How to charge an electric scooter and how long it should be charged-The step-by-step guide to charging an electric scooter
After going through a tough time selecting an electric scooter of your choice, it is finally here. Congratulations! We all know the excitement it comes with. You are ready to show it to your friends and ride with them but wait. It is an electronic gadget, and like most electric gadgets with batteries, it has to be charged before it is used. And even after charging for the first time, how well should you charge the electric scooter to make the battery last longer.
Electric scooters have a specific charging limit for their batteries. Electric scooters come with manuals to show you how to charge them but they may leave some specific details out. This is why this blog was written to cover that. This blog does not only talk about how to charge electric scooters but also how long should be charged and how well they should be charged to increase the lifespan of the battery.
How to charge an electric scooter safely
We are so eager to charge our electric scooters before using but do we think about safety before charging and riding an electric scooter.
Let’s look at how safely we can charge our electric scooters.
The most crucial way of charging your electric scooter safely is by using the original charger of the scooter. Once you buy a new electric scooter, it comes with its charger. That must be the only charger used in charging the electric scooter. What if the charger develops a fault? Go to the nearest shop or you can check online stores like Amazon to get the original charger of the scooter you ride.
The charger should be plugged into a working outlet as it allows it to be connected to the electrical grid. Make sure the light is on once the charger is inserted into the charging port.
Make sure you unplug the charger from the outlet once it has been indicated that the battery is full. This is shown with a green light.
How to charge an electric scooter
I have provided a step-by-step guide to guide you on charging your electric scooter
- Allow the electric scooter to cool for about 30 minutes after riding. ( Skip this step when it is a new brand-new electric scooter)
- Plug the charger into the working outlet.
- Insert the charger into the charging port. This is indicated by a red color since the battery is low
- Wait for the scooter to charge. The color indicated after an electric charger is fully charged is green. Modern electric scooters have battery bars just like mobile phones which can show you the level of your battery when charging
- Unplug the charger immediately after it is fully charged
How long should an electric scooter be charged
Just like many electronic devices, electric scooters have lithium-ion batteries. The charging duration of electric scooter varies greatly as it comes in different brands, models, and versions. Another factor that affects the charging duration of an electric scooter is the weight (find out how much an electric scooter weighs) of an electric scooter. Heavyweight electric scooters have big-sized batteries which require long charging hours.
Most electric scooters charge within 3-8 hours. The average time for charging an electric scooter is about 5 and a half hours.
An electric scooter such as Dualtron X can last for about 25 hours before it is fully charged.
However, there is a way of calculating the charging duration of an electric scooter. Do not worry. This involves a simple calculation of battery capacity and charger capacity.
Let us try calculating the charging time of an electric scooter for an unknown electric scooter. For example, let us take an electric scooter with a battery capacity of 12 Ampere-hours (Ah), and a charger current of 1.8 Amperes(A).
Charging time in hours (h)= battery capacity/charger current
h= 12/1.8
Charging time is therefore 6.6 hours. This is approximately 7 hours
Should you leave an electric scooter charging overnight?
Many people think charging an electric scooter overnight will increase the charging efficiency of the battery but that is all wrong. When the charger is still plugged in at 100%, do not assume it stops charging. When the battery is 100% charged, additional charges will result in the Lithium metal coating the battery’s anode. The lithium will build up on the anode after some time and obstruct the movement of lithium ions and later obstruct the flow of electrons too. This will then reduce the capacity of the battery.
However, electric scooters have modern technologies to avoid overcharging but it is still not safe to leave the charger plugged in the working outlet. What if an electrical fault develops while you sleep? You may not only cause harm to the electric scooter but it may cause harm to the electric scooter and yourself as well.
How long does an electric scooter’s battery last?
Charging time is over. You wish you could ride the electric scooter forever without charging but that is impossible to achieve. Usually, it depends on the model and brand of the electric scooter. Some electric scooters have batteries with high battery capacity than others. Averagely, an electric scooter lasts between 60 minutes and about 2 and half hours at top speed and can last to about 6 hours at regular speed.
Again, every Lithium-Lion battery has several cycles to should go through. Most of the famous electric scooters go through 300-500 cycles while the best ones can go very high like 1000 cycles. Charging it more frequently and overcharging it means you are shortening the battery’s lifespan. It can last about 2-5 years. This will be a good run for your money and the battery can even be replaced if you will like to continue using the electric scooter.
Can the battery of an electric scooter be replaced?
As I said earlier, the battery of the electric scooter can be replaced after it is worn but is it worth the cost? When replacing the battery of your electric scooter, you must buy from the same brand and the battery should have the same specifications as the old one. Imagine not having any of the retailers around you. This means that you will have to order it from a trusted online store for it to be shipped to you. This will incur extra costs. The cost of shipping the new battery may even buy a brand-new electric scooter. Since purchasing a new battery is not cost-effective, I will advise you to get a new electric scooter.
How to increase the lifespan of an electric scooter’s battery
You may not be happy when the battery of the electric scooter gets damaged a few months after purchasing it. This is why I have put in some dos and don’ts to increase the lifespan of the battery of your electric scooter.
How often should I charge my electric scooter?
The amount of battery life left in the scooter’s battery and your usage habits will determine how frequently you charge it. It is typically advised to charge the scooter anytime the battery level falls to between 20 and 30%, or as directed by the manufacturer. Compared to fully discharging the battery before each charge, frequent partial charging increases the battery’s lifetime.
Can I charge my electric scooter outdoors?
It is feasible to charge an electric scooter outside, but there are certain safety considerations. The charger and the charging port need to be shielded from moisture, rain, and other external factors. If you need to charge your scooter outside, seek for a place that is dry and protected or think about purchasing a weatherproof cover made especially for charging. Make sure the charging arrangement is safe and shielded from loss or harm.
Precautions
- Always use the original charger of the electric scooter.
- Do not overcharge the battery of the electric scooter.
- Always make sure you charge the electric scooter before riding(find out how to ride an electric scooter)
- Avoid draining the battery completely before charging.
- Allow the battery to cool after charging before riding.
- Allow the battery to cool down before charging.
- Do not exceed the weight limit of the electric scooter
Conclusion
Charging an electric scooter is very easy but when it is not done correctly, affects the battery of the scooter. I will urge you to follow these simple guidelines to increase the lifespan of your electric scooter’s battery.