Ahh… the electric scooter, the unlikely underdog that changed the way we travel despite competition from the infamous e-bike, traditional push vehicles, and, of course, standard motorized vehicles.
I absolutely love these devices! They go fast, they’re insanely fun, and some in the upper echelons of the market can travel as far as 75 miles on a single charge, which I think we can all agree is completely bonkers!
However, they won’t take us anywhere if we don’t understand how to charge them, which is why I decided to formulate this comprehensive e-scooter charging guide. Here, we’ll discuss everything you need to know on the subject, from how it’s done, to how you can optimize your battery’s service life. Let’s dig in!
Plugging Your Electric Scooter In Top Charge
Let’s start with the basics and discuss how you set your scooter up for a charging session.
Step 1: Turn Off Your Electric Scooter
You should treat your e-scooter as if it were a car pulling up to a gas station. Plugging it in to charge while it’s still running just isn’t a good idea. Granted, it won’t be as incendiary as filling the tank of a running car, but it’s not great for the battery, and it will slow down the charge significantly.
Step 2: Let Your Scooter Rest For 15 Minutes
Allowing your scooter time to cool down and settle will set the best foundation for a healthy and efficient charge.
During this time, it’s a good idea to make sure your scooter and charger are nice and dry. The environment should also be dry, and if possible, quite cool, as this will keep the battery temperate stable as it charges.
Strep 3: Plug Your Charger Into A Wall Outlet
Do this first, before hooking the other end of the charger up to your scooter. Any typical home outlet will do, but if, for whatever reason, you have a super juiced or exceptionally weak outlet in your home, avoid them.
Step 4: Plug The Charger Into The Charging Port
On most models, the charging port of an electric scooter is situated to the side of the platform, near the bridge that connects the platform and stem. It may well be protected by a cover or stopper, so bear in mind that it might not be obviously visible when you’re trying to find it.
Once you’ve located it, plug the charger cord in firmly. If your scooter has LED charge indicators, they should now light up; however, if you’re dealing with some serious discharge, it may take them a few minutes to get going.
A red light will normally mean that your scooter is charging as it should, while a green light will indicate that it’s charged up and ready for a ride.
Step 5: Leave Your Scooter To Charge
You don’t have to sit by your e-scooter’s side as it charges, so go about your day, but don’t forget about it. You need to unplug your scooter as soon as it hits 100%. We’ll discuss why in just a moment.
How To Prolong Battery Cycle Life
Most electric scooters use lithium ion batteries, which is great. They’re compact, lightweight, powerful, and efficient. But they’re very different to the SLA batteries of yesteryear, and they like to be treated in a certain way. Doing otherwise will likely limit their overall service life. Here’s how to keep those Li-Ion batteries sweet.
Avoid Extremes
SLA batteries really enjoy being fully charged and discharged, but lithium batteries don’t feel the same way. They detest stressful extremes of both low and high charges.
With that in mind, the best way to prolong their service life is to keep them within a safe zone. I’d recommend never letting your scooter fall below 25% charge, but if you want to be really careful, charge it up every time it hits the 50% mark. I’d also try to stop the charge at around 90%.
Avoid overcharging as much as you can as well. Overcharge occurs when a battery is left charging after it reaches 100%. It then starts to overheat, which can reduce its service life dramatically.
To completely avoid overcharge, you may want to unplug your scooter before it even reaches 100%.
Use The Original Charger
The voltage and plug technology of chargers can differ greatly from unit to unit, so it’s best to always use the charger provided by the scooter manufacturer. If your factory charger breaks, avoid 3rd party products. Contact the brand directly and try to replace your factory charger.
The factory charger is optimized for the battery in your electric scooter. Any other charger won’t be tailored to the same extent and can cause irreparable damage.
Store Your Battery In A Cool, Dry Place
Although Li-Ion batteries are quite robust, they’re still quite sensitive to temperature, so it’s important to keep them in a cool, dry environment. As mentioned earlier, it’s also best to charge your scooter in a similar space.
If you’re putting your e-scooter in storage for a while, and it has a removable battery, it’s best to detach it and bring it indoors with you. You can then switch it on from time to time and keep it charged up to prevent self-discharge when idle.
Never Charge Straight After A Ride
The responsible e-scooter owner would be forgiven for thinking that the best course of action is to plug it in as soon as you arrive at a destination with charging facilities, but this isn’t the case.
Both riding and charging are work to your scooter battery, and it needs time to decompress between them. It’s like you needing a break between shifts at your job.
So, allow your scooter time to chill before plugging it in and charging it up.
How Long Should I Charge My Electric Scooter?
The charge times of scooters differ from model to model, so it’s best to check the user manual for a specific answer, but, generally speaking, you’re looking at something to the tune of 2–4 hours.
It’s good to know charge durations so you can completely eliminate the risk of overcharge by unplugging your scooter just before, or as, it hits 100%.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations, you’ve just completed electric scooter charging 101! I now officially declare you a master of the charge. With the knowledge you’ve gained here today, you can take great care of your scooter, ensuring you live a long, happy life together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSasnCduhj4