Your electric scooter’s lifeline is the batteries. It’s the fuel tank that powers the motor, light, controllers, and its accessories.
Different scooter models would require a different set of batteries or a battery pack. Hence, the life of an electric scooter battery would depend on its type. The bigger the battery pack is, the longer it would last.
We have three common types of batteries used for e-scooters, and each style has its pros and cons. Let’s explore them so that you’d get an idea of which one will suit your circumstances.
How long do electric scooter batteries last
1. Sealed Lead-acid (SLA)
Lead-acid batteries are the Jurassic out of all the types of batteries. These batteries were used in old cars and larger electric equipment, such as a golf cart.
If you’re looking for the cheapest electric batteries, look no further. Lead-acid batteries are the most affordable. It is also often used in children’s e-bikes.
SLAs are the oldest type of batteries, which explains the lack of innovation and heavier weight. Lead-acid batteries can be inexpensive, but it doesn’t mean that they are the most cost-effective. These batteries are more massive, but they have a minimum density. So, they aren’t sufficient in energy.
The life span of an e-scooter battery is often expressed in cycles. Lead-acid batteries can last for about 300 cycles, that’s more or less a year. There are only a few electric scooters that still use SLAs mainly because these aren’t rechargeable. Understandably, not many people are okay scooting around town with a massive battery.
2. Nickel Metal hydride (NiMH)
NiMH batteries are particular with the type of the scooter. Meaning, not all electric scooters can make use of a NiMH battery pack. These batteries are 30 percent lighter than SLAs, and more energy-efficient, too. Sadly, NiMH batteries can also come with a more expensive tag.
NiMH batteries are rechargeable so that they can be more cost-efficient in the long run. However, this battery pack often encounters some battery memory problems. It happens when there’s a reduction in the rechargeable batteries’ charge. Another drawback is that NiMH batteries are very susceptible to memory problems if you haven’t been charging them correctly.
A nickel-metal hydride battery can last for 500 to 100 cycles. That’s approximately 2-3 years.
3. Lithium-ion (LI-ion)
The newer e-scooter models use a longer-lasting and more efficient battery pack, the Lithium-ion batteries. When compared to lead-acid batteries and NiMH, Li-ion batteries have an impressive density. Therefore, they are packed with more power to boot and aren’t heavy at all. This battery pack will make your e-scooter more efficient.
Li-ion batteries are the new kids on the block. A lot of electric scooters nowadays use Li-ion because they are longer lasting and more efficient.
It can survive 1000 to 3000 cycles, which is 3-5 years according to DigMyRide. But of course, there can be a bit of a trade-off. Li-ion batteries tend to have the most expensive price tag compared to SLA and NiMH. It’s also the lightest out of the three types of electric scooter batteries.
How to make your electric scooter batteries longer
An electric scooter’s battery pack is perhaps the most expensive accessory, especially rechargeable ones. And most electric scooters nowadays use the newer types of batteries, the Li-ion and the NiMH.
These batteries can be quite expensive. Though it may last for 2-5 years, it can have a shorter lifespan if not taken correctly.
How can you make the batteries of your electric scooter batteries last longer? Here’s how.
1. Never leave your electric scooter exposed to the elements
Keep your e-scooter and the battery pack nice and dry. Do not expose the batteries to the harsh weather, rain, or snow. The extreme elements can do a number on your batteries. An exceptionally sunny environment won’t do any good for your batteries, either.
2. Use the proper charger for your batteries
Stop being a cheapskate! Buy the proper charger for your batteries. Using the wrong type of charger for your batteries can mess it up. It might even cause a short circuit. So, you’ll be shelling more money if you skimp on the quality.
3. Fuel it up before parking it
Before you park your electric scooter in the garage, make sure to charge it first, or least up to 40 to 50 percent charged. Also, never leave your e-scooter without any charge. Leaving it on an empty stomach will mess up your battery pack.
If you seldom use it for the spring and summer only, charge every 30 days to keep it happy.
4. Properly charge your e-scooter
Charging your e-scooter correctly will help it lengthen its life. You may charge it immediately after a short ride. Or let it rest for 30 minutes before charging if you’ve been trekking for more than an hour.
The bottom line here, do not go to sleep without charging it first.
5. Always keep your e-scoter fueled
Making sure that your battery is fueled at all times will keep it in its tip-top shape. Please do not wait for your batteries to deplete before fueling it up entirely. And if you can’t charge it to 100 percent, leaving it with a 10 percent change would suffice.
The bottom line: always leave it with at least 10 percent fuel ALL THE TIME.
6. Don’t leave it unattended when charging
Leaving your e-scooter plugged in even if it’s fully charged already, can damage the batteries. Overcharging will not only damage your batteries, but it’s also a fire hazard. Batteries of e- scooters are more powerful, so you don’t want to be messing around with them. You can’t make the same charging habits you have with your cell phone.
Final thoughts
Improper charging of your e-scooter batteries will make it more susceptible to memory problems. Worse, it can permanently damage your batteries. These accessories are quite expensive, so charging them properly is one way of giving it TLC. Come to think of it, it’s really not that much to do.
