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You wouldn’t get very far on an electric scooter without a battery. It is, of course, the thing that powers your scooter. Every single component on your e-scooter, from the lights to the motor, is dependent on the battery. This is why it’s vital to pick a scooter with a high-quality battery that can provide you with enough range to get from where you want to where you want without running out of power.
We’re now going to answer all the important questions that you might have about electric scooter batteries. Let’s get going.
What Type of E-Scooter Batteries are Available?
While an e-scooter battery is often referred to in the singular, a battery pack is actually powering your scooter. This battery pack is composed of multiple batteries. These batteries are then connected and packed into a structure that resembles a brick. The batteries used inside an e-scooter battery pack will usually fall into three main types. These three battery types are lithium-ion batteries, lithium manganese batteries, and lead-acid batteries. Let’s have a look at each of them.
Lithium-ion batteries are the most common form of battery used to create an electric scooter battery pack because they offer an excellent amount of storage for their size. This means that you can create a lightweight battery pack that will provide you with long-lasting energy, something that alternative forms of batteries cannot offer. On top of this ability to pack more power into a smaller, lighter battery, lithium-ion is also an excellent energy source because batteries of this type have a longer life. It’s possible to continually recharge and reuse a lithium-ion battery for a significant amount of time without it becoming unusable. There is a wide range of lithium-ion batteries on the market, including lithium nickel cobalt oxide and lithium iron phosphate.
Another variation on lithium-ion is the lithium manganese battery. These batteries often power high-quality electric scooters. Why? To put it simply, this form of battery can offer you more bang for the buck. You have a higher output, and, at the same time, lithium manganese also allows for more storage. It comes at a cost for the manufacturer, though, which is why this form of battery tends to be used in premium electric scooters, such as MiniMotors’ DualTron series of scooters.
At the other end of the price spectrum, we have lead-acid batteries. This form of battery tends to be only used in low-price electric scooters or toy electric scooters intended for children to play with at home, rather than being used as a personal transport vehicle. This type of battery has been around for a very long time. You’ve likely been inside a vehicle that’s been powered by a lead-acid battery, as golf carts, for example, use this form of battery.
This type of battery is ideal for a large vehicle like a golf cart, but it’s not optimum for an electric scooter. That’s because it requires a lot of matter for storage, and that means that batteries of this type are heavy. For a lead-acid battery to offer the same capabilities as a lithium-ion battery, it would need to be ten times bigger. There’s no wonder that lead-acid is not the choice of most electric scooter manufacturers.
What is a Battery’s Capacity Rating?
If you want to understand what kind of capabilities an electric scooter’s battery offers, you need to look at its capacity rating. When looking at a battery’s capacity rating, then you will notice that it’s determined in ‘Watt-Hours’ or ‘Wh’ for short. As the name suggests, the number is quite simply the number of watts that the battery provides per hour. Therefore, if a battery has a capacity rating of 5 Wh, it will deliver 5 watts of power for an hour. Of course, the bigger the number is, the more energy can be stored inside the battery, meaning that it can power an electric scooter for longer.
You might be wondering how a Wh number translates into actual range for an electric scooter. On average, approximately 25 Wh will translate into a mile of range or 1.6 km of range. It’s quite common for a mid-range electric scooter to give riders about 10 miles or 16 km of range, so that means that it will have a battery pack with a capacity rating of approximately 250 Wh.
This is just an average scooter, though. Many of the top-of-the-range scooters offer a significantly higher amount of range, and, in turn, they include batteries that have a much bigger capacity rating. If you’re looking for a battery that can power your electric scooter for distances of 60 or 70 miles, you will need to ensure that the capacity rating is somewhere closer to 1,500 Wh.
Who Makes E-Scooter Batteries?
As with many electrical components, the best batteries tend to be made by companies that you will know very well. Some examples of electric scooter manufacturers that are known for quality include Sanyo, LG, and Panasonic. Many of the top electric scooter manufacturers will turn to a trustworthy name like these companies when choosing a manufacturer for its battery packs.
This isn’t, unfortunately, the case for manufacturers of cheap electric scooters. Of course, these manufacturers need to keep costs down, and one way of doing so is by picking a battery pack manufacturer that can offer them the cheapest deal. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the batteries are of low quality. Still, it’s, of course, a significant risk when manufacturers choose a generic battery, which has often been mass-produced in China. Because they have been produced in such large quantities, then there is less chance that they have received a proper inspection.
That means that a lot more sub-standard batteries slip through the net. This doesn’t tend to be the case with the more famous and well-regarded battery manufacturers who rely upon their business reputation. Companies like LG will always ensure that its batteries are of the highest quality. And it’s not just the battery manufacturers that need to be known for quality control. It’s always a good idea to purchase an electric scooter from a reputable company that has received excellent reviews for quality. It’s more likely that you’ll get a scooter powered by a long-lasting battery pack.
What is the Average Lifespan of an E-Scooter Battery?
All batteries are different, and the quality of the battery will impact upon its lifespan. But the average lithium battery will be capable of being charged approximately 400 times before it starts to lose its storage capabilities. This translates into more than 5,000 miles for many electric scooters. Better batteries will even offer you double that amount of mileage before the battery starts to lose its quality. The average battery should provide you with between two and four years of regular usage without being replaced.
Is There a Way to Make Batteries Last Longer?
Some easy-to-follow tips can help your battery provide a longer amount of life before it starts to lose its quality.
The first thing a scooter owner can do is ensure that the charger isn’t left plugged into the battery once it has reached maximum power. Leaving your battery on charge when it has reached capacity is a very harmful thing to do, so always ensure that you keep an eye on it when charging and unplug it when it’s fully charged.
It’s also a bad idea to let your battery stay empty for long periods. If you know you’re not going to be riding your scooter for a little while, then make sure to charge it to anywhere between a third and a half of its maximum level, and then store it. If you have left your scooter alone for an extended period, then give it a short top-up now and again.
You should also ensure that you don’t use the battery when it’s either too cold or too hot. A battery should never be used if it is at 0 c or 45 c.
Taking care of your battery is the best way to extend its life. Ensure that you follow these tips, and you’ll have a long-lasting battery.
Where is the Best Place to Store an Electric Scooter Battery?
As we’ve already touched on with our last question, it’s essential that the battery isn’t too hot or too cold. That means that it should never be left in direct sunlight or stored in a room that gets extremely hot, such as a shed. This is also the case for the wintertime. You don’t want to leave it outside or somewhere without much insulation as it will get too cold. A scooter battery pack doesn’t take up much space when you detach it from the scooter. It’s recommended that you find somewhere in your home to store it so that it will always remain at room temperature. Of course, you also want to ensure that the battery is kept somewhere dry.
Summary
Now you know all that you need to about electric scooter batteries. Choosing a battery with a high capacity rating is the best way to get a more extended range. Lithium-ion batteries are the best choice. And always ensure that you care for your battery so that you can have extended life from it.
