The very first concern after buying an electric scooter is how to charge them. They are the most convenient and environmental-friendly way of transportation. You can take them anywhere you want, without the worry of parking, plus, they don’t pollute nature. On top of all these factors, electric scooters are extremely fun to ride.
But these benefits doesn’t suppress the confusion of charging e-scooters. Though it is not a tricky process, it can be different from charging your usual electronics, as the battery of e-scooter is not similar to other batteries. They are bigger in size and operate differently.
If you have bought an electric scooter recently, you may want to know how to charge it so that it gives the best performance. To clear all your confusion, we have collected enough information on this topic. So let’s see how the work is done.
Charging Electric Scooters
There is no rocket science in charging an electric scooter. All you need is your scooter, its charger, a charging point, and electricity. You can easily plug-in the charger with one side in the battery, and the other in the source. Once you switch on the power, your scooter will start charging.
In some cases, you may need to take the battery out from the scooter and then charge it separately. This makes it comfortable for you to charge the battery wherever you want. But even undetachable batteries don’t create a fuss in charging, given that the lightweight scooters can be taken anywhere to charge.
However, you need to consider a few points if you want to make the most out of your e-scooter battery.
#1 Charging Properly
Both the charging techniques look extremely easy. But you can follow the below-mentioned instruction so that your e-scooter battery runs for longer.
- Look For The Indicator: Don’t wait for your electric scooter to run out of battery for charging it. There must be a battery indicator on your vehicle. Keep a check on it, and put the scooter on charge when the indicator goes to a “low-battery” sign.
- Plug The Charger: Switch on the electricity supply only after the charging cord gets secured from both sides. Even if you are taking out the battery to charge it separately, it is recommended to provide the electricity supply once the cord is properly plugged-in.
- Taking It Off: Until unless you are on the run, never take off the charger in between the charging process. You must let the battery get charged entirely and then only remove the charger. This increases the life of the battery.
- Unplug It: After turning off the power outlet, you will first have to remove the charging cord from the scooter. Then you can take the adapter off from the source.
#2 Duration Of Charging
What separates the electric scooter from your general electronics is the duration for which it has to be charged. While your mobile and laptop may take an hour or so to charge entirely, scooters can require up to 12 hours of charging. The exact time you need to charge the vehicle entirely depends on the following points.
#3 Type Of Battery
Different electric scooters have different types of batteries. A particular type decides for how long you will need to put the scooter on charging. Usually, your e -scooter will have one of these batteries:
- Lead-Acid Batteries: If you have an old electric scooter, you will most likely find this battery type in it. Lead-acid batteries have the advantage of producing higher currents. On the other hand, they require long hours to charge. You may need to plug the scooter in for up to 12 hours in order to get it entirely charged. These are most suitable for leaving on overnight charging.
- Lithium-Ion Batteries: If you have bought a new scooter or thinking of buying one, you will get lithium-ion batteries in them. Most of the electric vehicles don’t use the lead-acid batteries anymore. These modern-day batteries help in reducing the overall weight of the scooter, making them easy to handle. Plus, they need only 2-4 hours of electricity to reach the fully-charged state. So, you can charge them quickly and get going.
- NiCad Batteries: If you find NiCad batteries in your electric scooter, you need to be extra careful. These batteries need to be charged only after getting discharged entirely. That is why they require additional time for recharging. You can’t remain secured with them, as you can’t keep them fully-charged all the time.
#4 Amount Of Discharge
Another factor that affects the duration of charging is the amount of discharge that has happened. For example, if you use your electric scooter to the fullest throughout the day, you will find that it takes more time to come back to the 100% charged state. However, if you only use it for traveling to small distances, you will have to put it on charging for an hour or two.
Guidelines For Charging
The battery is the heart of your electric scooter. So you need to look after the battery such that it lasts longer and doesn’t require much maintenance. You can follow some simple guidelines for getting the most from your e-scooter battery.
#1 Let It Rest
The first factor you must consider is giving some rest to the battery. You may find several people putting the scooter on charge as soon as they return from a long ride. This can lead to overheating the battery, which, in turn, can damage it. Therefore, if you want to increase the battery’s lifespan, you should let it cool down for about 15 minutes. Once it has rested, you can put it on the charge.
#2 Charge Before Keeping Away
If you are going somewhere or won’t use the electric scooter for a long time, you will be recommended to charge the battery to approximately 70% before keeping it in. The little presence of charge helps in preserving the battery, hence, increasing its lifespan.
#3 Charge After Each Ride
When you use your electric scooter every day, charging can sound like too much effort. However, charging it after each ride will help you in two ways:
- There will be no worries about the battery running out whenever you ride it the next time. That means you will always have the battery to the fullest.
- It will increase the lifespan of the battery.
Even if the indicator doesn’t show the “low-battery” sign, you must put it on charging after each of your rides.
#4 Don’t Expose The Battery
Too much exposure to heat and water can damage the battery and reduce its lifespan. If you want the battery to run for an extended period, keep it away from excessive sun, rain, water, and heat. You should also remain cautious while cleaning the vehicle with water because it can damage the interior, as well as the exterior parts of it.
#5 Don’t Switch Chargers
Every electronic has its current output and charge settings. If you utilize any other charger to charge your electric scooter, it will damage the battery. It is recommended that you use nothing but the original charging cord that comes with the e-scooter.
#6 Don’t Overcharge
Just like undercharging, overcharging can damage the battery as well. Though some electric scooter manufacturers claim that their chargers have an ‘auto electricity cut’ feature, you should not rely on that. Sometimes this feature doesn’t work, and your battery gets damaged. So you should keep a check for how long you are keeping your e-scooter up for charging.
Conclusion
According to the experts, you should charge your electric scooter after every use. But in case you can’t do that, you can put it on charge whenever the indicator shows the “low-battery” signal. If you want to save the battery from overheating and getting damaged, you should give it a rest of 10-15 minutes after the ride. Then you can put it on charging.
Also, you should try to charge the battery only until the indicator shows a “fully-charged” sign. The duration of this charge depends on the brand and model of your electric scooter. Remember not to overcharge the battery, as this can damage it.
