Electric scooters have rapidly become silent companions in the humming heart of city streets, offering a sleek, eco-friendly solution for short-distance transportation. As these fast, two-wheeled vehicles become integral to our daily lives, understanding the peculiarities of charging them becomes paramount. You may think that what could be complicated about how to charge an electric scooter, but there are subtleties to the process, from the rituals that precede charging and ensure the health of your scooter to the step-by-step connection to the mains to the frequency and duration of charging. To ensure that your electric scooter is always fueled, charged, and ready for your next ride around town, I invite you to delve a little deeper into this topic.
Before you charge
Before you begin the charging ritual, a few formal but extremely important issues need to be addressed. Let’s start with thoroughly inspecting the battery and charger for damage. A healthy battery and charger are essential for efficient charging. Ensure the charger port is clean and dry to prevent possible electrical problems. And another golden rule of electric scooter charging is to use the original charger whenever possible. While it may seem tempting to substitute, using the manufacturer’s recommended charger minimizes the risk of compatibility issues and ensures safe and efficient charging.
I also recommend charging your scooter when it has cooled down completely after the last ride and when it is off mode.
How to charge your electric scooter
Charging a scooter battery is not a complicated process, but it is important to pay attention to detail. As you read this section, you may think I am stating the obvious. But you would be extremely surprised at the little things we can miss. And since I have researched this issue on my own, feeling like an unintelligent child at times, I’d rather you say, “I knew that!” than accuse me of omitting details:
- Locate the charging port on your electric scooter. It is usually located near the base or under the protective cover.
- Plug in the charger, inserting it securely into the electric scooter’s charging port. Ensure a snug fit to avoid accidental disconnection during the charging process.
- Connect the charger to a power source. Having a constant power source is essential for uninterrupted charging.
- Monitor the charging process. Most electric scooters have indicators that light up during the charging process, providing real-time feedback.
- Wait until fully charged. Charging duration varies from model to model, so check the charging time in your scooter’s manual. Over time, you will know how long it takes for your scooter to charge.
- Unplug the electric scooter as soon as it is fully charged.
- Allow the vehicle 5 minutes after hiccuping before riding it again.
How long does it take to charge an electric scooter fully?
The charging duration of electric scooters depends on the battery capacity and the technical characteristics of the charger. Accordingly, it is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. You need to monitor your scooter (each model has its own charging time).
This process usually takes 3 to 5 hours, but some e-scooters require about 8 hours of recharging. You may also come across fast charging stations, which will take about 1-2 hours. Nevertheless, I do not recommend getting addicted to these devices.
Should I charge my electric scooter after every ride?
It all depends on where you are going next. No, a full charge is unnecessary, but you should be aware of the energy costs for the distance you will cover. Does that make sense?
I don’t recommend leaving your scooter uncharged if you see 30% on the indicator. Accordingly, let’s settle on a range of 30-80% charge for daily use.
Is it possible to overcharge an electric scooter battery?
Point 6 of my step-by-step recharging instructions read, “Unplug the electric scooter as soon as it is fully charged”. And for good reason. Most electric scooters don’t like to be overcharged. Again, depending on the model and year, your newer scooter may have a safety feature (built-in mechanism) that prevents the battery from overcharging, so it’s basically safe to leave the scooter plugged in after it’s fully charged. So, study the instruction manual in detail. I always unplug it, though.
