How are electric scooters made, and how do they work? This is a question many scooter buyers ask when they first get into the market looking for an e-scooter. However, if you think about it closely, the general materials are a lot like what you’d use on a regular bicycle.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Electric scooters are light and compact. They run on rechargeable batteries and are accepted as environmentally friendly.
- The materials used to make an e-scooter largely depend on its overall quality and the industry reputation of the manufacturer.
- An electric scooter is made by joining multiple parts, including the electric elements consisting of the motor, battery, frame, tires, and other supplementary components.
Most of the best electric scooters are light and compact. They run on rechargeable batteries and are accepted as environmentally friendly. Since they don’t use fuel, their overall cost of maintenance is considerably low.
What are Electric Scooters made of?
The main part of an electric scooter is the frame, which’s usually made of industrial-grade aluminum alloy. However, some e-scooters will also have a carbon fiber frame or a combination of both carbon fiber and aluminum.
Their electric motor components are made of metal, magnets, copper wires, while the batteries consist of metals and minerals. The scooter details and supplementary parts are made of plastic, steel, silicone, and rubber.
It is essential to note that the materials used to make an e-scooter largely depend on its overall quality and the industry reputation of the manufacturer.
How are Electric Scooters Made?
An electric scooter is made by joining multiple parts, including the electric features consisting of the motor, battery, frame, tires, and other supplementary components.
The Motor
Every electric scooter comes with an electric motor. In most setups, the motor is built into the wheels. However, it’s not uncommon to find motors designed outside the wheels either. The motor uses a chain to transfer power to the wheels to induce movement.
Brakes
Like any other locomotive, an electric scooter comes with a braking system to induce stopping. However, since e-scooters are not designed to ride past 20 mph, they don’t come with advanced braking systems like you would find in a motorcycle. But we still recommend that you schedule oil maintenance for the brake system periodically.
Lithium-ion Battery
All e-scooters come with a battery. However, recently designed electric scooters use lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are made of metal oxides and lithium salts. The batteries are what store the power that runs the motors to create motion.
Electric Scooter Controllers
The electric scooters are controlled by a throttle button and command found on a screen. The e-scooters control and electric parts are connected with electric wires. The controller here works to transfer the commands by the rider with the throttle and the screen to the electric motor and the lithium-ion battery.
Insider Tip
It is essential to note that the materials used to make an e-scooter largely depend on its overall quality and the industry reputation of the manufacturer.
Electric Scooter Tires
The e-scooter tires are what help the locomotive glide on the ground. Most electric scooter tires are made of air-filled rubber tires. However, it’s not uncommon to find e-scooters with solid tires made of silicone and rubber. Solid tires have an advantage over air filled-tires since they don’t get flats. However, their drawbacks are that the ride quality is less stable and shakier. If you have safety concerns, read about how dangerous electric scooters can be and how to protect yourself.
Supplementary e-Scooter Parts
Perhaps one of the most helpful parts an e-scooter can have is a seat. Recently, many manufacturers have begun incorporating seats into their units due to demand. Those that don’t have an optional version can be removed easily.
Other supplementary parts include a basket and a bell. Of course, some scooters won’t have these, but the aftermarket industry has several options that are cheap to buy and easy to install.
How does an Electric Scooter Work?
Electric scooters are powered by rechargeable batteries. In general, these batteries are designed to run within a range of between 10 to 40 miles. Ideally, the motor is mounted on the frame of the electric scooter. The power stored in the batteries is channeled through electric wires to the motor to induce movement.
Depending on the make and model of the e-scooter, the motor will either be linked with a chain to the front or rear wheels to push the e-scooter forward. Due to an inbuilt speed limiter, an e-scooter won’t go over the 15mph maximum speed limit.
An e-scooter speed limiter can be removed. However, it’s essential to note that tampering with your e-scooter could void your warranty. Also, depending on the state you live in, it might be illegal to tamper with the delimiter.
Warning
An e-scooter speed limiter can be removed. However, it’s essential to note that tampering with your e-scooter could void your warranty. Also, depending on the state you live in, it might be illegal to tamper with the delimiter.
F.A.Q.
How do electric scooters work?
Electric scooters come with a motor that is connected to the wheels and is powered by rechargeable batteries. Once the rider presses on the throttle, the signal is sent through the wires to the controller, then to the motor and batteries to induce movement.
Are electric scooters safe?
Yes. Limited to 20 mph, electric scooters are generally safe to ride.
What materials are used to make an electric scooter?
The electric scooter consists of many parts. The main components, however, are the frame, motor, tires, brakes, and controllers.
How fast can an e-scooter go?
Scooters are limited to 15mph to reduce safety hazards. It is possible to make a scooter go fast by tampering with the delimiter. However, it is illegal in some states and will void the warranty.
STAT: Electric scooters have taken over many cities in the U.S and the world as a whole. It is estimated that about 89 million trips were made on shared e-scooters in the U.S alone during 2019. This is twice the number of times recorded in 2018 (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motorcycles_and_scooters
- https://escooternerds.com/what-are-electric-scooters-made-of/#:~:text=Every%20electric%20scooter%20has%20an,the%20movement%20to%20the%20wheels.
- https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/a19731032/how-electric-scooter-works/r
- https://www.choosewheels.com/electric-scooters-work/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1181790/shared-scooter-trips-united-states/
