Electric scooters have changed the way a lot of us travel, for the better. They’re easy on the wallet to run, green as the grass itself, and they’ve got some serious zip too! But, as is the case with most gadgets, they’re not perfect devices.
Sometimes, much to our chagrin, our electric scooters decide to misbehave, and one of the most common ways in which they rebel is a refusal to charge — irritating, I know!
Not to worry, though, friend; you are not alone in this challenging situation. In fact, so many e-scooter users have faced this issue that I’ve decided to compose this guide on identifying and fixing an electric scooter that just won’t charge. Let’s dive right in!
Reasons An Electric Scooter Won’t Charge
There are actually five main reasons why your scooter is acting up in this infuriating way:
Broken Battery
If any part of the battery has fallen into disrepair, it can lead to sluggish or nonexistent charge rates. This may well be the case if you ride your e-scooter particularly hard, and it often takes a few impacts.
Broken Charger Port
The charger port is the portal through which the power runs, so if it’s shut down, you’ll be lucky to get a lick of charge.
Broken Charger Or Outlet
The problem could just as well be with your charger, the charger wire, or the outlet you’re using. If you don’t take very good care of your charger, this could well be the issue.
Depth Of Discharge
You know when you forget to charge your phone, and it falls to that level of uber-depletion where even when you finally plug it in to charge, it doesn’t turn on for like 10, 15 minutes? Well, it’s not just phones that experience this plunging depth of discharge.
If your scooter has been in storage for a long time, or you just haven’t charged it in a while, it too will reach these completely powerless depths, and once it’s there, it may appear as if it’s not charging.
No More Life Cycles
Have you had your ride for some time now? If yes, then your charging issue may come down to plain and simple old battery age. Throughout a battery’s service life, their capacity and oomph gradually diminish, until, finally, they can go on no more… RIP, old friend.
Identifying And Fixing An Electric Scooter That Won’t Charge
Now let’s take a look at these problems a little closer and figure out how you can tell which is the one you’re dealing with.
Identifying And Fixing A Broken Charger Or Outlet
Testing an outlet is easy! Simply try plugging your scooter into a different outlet and see what happens. If it fires up, then the outlet is the issue. If it doesn’t, then the issue runs deeper.
Your next port of call should be to check the charger. To do so, you’ll need one of these multimeters.
Plug your charger in, then use your multimeter to check the incoming voltage on the battery pack. If it’s registering an incoming current, then the charger is working just fine, but if it’s not picking anything up, the charge is probably the issue.
To remedy this issue, I’m afraid you’re just going to have to bite the bullet and pick up a new charger.
If you don’t have a multimeter handy, but you do know a friend with the same scooter as you, why not ask to borrow their charger and see if it works. If theirs gets the job done, you’ll know the problem is with your charger and not the battery.
Identifying And Fixing A Depth Of Discharge Issue
It’s a piece of cake figuring out if the reason your battery isn’t charging is depth of discharge. You just have to ask yourself a single question: When was the last time you charged your e-scooter?
If it was nearing 6 months ago, then the problem is almost certainly depth of discharge. Even if it was fully charged when you placed it in storage, it’s likely self discharged to the point it has absolutely zero power left.
The good news is that if your scooter hasn’t been idle for quite 6 months, there’s a chance it will eventually start picking up a charge. Much like with a phone suffering from absolute discharge, sometimes your scooter battery will just need more time to get its power levels up off the ground.
At first, it may appear as if it’s not charging at all, but give it a moment, perhaps leave it overnight. With any luck, you’ll wake up to at least a partially charged scooter!
Should your scooter make no progress overnight, it’s time to consider a battery replacement. You can DIY this if you like, but if you’re not feeling all that confident, consult a professional.
Identifying And Fixing A Broken Charging Port
Here’s another easy diagnosis, especially if your charging port has an LED indicator. Plug your scooter in, and wait for the lights to blink into action. If they light up, the port is functional, if not, it isn’t.
Don’t worry if your port doesn’t have LEDs, as you can use your trusty multimeter from earlier to check if your port is pulling a voltage.
If your port is broken, it’s best to take your scooter to a professional repair shop, as it’s likely a little too complex for DIY-ing.
Identifying And Fixing A Broken Battery
When batteries die, it’s often a messy situation. Open up your battery pack and use your senses to assess the situation. Can you see any leaks? Can you smell any burnt plastic? Does it feel misshapen? Have the wires been compromised? Are there any wires loose?
If you notice anything that doesn’t seem quite right, the chances are your battery has given up the ghost. You should dispose of it responsibly, clear up any mess, and look for a replacement.
Final Thoughts
With any luck, this article will have helped you solve the mystery of the unchargeable e-scooter. Once you know what the issue is, you can work on finding a resolution, and get your ride up and running again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRQHRqoVq7k