If your electric scooter will not move, it could be an issue with a kill switch that has been accidentally turned on. This may leave you wondering how to disable a kill switch on any top electric scooter. Don’t worry. We are here to help.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- An electric scooter’s kill switch can degrade over time, as the connections between it and the motor can fray.
- To disable the kill switch permanently, you are going to have to open up the scooter and remove the connections between the switch and the motor.
- Be sure to store the kill switch properly after removal and tape up the ground wire if necessary.
What is a Kill Switch?
A kill switch allows scooter riders to turn the scooter on or off without having to reach for the key. The kill switch is wired directly to the motor and will turn the motor off instantly by pushing the switch.
What are the Benefits of a Kill Switch?
A kill switch on a scooter lets riders turn off the scooter without having to reach for the key. This can help conserve battery life during traffic-heavy rides. Many scooter riders prefer to engage the kill switch during short halts instead of physically powering the scooter down the old-fashioned way.
What are the Disadvantages of a Kill Switch?
A standard kill switch is connected directly to the scooter’s motor and this connection can become frayed or unreliable. If the connection becomes damaged or wears down over time, the kill switch could engage for no reason, leading to potentially dangerous scenarios.
How to Disable a Kill Switch on an Electric Scooter
The exact process to disable a kill switch may differ depending on your scooter model, but we have assembled a list of universal steps to take for just about any scooter. You may be interested in steps to take to fix an e-scooter that doesn’t charge.
STEP 1 Open up the Scooter’s Exterior Casing
Grab a screwdriver, wrench, or whatever tool you have used in the past to open up the exterior casing of your scooter. Take your time with it and be careful around sensitive areas and components, such as the battery charging port. Once you have the case removed, set it aside along with any screws you removed.
Insider Tip
A kill switch on a scooter lets riders turn off the scooter without having to reach for the key. This can help conserve battery life during traffic-heavy rides.
STEP 2 Follow the Kill Switch
The kill switch itself should have an obvious connection, typically via two or three wires, to the scooter’s motor. Follow the kill switch until you find where it is connected to this motor. The connection cables could be red, green, white, or black. Read up on your scooter’s instruction manual if you want to be thorough when it comes to finding where the kill switch leads.
STEP 3 Remove the Kill Switch Connections
Simply unplug the connections between the kill switch and the motor. This should be an easy process via a gentle tug. You can go ahead and pull out the kill switch with the connections still attached and set it aside in case you want to re-connect the switch at a later date. We recommend storing the kill switch in a plastic bag in a cool, dry area of your home. This will help protect the connections from degrading over time. You may also want to tape up the ground wire with duct tape so as to prevent issues down the line.
STEP 4 Rebuild the Exterior
Now it is time to rebuild the exterior casing of the electric scooter. Use whatever tools you used to remove the casing and perform the operation in reverse. Try to be extremely careful when it comes to ports, holes, and other sensitive components. The battery and the charger port should be paid special attention to, as both can be finicky. Once you are done rebuilding the scooter, it should look exactly as it did before you took it apart.
STEP 5 Cover up the Kill Switch Hole
The kill switch will no longer be attached to your scooter, but the casing may still have a hole where the switch used to go. You are going to want to cover this hole up with duct tape or a related substance so as to avoid any dust or debris from seeping into the scooter’s internal components. This can cause damage down the line. Duct tape is essential to have around because it helps in covering the ports as you clean your e-scooter.
STEP 6 Test the Scooter
Turn on your scooter. If it works, you are good to go. You have successfully removed the kill switch.
Warning
If the connection becomes damaged or wears down over time, the kill switch could engage for no reason, leading to potentially dangerous scenarios.
F.A.Q.
After removing a kill switch from a vehicle, will it start right?
It should start correctly, assuming you completed the removal procedure correctly. Some poorly designed scooters, however, can run into issues when the kill switch has been removed.
Do you turn off a scooter with a kill switch?
The kill switch is intended for use in specific circumstances and it should not be used every time you look to turn off a scooter.
Can you buy replacement kill switches?
Yes. Most scooter models allow for the replacement of kill switches. Make sure the one you are looking to buy will integrate with your scooter before purchasing.
STAT: Projected global retail sales of electric scooters and bicycles are expected to reach approximately 50 million units by 2020. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/801972/global-retail-sales-forecast-for-electric-scooters-and-bicycles/
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1022246/estimated-global-shared-e-scooter-market-size-by-region/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_motorcycles_and_scootersr
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorized_scooter
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_switch
