Key Points:
- Six ways to extend your scooter battery’s life.
- You can replace the battery in most scooters, and manufactures recommend it.
- What factors affect how long the battery charge will last.
Riding an electric scooter offers many advantages for food delivery drivers, including affordability and convenience. However, you need to ensure that the battery can handle frequent, small trips throughout the day.
Electric scooter batteries may last 10 to 80 miles (16 – 128 km) on a single charge. Depending on the capacity of the battery, you may need to wait 4 to 20 hours for the battery to recharge.
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How Can I Make My Electric Scooter Battery Last Longer?
You can only make an electric scooter battery last so long, as the battery has a limited capacity and life span. Yet, you can avoid shortening its life and get more use out of it with the proper maintenance.
If your ability to deliver food depends on your scooter, learn how to extend electric scooter battery life with the following steps.
Do Not Fully Drain the Battery
Frequent, full discharges reduce the life of lithium-ion batteries, which is the type of battery found in most electric scooters. Allowing the battery to discharge fully may damage the lithium-ion cells, reducing the overall capacity and performance of the battery.
Recharge the battery when it reaches 10% capacity. Avoiding full discharges prevents premature ageing of the battery.
Allow the Battery to Cool Before Charging
Do not charge your battery as soon as you get back home. Lithium-ion batteries discharge at a faster rate when hot. Trying to charge the battery when it is still warm puts stress on the battery, which may cause the lithium-ion cells to degrade faster.
Allow the battery to cool for at least 30 minutes before plugging it in. You should also store batteries in a cool room for the same reason. Cooler batteries hold their charge longer, which preserves the life of stored batteries.
Fully Charge Your Battery Before Riding
Fully charge your battery in the morning before you make your first food delivery. Batteries provide the best performance when charged to almost full capacity. As the battery drains, it starts to discharge at a faster rate.
Starting each day with a full battery allows you to get the most out of it before it requires recharging. Just remember to avoid letting it drain completely.
Never Overcharge Your Battery
Most batteries include overcharge and overcurrent protection. However, leaving your battery plugged in after it fully charges still includes a risk of overcharging. The overcharge protector circuit may fail, which may lead to an electrical fire.
The typical recommendation is never to leave your scooter charging for more than eight hours. Never charge your scooter overnight or leave it plugged in while you run errands with a different vehicle.
Charge the Battery Before Storing
Lithium-ion batteries may lose 3% to 5% of their charge each month that they remain unused. Fully charge the battery before storing it to ensure that it does not drain.
Batteries that remain unused degrade faster. Charging stored batteries every three to six months helps keep the internal parts active. You should also store the batteries in a cool, dark spot, such as a basement or cabinet.
Use the Charger Designed for Your Battery
Do not mix and match batteries and battery chargers. Each charger is designed to charge batteries at a set voltage and current.
Using the wrong type of charge may result in overvoltage or overcurrent damage. Both issues may lead to fires by supplying the battery with more power than it can handle.
If the charger that came with your electric scooter stops working, try to order a replacement from the manufacturer. If you need to buy a third-party charger, make sure that your battery is listed as compatible.
Consider Buying a Second Battery
You may struggle to deliver food all day with a single battery. Consider buying one or more extra batteries that you can keep charged. When the first battery of the day reaches below 10% capacity, switch to one of the backup batteries.
Using multiple batteries may also extend the life of each battery. You can give batteries time to cool before charging, reduce the risk of overcharging, and avoid fully draining any of your batteries.
How Long Does an Electric Scooter Battery Charge Last?
A full charge typically offers a range of 10 to 80 miles. However, the range depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Battery capacity
- Power draw
- Weight
- Age
The capacity of the battery is the main factor that determines how long a charge lasts. Electric scooter battery capacity is rated in watt-hours (Wh). The average battery has a capacity of 250 Watt, while the typical electric scooter has a 250-watt motor. The battery lasts for about an hour when driving at medium speed.
Keep in mind that batteries gradually lose the ability to hold charges. As the battery loses capacity, it can no longer power your electric scooter for the same length of time. A battery that previously lasted an hour may only last 45 minutes after a year or two of use.
How Long Does a Battery Last on an Electric Scooter?
The typical life of a lithium-ion battery is about two to three years. Most e-scooter batteries provide 300 to 500 charge cycles. A single charge cycle is a period from fully charged to fully discharged to fully recharged again.
If you spend two hours per day delivering food on your scooter, the battery may not last as long. You can expect a significant decrease in capacity within a single year.
Can You Replace the Battery on Electric Scooters?
You can easily replace the battery on an electric scooter. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the battery when the run time (the length of time that the battery powers your scooter) drops below 80%.
For example, if a battery drops from a run time of 60 minutes to 48 minutes, you may want to replace it with a new one.
When replacing batteries, pay attention to the voltage and capacity. The voltage should match the voltage of the original battery. However, you can buy batteries with a large storage capacity.
High-capacity batteries offer more range, as they can store more energy. As mentioned, the average battery has a capacity of 250 Wh. Upgrading to a 500 Wh battery of the same voltage should almost double your range.
Batteries may also list the capacity in “amp hours” (Ah). A battery listed as 12V/20Ah can deliver 20 amps of current for one hour. A 250W motor draws about 7A of current, resulting in a run time of close to three hours with a 20Ah battery.
How Much Does an Electric Scooter Battery Cost?
The average cost of an electric scooter battery is between $90 and $250. High-capacity batteries from reputable brands tend to cost more. However, spending a little more on an e-scooter battery could save you money in the long run.
A battery with a higher capacity and quality parts may last longer, allowing you to replace the battery less frequently.
Summary
Most e-scooter batteries last about one to two hours when travelling at 10 to 15 mph.
If you want your battery to last longer, avoid driving at fast speeds and take routes that may involve less traffic congestion.
Save on gas & groceries: the Upside app gives you cash back when you fill up your tank, buy groceries, or eat out.
You should also keep your battery charged, even when not using your scooter, as allowing the battery to drain may limit its life.
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