you are ready to ride it again. It’s recommended that you charge your scooter to 100% once in a while.
2. Do Not Ride Immediately After Charging
The battery heats up pretty much during charging, so if you go straight to riding your scooter, it will get even hotter, which could damage the cells. In addition, the battery performance will also drop. The battery performs and lasts well in a normal weather condition, around 20°C.
After charging the battery, allow the temperature to cool down before using it. Also, charge the scooter at room temperature. If you recently got back home, allow the temperature to cool down before charging it.
One thing you wouldn’t want is to overcharge your scooter. Overcharging decreases the battery’s performance. Don’t charge your battery for an extended period unattended. Once it’s fully charged, disconnect it. One thing that would help you here is to know the charging time of your battery. If it takes three hours to charge it fully, time yourself precisely so that it doesn’t exceed the charging by a minute at most.
3. Carry Your Charger Around
You may never know if the battery will be long enough to last through your ride. Additionally, you don’t know when you will get to the next spot to charge your scooter, so you must make use of every available opportunity to increase the battery level on your scooter. Thus, you need to have your charger with you.
Don’t fully drain it too. It will take time to charge it up again from zero. So when next you reach an electric charging point, make sure to plug in your scooter. As earlier explained, you don’t need to charge it in full. So, charge only when the battery is low (10% minimum) or completely drained.
4. Use the Recommended Charger
Although buying an aftermarket charger seems more economical, it may end up costing you in the long run if the charger turns out to be incompatible with your scooter.
It’s recommended that you use chargers that are approved for use with the battery to avoid shortening its life. Some aftermarket chargers can under or overcharge your battery and will leave you with irreversible damage. Rather than buy some aftermarket chargers that you can’t vouch for, contact the retailer or manufacturer to sell you the replacement charging cable. It’s better to save cost buying an approved charger than a new battery.
5. Store Your Scooter Inside
As much as heat or hot weather can reduce the battery’s performance, extreme cold conditions can also affect the battery’s performance. Like mobile phone batteries, Lithium batteries do not do well in extreme temperatures, whether heat or cold. High and low temperatures will prevent the battery from being charged efficiently, resulting in a reduced lifespan.
Lithium batteries thrive when the temperature is 30°C. They shouldn’t be exposed for long periods to freezing and hot temperatures. So, park your scooter inside during extreme weather conditions, and most importantly, park it in a dry place.
Can You Charge Your Scooter In Your Apartment or Condo?
Most people charge their scooters in their apartments or condo, and it’s safe to do so. Scooters don’t need a special outlet for charging. However, electric sockets differ from country to country.
For instance, if you are buying a scooter from China, you may need an adapter for it. If you are traveling to another country with your scooter, you need to consider the sockets available there.
You can also charge your solar panels and generators. Anything that generates electricity can charge your scooter, but the thing with solar panels is that you need to convert it to a standard socket to be able to charge your scooter via circuits. Solar kits, including the panel, inverter, and circuit are sold on Amazon, so buy, install it where there’s sunlight, and plug the cord into your scooter’s socket.
The disadvantage of using solar panels to charge is that it puts out a low voltage output. It will take more hours to charge your scooter than using a generator or electricity. Typically, scooters run on 24v or 36v batteries and need about 30 – 40v power to fully charge them. Solar panels only put about 20v on a bright sunny day. At most, this can only charge 12v batteries.
Why Your Electric Scooter Won’t Charge
There are common cases of electric scooters not charging, but they are things you shouldn’t worry about. If it refuses to charge, check if the socket for electric current. If there’s no current, it’s probably the reason your scooter isn’t getting any power.
If this persists, check if the charger is working or correctly plugged into the socket. One way to know if your charger is working is to test it using multimeter. If the charger is working, then your problem should be the scooter itself.
Many things could be wrong with the scooter, but the most common issue is the battery. If the battery is old, the solution is to replace it. However, it may be other issues, so it’s recommended that you take it for repairs. If it’s covered under the warranty, you can send it to the manufacturer or website of purchase.
How Long Do Electric Scooters Last?
It depends on the rider’s weight, number of charge cycles, battery size, routes, electrical accessories, and the terrain of the road. Uphill roads will consume more power than flat roads. High speeds and the use of lights and other accessories can reduce the range.
Typically, a charged scooter will take you to work and bring you back home without a charge in between stops. A quality scooter can travel up to 15 miles on a single charge. If you take longer commutes, you may have to make one or two stops to charge your scooter.
If you are unsure of how long the battery will last during commutes, check the manufacturer’s manual for information regarding the battery’s information, like the ampere and the voltage.
Developing good riding habits can extend the battery life tremendously.
Conclusion
The battery life of a scooter is essential. The key to elongating it is by making sure that you charge it properly, keep it out of extreme temperatures, and use the appropriate charger. Furthermore, keep the battery level above 40% and charge when the opportunity comes.
With all these guidelines followed, you are assured of keeping the scooter charged all the time and getting many years of use from it.