electric scooters

Charging Electric Scooters: Everything You Need to Know

The micro-mobility industry is thriving. Over the last couple of years, it has managed to find its way into the infrastructure of many cities around the world as well as many people’s daily routines. Moreover, this has led to many scooter sharing companies being established and, as a result, introducing new, advanced electric scooters to the market year after year. This can often be overwhelming and confusing for the consumer, leaving them with more questions than answers. One of the misunderstandings can be around the charging process of the electric scooter.

Lucky for our readers, we are here to give answers to commonly asked questions regarding the process of charging e-scooters and break it down entirely.

First things first, it is important to address the technical aspect of charging an e-scooter. Electric scooters are operated by lithium-ion batteries. For reference, these are the kind of batteries phones and laptops run on as well. It is important to note that regardless of the type and the capabilities of the device, lithium-ion batteries are the general rule. Even the fastest e scooter on the market is running on these batteries. The rest of the process is also familiar, where the power source applies voltage to the battery and charges it.

e-scooter

More specific details and some practical advice

There are many different kinds of e-scooters on the market, which are carried by different brands. Obviously, each electric scooter comes with its own charger and it is strongly advised to only use the original charger for each scooter. In case of breakage, make sure to either repair the old charger or buy a new one from the same brand. Avoiding chargers from a different brand will ensure the longevity of the e scooter itself.   

One of the main goals of charging your e-scooter properly is to avoid causing it damage. The two main practices that cause damage to the batteries of this device are draining and overcharging them.

Fully draining the batteries of an electric scooter causes damage and makes their lifespan shorter. This is why it is advised to fully charge the device every time, which will prevent it from being completely drained by the end of the ride. Having said that, it is understandable that waiting for the e scooter battery to get fully charged each time takes quite a while and people simply cannot wait for that long every time. Therefore, the most optimal thing to do is to allow the scooter to get charged enough to the point where it will not be fully drained at the end of the trip.

On the flip side, overcharging the battery is damaging as well. Obviously, leaving the device on charge for ten minutes after it is fully charged is not going to cause any issues, however, continuously leaving the battery plugged in for long periods of time will affect its lifespan. It is important to remember that even the best electric scooter on the market can be at risk of damage if not taken care of properly, so figuring out a charging pattern and following through with it is a good way to make sure that your scooter will last you a long time.

Another way to ensure the longevity of the electric scooter battery is not riding the vehicle immediately after unplugging it. The battery heats up during charging and letting it cool before usage is extremely important. Making a habit of riding the scooter with overheated batteries will eventually cause problems, which is why it will be good to wait from 5 to 10 minutes after unplugging the device and allow it to cool before taking it out on the road.

charging

More advice 

Other charging habits that will prolong the life of your device as well as its charger are:

  1.     Turning the device off before charging

This prevents the e-scooter from charging and discharging at the same time, which harms the battery. Most scooters show the battery level even when they are turned off, so you do not have to worry about monitoring the charging process.

  1.     Make sure that the device is not wet

Although certain parts of most electric scooters are water-resistant, very few vehicles are fully waterproof. Riding in wet conditions, like during the rain or through puddles and mud, might lead to water getting into the battery case, among other parts of the device. Charging the scooter while some of its parts are wet is not a good idea, which is why you should let it dry on its own or dry it yourself before plugging it into the socket.

  1.     Charging in a cool environment

Charging your e scooter in a hot room or under the sun is a big mistake. You will end up permanently damaging not only the battery but also other electronic parts of your device. Therefore, it is highly advised to pick a dry place with room temperature to charge your device.

 Parting words 

We hope you are walking away from this article with an arsenal of knowledge that will help you prolong the lifespan of your electric scooter and its battery. Don’t forget to follow the ANIV blog for more useful articles and be safe on the road.

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