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Electric scooters are two-wheeled vehicles powered by batteries that are designed for the transport of one person. The person can travel standing or sitting depending on the type of scooter. Most electric scooters are very similar to electric motorcycles. As a matter of fact, they were both developed around the same time and share most of the same design features.
Electric scooters are becoming more and more popular throughout the country. They make it possible to quickly and safely travel along sidewalks; whether in crowded cities or rural towns. Most of these scooters are very affordable, they don’t require gas, and their upkeep cost is minimal. They are also considerably more environmentally friendly than any car.
Their design is fairly simple, which makes it easy for owners to maintain their scooters without paying for professional assistance. Following is a closer look at the history of electric scooters and an answer to the question “How do electric scooters work?”.
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A Brief History
The first patent for an electric bicycle was filed during the late 19th century. Several prototype models were manufactured by different companies over the following years. But it wasn’t until World War II that electric motorcycles became a popular item. ParCar, a well-known manufacturer of electric vehicles, was founded in the 1940’s after the owner produced a number of very popular electric motorcycles.
For a long time, the focus was entirely on motorcycles. But in 1996, Peugeot manufactured the first mass-produced electric scooter. It could travel at speeds of 25 MPH and used Nickel-Cadmium batteries. A decade later, Vectrix released a high-performance electric scooter capable of very high speeds.
Most modern scooters operate in the same fashion and rely on the same core components. The most important of these components are the power source, the motor, the wheels, and the controls. Next, let’s begin to answer the question, “How do electric scooters work?”
The Power Source
Every electric scooter relies on a battery as a power source. It’s important to note that not all batteries are created equal. Several different battery types have been developed over the past decade. Older electric scooters may rely on sub-par batteries as power sources. Though, in some cases, older batteries can be upgraded to newer alternatives.
The battery affects a number of factors. It sets how far you can travel before you need to charge the scooter again. It limits how much energy can be supplied to the motor at any given time. And it can have a big impact on the overall weight of the scooter. The average battery can power a scooter motor for roughly 20 miles. However, driving uphill or over tough terrain can limit that distance.
The main job for the battery is to supply power to the motor. It may also supply power to additional controls or even a radio depending on the particular scooter in question.
The Motor
Next in line is the motor. This is often what sets an expensive electric scooter apart from an entry-level model. The motor is going to determine the max speed and horsepower of the scooter. Cheap scooters will use very small DC motors that are barely able to reach 3 MPH. A high-end model could easily reach speeds of 30 MPH.
The faster the motor can go the more energy it will consume. Thus, scooters with large and powerful motors will also need large and powerful batteries. This results in larger, heavier, and more expensive scooters.
The battery and the motor are typically the only electrical components that are mandatory for an electric scooter to operate. However, most electric scooters come with LED lights and other additional features like speakers or a mobile phone charging port. But there are certainly other parts of the scooter that just as important as the motor and battery.
The Wheels
The need for wheels is obvious whether you have a traditional scooter or an electric scooter. The wheels are what keep the scooter in motion while the brakes are used to bring it to a stop. Just as with batteries and motors, not all wheels are created equal. The cheapest electric scooters might use plastic wheels that can easily wear down with time and need to be replaced.
The best electric scooters on the market are going to use pneumatic tires. These are similar to the same tires that would be used on a car or truck. They are made from rubber and filled with air. Pneumatic tires are long lasting and provide a much smoother ride. In contrast, plastic tires would result in a lot of bumping and shaking if driving on uneven terrain.
Hopefully, you can now answer the question, “How do electric scooters work?”. Overall, the function of an electric scooter is very simple. A battery provides energy to a motor that is used to turn the wheels of the scooter. Brakes can be used to produce friction against the wheels and bring it to a stop. It’s a simple and affordable method of traveling.
