Electric scooters are a great eco-friendly form of transportation. They combine the manoeuvrability of an electric vehicle with the freedom of a standard push scooter, with all of their benefits and few of their drawbacks.
With proper maintenance, an electric scooter can be the perfect choice whether you’re riding it to work, or simply to get yourself about.
But just how long do electric scooters last, both in terms of their battery life and their overall longevity? Don’t worry – this article has all the answers you need.
Not only will we go over how long an electric scooter lasts, but we’ll also take you through some of the best ways to maintain and prolong your scooter’s life.
So let’s get started, shall we?
How Far Can You Go On A Full Battery?
The main issue with electric scooters compared to regular ones is their reliance on their battery. While they can be used as a push scooter, their heavier frames and increased bulk can make this more hassle than it’s worth.
So if you want to take your electric scooter on a longer journey, you need to pay attention to how much charge your scooter has, and how far you can travel on it.
Most electric scooters have a battery capacity of around 250 watt-hours (or Wh) on average. This will last for around 16 km, although this can vary depending on the total weight on the scooter, and the terrain you’re riding on.
Electric scooters with higher battery capacity and strength will be able to go further and faster, while weaker batteries will need to be charged more frequently.
Electric scooters typically use a lithium-ion battery, which will start to deteriorate over time. When your scooter is older you won’t be able to ride for as long on a full battery.
Depending on your scooter’s battery, you can travel a fair distance between charges. But how long will the battery last before it needs replacing?
How Long Will My Scooter Last?
As previously mentioned, lithium-ion batteries will lose their effectiveness over time. How long this takes can vary slightly based on the battery itself, but typically an electric scooter will be able to take between 300-500 full charges before the battery begins to wane.
This might not seem like a lot, but charging your scooter fully will help it go a long way. There are also some other things that can improve your scooter’s longevity, but we’ll get to those later.
Electric scooters need to be maintained properly for you to get the best out of them. If you look after your scooter, it will usually last around 3 years. However, taking the proper care and taking steps to prolong the battery’s lifespan can extend this up to 5 years!
Maximizing the efficiency and energy of your scooter’s battery will mean you get great use out of it – a well-kept electric scooter can take you upwards of 10,000 km in its lifetime!
Ways to Prolong Your Electric Scooter
Replacing the battery in your electric scooter can be a hassle, and of course, you’re going to want to get the most out of your scooter.
Maintaining your scooter won’t make it immortal, but it will definitely help the battery stay at its full potential for as long as possible.
A great way to stop the battery from deteriorating as quickly is to optimize how often you charge it. Charging your battery frequently (especially if you only partially charge it) will affect its capacity and how well it performs.
To keep the battery operating at its best, make sure that you wait for the battery to be fairly low before you charge it. Don’t fully deplete the battery, however – somewhere around 10-15% is perfect
Then, make sure that you charge it up to full. Most electric bikes will take between 5-6 hours to hit a full battery, so charging your scooter overnight or when you’re at work is a great way to save time, as well as your battery.
Try to avoid leaving your scooter on charge for too long, though, as this can make it so charging takes much longer down the line.
You should also stick to smoother roads and paths, as rougher terrain means the battery has to work harder. Using your scooter on surfaces built for transport (such as asphalt and sidewalks) will stop the battery from overheating while you ride.
Shorter trips are also preferable. Long rides will cause the battery to heat up over time, and
this will cause it to suffer in the long term.
If you don’t ride your electric scooter constantly and frequently put it in storage, you can extend the battery life even longer if you store it right. Otherwise, your scooter and its can get damaged over time even when you aren’t using it.
First of all, make sure your scooter has a good amount of charge before you store it away. 40% should be the minimum.
The temperature also needs to be right. Lithium-ion batteries can be negatively affected if they get too hot or too cold, and this damage can be irreversible.
Controlling the temperature of your scooter’s storage will help the battery stay in top shape for when you get back to riding.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Now you have a bit of insight into how long electric scooters last, how far they can travel on a single charge, and some simple ways to extend your scooter’s lifespan.
As mentioned previously, some types of electric scooters will last longer than others, as well as the inverse. Additionally, there are several factors that can affect a scooter’s longevity in ways that range from slight to dramatic.
But regardless of which type of electric scooter you have, and what terrain you live in, one thing’s for certain. Take care of your scooter and you’ll be able to get years of use out of it before the battery needs replacing!
