How To Maximize Your Electric Scooters Battery Life

Having the freedom of movement means living life to the full. That’s our philosophy and it’s what drives us to create the best, lightweight scooter for commuters.

When you ride a well designed scooter, your commute becomes fuss-free and enjoyable.

That’s because e-scooters are convenient, low maintenance, personal electric vehicles. Perfect for urban commuters who need a mobility solution that is environmentally friendly and cost effective.

But just because they’re low maintenance doesn’t mean you don’t need to take care of them to maximize their life span.

And one of the easiest ways to get the most out of the average electric scooter, is to maximize the e-scooter battery life.

In this article, we’ll explain a little about electric scooter batteries, and share some simple tips for how to prolong battery life, so you never run out of juice mid-commute again.

What batteries do electric scooters use?

Most electric scooters use lithium-ion batteries. These lightweight, rechargeable batteries are so powerful they are frequently used in the military and aerospace industries.

Lithium batteries have more capacity, a longer life cycle, and charge faster (and more efficiently) than other lead-acid batteries. They are also much lighter in weight than lead batteries and are far more efficient, meaning they last much longer.

The Unagi Model One scooter, for example, has a 9000mah lithium-ion battery.

It has the highest energy density and the shortest charging time of any battery of its size when combined with the custom-designed management system. When we designed the battery, our primary focus was on longevity and dependability, so you can be assured your Unagi battery will last for many years even with daily use.

However, despite their technological superiority, lithium-ion batteries are not indestructible, so you must treat your battery as the powerful and complex piece of technology that it is.

How long does the charge on an electric scooter battery last?

Before delving into the various ways to care for your electric scooter battery, it's useful to understand how long your battery should last.

An electric scooter battery pack has a lifespan of 300 to 500 cycles on average. This is approximately one to three years or 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

What that doesn’t mean is you necessarily need to replace your battery after it has completed 300 to 500 cycles. What it means is your battery simply has less capacity, meaning your e-scooter will perform with less power.

The exact lifespan of your e-scooter battery will be determined by several factors, including battery size, watt-hours, how and where you ride your scooter and how heavy you are.

Battery Capacity and Range

The capacity of a battery is the amount of energy it can store, which is critical. The larger the capacity, the longer the battery should last.

Most electric scooter manufacturers prefer to use a lithium battery because they hold their charge for a long time. However, this does make them more expensive. But it’s a false economy to buy a cheaper e-scooter with a smaller cheaper battery, because you simply won’t get the range or power you require.

If you want to know exactly how far your e-scooter travels on a full charge, don’t just rely on the range guide from the manufacturer to determine how far your scooter will go with you on it. The range of your e-scooter depends on multiple factors, such as: the terrain, how heavy you are, and the make and size of your battery.

To determine the true range of your scooter, with you riding it, may require several trips to obtain an accurate estimate of how far your e-scooter can travel before needing to be charged.

8 easy ways to maximize your electric scooter battery life

Whether your battery is brand new or has already exceeded 500 cycles, taking proper care of it will help you get the most out of your e-scooter.

So let's dive in.

1. Know Your specific e-scooter's battery Type

Different makes and models of electric scooters use various battery types. You need to know what type of battery yours has in order to charge it correctly.

“Rechargeable batteries’ AKA 18650 battery cells are the most common type of e-scooter battery. These batteries can be charged using a standard charger at home.

This is very convenient because the batteries can be charged at any time, as long as you have access to a charger, meaning you don’t need to carry spare batteries with you.

2. Keep the battery charged at all times

Perhaps you're going on vacation and will be out of town for a while. If you're not using your electric scooter, don't leave it with an almost-empty battery.

Check that it has a charge of at least 40-50 percent. If you have time, fully charge your electric scooter battery before storing your micro mobility device for an extended period.

Lithium batteries last longer when they have stored charge, so charge your battery at least once every 30 days. This is especially important if the electric scooter is not used frequently or for long periods.

This way, when you do decide to use your scooter again, the battery will have retained its capacity and performance.

3. Use the correct charger

We can’t stress this enough. Although it may appear obvious, you have to use the correct e-scooter charger for your specific device. You will wreak havoc on your battery if you use any old electric scooter battery charger.

You might think you’re saving money by not purchasing the premium charger, but actually, the damage a knock off charger will cause to the battery (requiring a battery replacement) will be more expensive than the charger you didn’t want to fork out for.

Purchasing the proper charger in the first place is much less expensive than purchasing an aftermarket charging cable and then replacing the entire battery. If you require a charger, contact the manufacturer, or the company from who you purchased your e-scooter and request the original charger specifically designed for your electric scooter.

Electric vehicle chargers are complicated. They have special safeguards in place to prevent battery damage. To avoid overheating, they charge slowly. And incorrectly setting them can damage your battery. To put it simply: respect your e-scooter and make sure it has the correct charger.

4. Keep your battery at the Ideal temperature

Do not leave electric scooters outside in extreme weather; extremely high or low temperatures stress the batteries. Leaving the electric scooter outside in either hot or cold weather can cause damage and reduce the life of the battery. It is best to keep your electric scooter indoors to extend the battery's life.

Lithium batteries perform best at optimal temperatures ranging from 0 to 45 °C. Excessive temperatures, either below 0 °C or above 45 °C, can harm them.

The battery could swell and liquid could leak. In the worst-case scenario, the cells can deform, and the electrolyte can freeze, causing the cells to short circuit and the battery to explode.

Of course, no one wants this to happen to their beloved e-scooter, so keep it at the proper temperature.

5. Be considerate of the carrying capacity

Every electric scooter manufacturer conducts a load test and recommends the maximum load capacity of their electric scooter. It varies by model, but in general, electric scooters have a carrying capacity ranging from 100 to 200 kgs.

Most manufacturers rate it at 150 kg, which is slightly less than what they test to maintain an adequate tolerance margin even when loaded with heavier loads. Overloading your e-scooter will eventually damage the battery. Stick to the recommended load, or buy a scooter designed for heavier riders.

6. ​​Use the speed control for a smooth ride

Every e-scooter manufacturer performs a load test and recommends the maximum load. When riding an electric vehicle, keep in mind that you are not riding a gasoline vehicle; sudden acceleration puts strain on the battery. To accelerate, use the speed control and gradually increase your speed for a smooth and enjoyable ride.

7. Keep the battery at its optimum charge

One way to extend the life of an electric scooter battery is to never drain it. Although completely draining and then fully charging a battery may be effective for some devices, it will not work for electric scooter batteries. To maintain the life of your battery, keep it charged between 10% and 40% of the time.

Also, avoid riding up steep hills as fast as you can i.e. in the fastest speed mode, especially if your e-scooter is not designed for climbing. This will strain your battery and cause it to drain faster.

Finally, the most effective way to keep your battery from draining is to charge it after each use. Even if your electric scooter still has a lot of battery charge left after a full day of traveling, make it a point to charge it at the end of the day. This will reduce the strain on your battery and keep it in good working order.

Plus, your electric scooter will always be charged and ready to go when you need to get some fresh air.

8. Avoid overcharging the battery

While it is critical to charge your battery on a regular basis, it is also critical not to overcharge it. Once fully charged, remove it from the plug or cable immediately.

If your battery begins to take longer to charge than usual, it is most likely nearing the end of its life and needs to be replaced. When this occurs, it is time to replace your battery.

Feel The Freedom with Unagi

Knowing how to maximize your electric scooter's battery life will save you money.

The way you ride, charge, and store your electric scooter's battery will help you extend its life and get the most out of it. If you follow the advice above, your battery will have a long and happy life.

Following proper charging instructions will help keep your electric scooter battery in good condition. As will always keeping your battery charged with a manufacturer-approved charger.

We take batteries seriously at Unagi Scooters, which is why we design our batteries with the highest energy density and shortest charging time of any battery of its size. Isn't time you rode an Unagi?