Can You Replace an Electric Scooter Battery?
Yes! And it would be a real shame if you couldn't...
The lifespan of an E-Scooter battery will vary depending on the model of choice, battery pack, and overall maintenance. Your battery performance can be measured in charge cycles, mileage, or even months/years of use. Whether a pro or a brand new owner, one may wish to change an electric scooter's battery for one of the following reasons:
- The battery doesn't work as well as before.
- The owner wishes to upgrade to a more powerful battery pack.
- The scooter does not charge or turn on.
Nevertheless, the battery of an electric scooter does have an expiration date. But let's discuss things more in detail, shall we?
When Should You Replace Your Scooter's Battery?
Many factors contribute to the lifespan of a battery scooter, the battery size, and the Watt-hours included (the measurement of its total capacity). When you bought your scooter, you probably learned that its average lifespan was about 3,000 to 10,000 miles from the get-go. In general, you should remember that an electric scooter's battery lasts about one to three years. So don't fret if you forget about it – your scooter will let you know when it needs a new battery.
What Happens When an Electric Scooter Runs out of Battery?
In simple words, your scooter will stop working when it runs out of battery. The lithium-ion batteries equipped on most electric scooters on our streets are high quality and feature high capacity, but they do not last forever. The modern average lithium-ion battery usually handles 300 to 500 charges before it starts to lose its capacity.
Your battery will progressively run out of juice to power your two-wheeler and put a stop to your ride. If the scooter dies on you in the street, it is still possible to ride it manually, but the electric motor will resist you, and you will have to push it to reach your destination.
If the scooter dies on you at home and you want to make sure it's the battery, take a voltmeter, connect it to battery pack terminals, and check the voltage. Compare the results to your user's manual and take it from there.
So, can you replace an electric scooter battery? Yes, and, fortunately, we can help. In this respect, here are some points to consider.
Know Your E-Scooter's Specifications
Like anything else that's rather new, prior research will play an important role in the matter. So before you begin scouting for a new battery pack, make sure you take note of the following:
Voltage
To find a battery's voltage, check the user manual that comes along with the E-Scooter. A voltmeter will tell you how much voltage your battery currently has. If the reading is lower than the manufacturer's specs, you should consider replacing your battery.
Amp-Hour Rating
The amp-hour rating is a measurement unit for your battery's capacity. It indicated how long an E-Scooter battery would last until it runs out. When replacing a battery pack, you'll want to opt for one with a higher amp-hour rating.
We recommend this quick read to learn more about how a battery's voltage and amp-hour rating go hand in hand.
*Remember: when in doubt, you can always contact your E-Scooter manufacturer.
Purchasing a New E-Scooter Battery
For many out there, purchasing an electric scooter can imply quite a bit of a financial effort, especially when they're high-quality E-Scooters.
On the better side of things, an E-Scooter can grow to become an item of emotional value as well as a gateway through the heart of the big city. Therefore, electric scooter battery replacement should be done carefully. From our perspective, you have two options:
- Getting the same battery type as before.
- Buying a different battery pack that is suitable for that specific E-scooter model.
Of course, there is always the possibility to make use of the product warranty if that is still in place.
If you are an e-rides pro, you are good to skip a couple of steps ahead. Still, suppose you have just started researching electric scooter batteries. In that case, it is a good idea to contact an authorized dealer, the manufacturer that sold you the E-Scooter in the first place, or a professional for a second opinion.
Depending on each model, you may be able to find a better quality-price ratio with a new type of battery pack than the original. Whatever you decide to go with, the most important thing to keep in mind is that E-Scooters normally get their pulse from lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. Not all battery pack models will fit your E-Scooter - hence our recommendation above.
In case you were wondering how much you would have to pay for a new electric scooter battery, you should know that the price ranges somewhere between $150 and $300 for average models.
Should You Choose DIY or Professional Services for Your Electric Scooter's Battery Replacement?
In essence, replacing your E-Scooter battery isn't necessarily rocket science. Actually, the whole process seems rather accessible to pretty much anybody. This is exactly why we advise you always to seek the help of a professional.
Given that there will be wires to tackle, as well as some acid that can cause pain and burning if it gets on your skin, it's best to refrain from turning this into a DIY project if you haven't got any prior experience with battery replacement. Unfortunately, even some of our most skilled can turn an E-Scooter that needs battery replacement into an E-Scooter that will have to be replaced entirely.
A professional will be able to take care of this for you in a matter of minutes, with no risk involved. At the same time, an authorized service will be able to provide you with the new battery in-house, allowing you to cross an extra trip and extensive research off the list.
How to Maximize the Battery Life on Your Scooter
Once your electric scooter battery is replaced, you are good to go for another lifecycle of fun and easy traveling. Now that you better understand your E-Scooter's personality, you can think ahead and avoid future issues. If you wish to prolong the new battery's lifespan, here are some tips that will help with your E-Scooter's maintenance:
- Charge your electric scooter battery only after it's cooled down.
- Keep your ride in a dry environment.
- Try to keep your E-Scooter fully charged at all times (even if you are not planning on using it soon). An electric scooter battery is different from that of a mobile phone. Whereas we would normally leave a phone to run out of battery completely and then charge it, this can damage an E-Scooter's battery. Charge it as soon as you get the chance, even when you've only used 10% of it.
- The classic: always use an appropriate charger. Borrowing chargers from different models will work, but such actions present a very high risk of damaging the performance of a battery pack.
- The last 20% of the batter may take longer to charge. Even if the E-Scooter's display shows that it is fully charged, you can allow it just a while longer.
Bottom Line
Whether we are talking about E-Scooters or any other devices running on battery and human care, it's always best to keep a close eye on performance and maintenance. In this regard, one should keep an eye on the development of their E-Scooter the same way we know to check cars regularly.
Suppose you want to take your electric scooter battery replacement to the next level. In that case, you can always get a professional's opinion and experiment with different types of batteries to achieve different levels of performance. The beauty about E-Scooters, apart from how cool they really are, is that they allow you to personalize and tune them up in almost every aspect.
Lastly, if you are searching for a brand new scooter, check out some of the most awesome E-scooters on the market. You will find affordable prices, long-lasting batteries, excellent tech specs and features, and, more than anything, a community always willing to offer you support!
Happy riding!
Image source: Freepik