Top electric scooters are fast becoming a convenient, affordable, and efficient way to get around cities. It is therefore important that more and more scooter users, learn basic maintenance practices such as how to replace an electric scooter battery.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The battery packs found in scooters are made of individual cells and electronics known as a battery management system that helps them operate safely.
- After extensive use, electric scooter batteries will completely break down or fail to cover enough distance as they did before.
- Compared to lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries have a poor energy density, meaning they weigh more than they can store.
The built-in electric motor in a scooter makes it possible to cover considerable distances with little effort and inconveniences like traffic. Like cars need gas, electric scooters need batteries. After extensive use, electric scooter batteries will completely break down or fail to cover enough distance as they did before.
Tools Needed: Basic screwdriver, Allen wrench 4mm, 8mm wrench, and needle-nose pliers.
Electric Scooter Batteries
The batteries in your electric scooter are like the gas in your car. Batteries store energy that helps you get from point A to B. The energy stored by electric scooters is consumed by the motor, controller, lights, and other accessories.
Most e-scooters in the market come with some type of lithium-ion battery. They are popular due to their longevity and excellent energy density. You will also find lead-acid batteries on kids and low-quality e-scooters.
The battery packs found in scooters are made of individual cells and electronics known as a battery management system that helps them operate safely. Bigger battery packs will have more capacity and are measured in watt-hours. These kinds of batteries will let the e-scooter travel further. On the negative side, they will increase the weight and size of the scooter. If this slows you down, you may opt to remove the speed limiter on your e-scooter.
Types of E-Scooter Batteries
There are three types of electric scooter batteries:
Lithium-ion Batteries
They are the most popular batteries today used in laptops, smartphones, and smart devices. They are much popular since they are lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries and have the capability to store electricity for a lot more hours. They lose their charge only about 5% per month compared to other types that lose up to 20% per month.
Insider Tip
Apply a good amount of pressure, wiping the surface occasionally with your finger to check how smooth it is.
Lead-acid Batteries
They were popular in automobiles, but you’ll also find them in kids and lower-quality scooters. Their main benefit is they are inexpensive. Compared to lithium-ion batteries, they have a poor energy density, meaning they weigh a lot more than they can store.
Lithium Manganese
It uses perhaps one of the safest chemicals and is popular in electric scooter batteries. The best benefit of this kind of battery is that it lowers the heat produced by the working of the battery. Lithium manganese gives of high current output at lower temperatures compared to any other battery type.
Replacing an Electric Scooter Battery
Changing the battery on your electric scooter is quite easy, and only takes a few steps. The following are tools required:
- Basic Screwdriver
- Allen wrench 4mm
- 8mm wrench
- Needle nose pliers
To replace your e-scooter Battery successfully do the following:
Before you begin the e-scooter battery replacement task, make sure you turn off the power supply. It’s not only safe to put off the power, but also helps prevent a short circuit.
- Take out the screws from the deck. Ensure that you keep all the screws in one spot to prevent confusion about which screws go where. Use the 8mm Allen wrench to remove the Allen bolts. Take out the third pair of screws and the last couple with both the wrench and screwdriver.
- Next, take out the old batteries by removing the bar that keeps the batteries in place. It is essential to note that you’ll need to remove the cords that attach the batteries as well. To do this you’ll have to flip the battery. Unplugging the cable at this point will be relatively easy. Press on the clip to remove the big plug easily. You’ll need the pliers to remove the low-lying pins. Reach for the plugs pulling them straight back. Since the batteries are connected, you’ll need to take them right out.
- Placing the new batteries into the e-scooter is the easiest part of the installation. First, place the new batteries directly in one place, and the battery with the longer wire towards the rear side of the electric scooter. Plug the cables together using the pliers. Plug the bottom wires first then the top wires last. Make sure that the plastic cover connects to the metal connectors since it reduces the chance of currents.
- Before reinstalling the deck, ensure that the battery tie-down strap is reinstalled using a screwdriver. Lastly, install the scooter deck with all the screws in the same position they had been removed.
It is essential that you charge the scooter battery for about 8-hours after re-installing it. And if you’re a new user make sure to check out the best tips on how to start your e-scooter.
Insider Tip
Be sure the glue is stuck between the leather and the cloth by pressing the leather down onto the cloth for up to two minutes.
F.A.Q.
What types of batteries are used in an electric scooter?
There are three common types of batteries used on e-scooters. Lithium-ion batteries, Lithium Manganese, and Lead-acid batteries.
When should I replace my electric scooter battery?
Your electric scooter batteries will need replacing if they are unable to store energy for a considerable amount of time or range, or when they completely fail to power the e-scooter.
How long do electric scooter batteries last?
Averagely, an e-scooter battery should last for 3 years, that’s about 3,000 to 10,000 miles. However, a lot of factors come into play including the wattage, battery size, and frequency of use.
Which battery is best for an e-scooter?
Lithium-ion is best due to its energy density. Lithium Manganese is also considered safe for e-scooters.
STAT: By the end of 2018, there were over 85,000 electric scooters available for public use in 100 cities in the United States. In the same year, Americans took 84 million trips on Shared Micro mobility, more than double the amount in 2017 (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.electricscooterreport.com/how-to-replace-the-battery-on-an-electric-scooter/
- https://electric-scooter.guide/guides/electric-scooter-batteries/
- https://raine.co/blogs/news/electric-scooter-batteries-guider
- https://thebigrideguide.com/how-to-replace-a-scooter-battery-and-the-best-replacement/ https://nacto.org/shared-micromobility-2018
