How to Charge Electric Scooter Properly

Last Updated on June 21, 2021

Do you own an electric scooter? If so, the first time you bought the bike, you probably asked yourself: How long will it take for this machine to charge fully?

Happily, you don’t have to wonder much any longer.

Here’s the answer- it depends on the type of scooter and its battery model.

Indeed, there are electric scooters that require only 2 to 4 hours to charge fully. However, other electric scooters need much longer to charge – they require 7 to 12 hours to achieve a full charge.

Take Care of Your Battery

Really, much depends on the e- scooter’s battery model.

What about the battery’s potential lifespan? How can you charge your bike properly so that the battery lasts as long as possible? Yes, how can you take care of your battery and reap maximum benefits from your electric scooter?

We need to discuss this further.

How Long Will it Take to Charge an Electric Scooter Fully?

Simply put, it depends on the scooter’s battery model. As noted, some batteries need only 2 to 4 hours to charge fully. Other scooter batteries require 12 hours to charge fully.

It’s interesting to consider a few examples of some popular electric scooters; it’s particularly informative to learn how long the scooter batteries take to charge.

To get the whole picture, let’s discuss a few types of widely-used batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries typically charge faster; you can actually charge them whenever you want. And you can accomplish without damaging the battery’s lifespan.

Lithium-ion batteries are the standard types of batteries you’d find on most electric scooters. They are generally lightweight and the kind of batteries you can fully charge within just 2 to 4 hours.

Lead-acid batteries

Lead-acid batteries are among the oldest scooter batteries. These batteries can produce a relatively high current. The downside is that they usually charge slowly and sometimes require 12 hours to be fully charged.

NiCad batteries

Ensure NiCad batteries are completely drained off before you start charging.  Why, the batteries take longer to charge fully.

The Average Charge-Time for Selected E Scooters

• Reverb Electric Scooter: The battery needs 1 – 2 hours to attain a full charge
• Segway Ninebot KickScooter ES4 (dual batteries): This one needs 7 hours to attain a full charge
• MI Electric Scooter: The MI charges in 5 hours
• Razor E90: It needs 12 hours to charge fully

Note that you can remove and separately charge the batteries on most of these electric scooters. Thus, you can conveniently charge the scooter battery at home or the office.

Some battery models are, however, not detachable. Nevertheless, you can carry most scooters with you wherever you go. In this way, it’s pretty convenient to charge the popular scooters regardless of your location.

How Long Will Your E Scooter Run on a Fully Charged Battery?

It’s essential to know the typical electric scooter battery can last for 1 to 3 years; this translates into 500 to 1,000 charge cycles. Regardless, it can be challenging to figure out precisely how many years you can use these batteries. Why, many factors determine the batteries’ longevity.

Consider: How many times a day do you charge the e scooter battery? Also, how often do you use the e scooter? On a specific day, how often do you unplug the e scooter battery charger from the wall? Also, how do you ride your e scooter?

It matters to get the answers- the battery’s longevity actually depends on this.

Step By Step Procedures on the Correct Way to Charge Your E Scooter Battery

Most e scooter manuals generally try to explain how to charge the machine in the right way. Nevertheless, you’ll find some incomplete explanations; in some cases, the manual misses some crucial steps or merely covers the basics.

It’s essential to know the correct way to charge your e scooter; after all, you love your e scooter and want to have it around for long- don’t you?

Here are some practical tips on the correct, step-by-step procedure on how to charge an electric scooter.

1. Let the Scooter Cool Down

Yes, first, before plugging in the charger, let the scooter cool down. Most manuals skip this step in their explanation. However, it’s essential to let the bike cool down- this increases the battery’s lifespan.

Keep in mind that batteries and heat never work together. If you’ve been riding your scooter, particularly in warm weather, always let the battery cool down for a minimum of 5 minutes; do this before you plug the charger.

Unless you do this, you risk damaging the battery and shortening its lifespan.

2. Ensure the E Scooter and its Charger Aren’t Wet

Ensure the scooter and its charger aren’t wet. Keep this in mind: Even though most e scooters are designed with some water-resistant features, few are actually waterproof.

Hence, if you’ve just been riding in wet conditions (like in the snow, puddles, ice, mud, or rain), there might be some water that accidentally landed on the scooter; yes, some water may have fallen on the battery case.

With this in mind- let the scooter dry off. Give it around 30 minutes, and the water will usually dry up and evaporate. If you dry the scooter yourself, avoid using a hairdryer; the water might go deeper into the scooter. Instead, use a wet, dry vacuum cleaner.

3. Ensure the Charger is Original; Never Use a Different Brand

Always use an original charger. Even if it’s broken down, never use a charger from a different brand. Even if it’s the same brand, never try to use another scooter’s charger.

Instead, it’s better to repair your own charger or buy a new one. If you have to use any other, double-check that the voltage is the same.  If you don’t do this, the battery will be damaged.

4. Charge Your Battery in a Cool, Dry Environment

Always charge your battery in a dry room; do so at room temperature. Never charge it at extreme temperatures. Yes, never charge at temperatures hotter than 45 deg. C OR colder than 0°C / 32°F.

Of course, never charge the scooter in the sun as well. This can permanently damage the battery or its parts; worse still, the battery might explode and harm others.

5. While Charging, Turn Off the Scooter

Even when turned off (or charging), if the scooter shows the battery level, you should just turn it off. This prevents simultaneous charging; it also prevents discharging the battery and causing permanent damage.  However, you can leave the bike on while charging if you’ve no way of knowing its charge status.

6. Plug the Charger into the Power Outlet

As a general rule, this is practical: Always plug your charger into the wall before plugging it into the scooter.  Regardless, check the manual- does it direct you to plug the charger into the scooter first? Follow the manual’s direction.

Unless this is the case, it’s advisable to plug the charger into the power source before connecting to your scooter- this prevents malfunctions and shortcuts. And in case a short circuit occurs, only the charger will be damaged- the scooter will be safe.

7. Ensure Your charger’s Working Properly

When it works well, there’ll be a green indicator light; a soon as you plug in, it’ll light up. If there’s no lighting (the green light), the charger may not be working as expected. Thus, it’s unwise to use it; just repair your charger or buy a new one.

8. Plug Your Charger into the Scooter’s Charging Port

Is your scooter designed with a charging port cap? To plug the charging head right into the port, simply remove it-the scooter should start charging. Note that a green light on the charger (when plugged into the power outlet, not the scooter) means it’s working. A red light (when charging) indicates an ongoing charge; a green light (when plugged into the scooter) indicates incomplete charging.

9. Charge Your Battery to Full (100%) Charge

You know it’s never easy to charge an e scooter fully. Often, you probably need to use your bike before it charges fully. Even so, it’s advisable to try and charge the battery 100% as regularly as possible.

However, you should know precisely when to charge the scooter. You can consult the manual, browse the internet or consult other helpful guides with information on charging the scooter.  Such sources might help you to know the best times to charge your e scooter. As a last resort, you can use the e scooter charge time calculator to have an idea.

Realistically, you may not always charge your scooter fully. Well, there may be no real consequences for partially charging a lithium-ion battery. So then, why do we insist on having a full charge for an e scooter battery?

Well, fully charging the scooter can limit the chances of completely draining the battery. And the more often you ride with a full battery, the more you decrease the chances of a complete drain. Of course, draining the battery also damages it.

Overall, when the scooter is charged fully, always unplug the charger head from the scooter port before unplugging it from the outlet.

Avoid overcharging your battery

Yes, avoid overcharging the battery. Happily, most modern e -scooters are designed with built-in protection from overcharging. Regardless, it’s always best to unplug the scooter as soon as it’s 100% fully charged.

Admittedly, there isn’t much harm in letting charge it for a few more minutes. Nevertheless, don’t let it charge for too long just because it’s protected from overcharging.

Depending on your bike’s charging time, schedule a daily pattern for doing this. Consider: Why not plug in your charger just before bedtime and unplug it in the morning (if it takes 8 hours)?

Don’t Ride Too Soon

To prolong the battery life, try to wait at least 5 minutes before riding. Why, after charging, the battery may still be overheated; do not ride in that condition.

How to Make Your E Scooter Battery Last Longest

• Note that it’s normal for the charger to get hot as you charge. While uncovered, place the charger on edge- put it on a non-flammable surface that gets lots of overflow.
• Next, connect the plug to the scooter’s charging port. Power the scooter and remove the protective cover from the charging port. Ensure the connector and the port are dust free; blow out if necessary.
• Carefully fix the charge properly; most chargers are designed to go in just one way. While others are poorly designed, you can go ahead and short the connector. Now, plug the charger onto the port.
• Give it time to charge until the indicator light turns green; promptly disconnect. Note that for most chargers, the light usually turns green before the battery is fully charged 100%.
• To estimate the appropriate charging time, use a reliable charging timetable.
• Important tip: Always try to run the battery to 30-80% of its full charge; this increases the chances of the battery longevity. Such a “sweet operating zone” can increase the battery life up to 4 times.
• Always disconnect the scooter from the charger before unplugging it from the wall outlet.
• When fully charged, promptly disconnect the scooter.
• Charge the scooter as often as necessary.
• When not in use, keep the scooter in a cool, dry place at 40% charge.
• Never store lithium-ion batteries on full charge; this decreases the battery life. On the same note, do not store a discharged battery.
• Check the battery after 4 to 8 weeks to ensure it hasn’t self-discharge below 40% (this is particularly essential for long-term winter storage).
• Never store your battery above 30C/ 86 F; avoid storing a fully charged battery at high temperatures.
• Always store the scooter in a cool, dry place.
• Do not charge the battery at high temperatures (113F/ 45C); this can shorten its life.
• Never fully discharge the scooter in less than an hour.
• Keep this eve in mind: Lithium-ion batteries can last more cycles if they’re regularly charged slowly (this is known as the C-rate).

What’s the Average Cost of an Electric Scooter Battery?

Interestingly, the battery is actually the most expensive component of an electric scooter.  Hence, the overall price depends on the battery size and power.

Well, the battery model is a factor too. The manufacturer also matters.

So, the average price of an e scooter battery starts from $160 to $ 350.

Consider the following popular e scooter battery prices:

1. Segway Ninebot External Battery Pack for Electric Kick Scooters model ES1/ES2/ES4 – $220
2. Razor E100/125/150 Electric Scooter (2 pack) battery – $30
3. GoTRAX Electric Scooter Battery Pack – $74
4. Dolly 36v Lithium-Ion Battery – $249

A Step By Step Guide to Charging the E Scooter without a Charger

First, a cautionary note:

Avoid charging your e scooter without a charger! In fact, avoid charging your bike with any other charger except the original charger. Overall, all alternative charging methods are generally discouraged.

At times, though, some have no alternative but to try charging their scooter without a charger. You need a different power source to do this.

You can use your car battery and some jumper cables.

Take note of this: To charge effectively, make sure your car’s battery voltage is greater than the scooter’s battery’s.

Here are the tips on how you can charge the scooter without a regular charger:

• Turn off your scooter
• Take out the battery (it may void the warranty)
• Locate the negative and positive leads on the scooter battery (sometimes marked by a red and black color, respectively)
• Spread the jumper cables (don’t let them touch)
• Ensure the black leads are left on the ground; they shouldn’t touch a metal
• Attach a red lead from the jumper cable to the scooter battery’s red lead.
• Attach the other red lead to the car battery’s positive lead
• Attach the jumper cable’s black lead to the car battery’s negative lead
• Attach the other black section of the jumper cable to a grounding point or bare metal. Take care not to attach the black lead to the scooter’s battery- it might cause an explosion.
• Start the car engine; let it rev for some minutes
• Let the battery charge
• Without putting it in contact with anything, remove the black lead from the grounding.
• Isolate the red lead from the scooter’s battery
• Isolate the black lead from the car battery

Conclusion

We hope you got a few points on the best way to charge your favorite e scooter. We encourage you to follow all the tips in this post carefully. If you do so, be sure that your e scooter will last for a minimum of 2 to 3 extra years.

Keep this in mind: Charge the e scooter to its full capacity (100% charge). Use the manufacturer-provided original charger.

Avoid using any other charger (other than the one prescribed for your e scooter). Keep the e scooter and its battery in a safe, dry place.

If you keep this advice, you’ll enjoy value for money for a long time with your e valued scooter.