Electric Scooter: Definition, Parts, Working, Battery, Charging

Electric scooter demands are increasing day by day at every corner of the world. The advancement of technology and the need for eco-friendly nature allow us to choose an appropriate medium of transport and devices. As we went through any big cities or developed cities, we observed tons of these devices and rideshare, which are performing with the help of electric power.

Electric scooters are an example of these types of rideshares. The eco-friendly nature and numerous benefits of electric scooters have caused an outbreak in their popularity in recent years.

What is Electric Scooter? Definition

Electric Scooter Definition

The electric scooter is a device with two or three wheels, handlebars, and footboard that can be stood upon riding, which is completely powered by an electric motor and human power. These scooters are quite simple in design and easy to maintain, and that’s why they are the current media of transportation technology.

History of Electric Scooter

When you start reading about scooters’ history, you can find an interesting thing: the first patent regarding electric motorbikes dating back to 1895. Let’s start with the history of electric scooters.

In the 1700s

The discoverer of electric motors, Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Gordon, play a vital role in electric-powered transportation devices. This is a very simple motor and depends on external power resources. Later on, great physicist Alessandro Volta invented practical batteries to provide a constant power source. This is true that these batteries do not have enough power, but they set a milestone for advancements in battery and electric motor technology.

In the 1800s

In this century, great physicist Gaston Plante invented the first lead-acid batteries used in cars nowadays. These batteries are more efficient than 1700 century batteries, which provide enough power for the transportation of humans. However, in the early 1800s, some electric control devices for human transportation, such as the electric tricycle, were invented by Gustave Trouve. These battery-powered devices can reach up to 25 km per hour speed.

The first electric bike was invented, we do not know, but the 1st patent for the electric bicycle was invented by an American inventor Ogden Bolton in 1895.

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Parts or Components of Electric Scooter

There are various components of Electric scooters, which is given below:-

• Throttle
• Screen
• Brake lever
• Headlight
• Suspension
• Handlebar
• Stem
• Folding latch
• Hub motor in the wheel
• Charging port
• Batteries
• Deck
• Fender
• Brake
• Rear light
• Tire or wheel

Also Read: Types of Cars

How Does Electric Scooter Work? Mechanism

Electric scooters have a throttle, and when the rider presses the throttle, electric signals pass from the throttle with the help of wires to the controller, which assigns the battery to release electric energy to one or two motors the wheel. The motor converts that energy and passes it to the wheels that move forward.

The batteries are the heart of every electric-propelled device. The overall efficiency of these types of scooters depends on voltage, charge, energy storage capacity, and the maximum distance it could go on a single charge.

As a parallel to the batteries, motors have equal importance to the batteries. Its quality and power define the scooter’s speed, torque, climb hills capability. The motor and the battery are connected utilizing an electric wire controlled by the throttle and screen in the electric scooter.

The screens used in these devices are usually an LED screen just middle on the handlebar or a small screen on any side of the handlebar from this rider that may command the electric scooter. Other media like throttle, brake lever, and buttons also command the electric scooter.

In ancient type scooters, they had a motor on the deck that used a chain or gear to move the wheels. But present-day scooters have motors placed on the wheel’s right, and these motors are known as hub motors. These types of scooters are generally gearless.

But it is impossible to generate enough power for both sides of the wheel; hence, we need two batteries on both sides. Hence the batteries are part of the scooter. These have two basic types:-

• Air-filled
• Solid

This scooter may vibrate enough due to the motor and batteries; hence these come with shock absorbers for a more comfortable ride. This scooter may come with single or both wheels brakes. These brakes may be electronic, mechanical, either hydraulic or disc, triggered by pressing the foot against the rear brake lever.

This throttle, screen, brake levers are an integral part of the frame, and these frames are commonly made up of light industrial aluminum alloy or some carbon fibers. This frame may be divided into many parts, such as the front pipe-like part of the deck, the surface on which the rider stands. 

Nowadays, the frame of scooters comes with foldable features. These electric scooters mainly have a single Headlight and two taillights, serving brake lights. Now take a deep drive to know how the battery of an electric scooter work.

Battery of an Electric Scooter & How it Work?

Battery in Electric Scooter

The motor is mounted inside the deck, connected through the wheels with either chains or gears, as we read above. But in modern scooters, motors are integrated into the wheel itself, which better design.

As we know, batteries provide DC (direct current); hence electric scooters should have DC motors. The DC motors come with their two variant; they are

• Brushed motor
• Brushless motor

Brushed Motor

This type of motor emits power by two sets of electromagnets. One is cylindrical, and another has a smaller magnet placed inside the cylinder. When the inside is rotated, it develops a magnetic field inside, and this will cause it to continue to rotate inside and emit power.

This motor contains both permanent magnets and electromagnets. These electromagnets are arranged in groups of three powered in the sequence to create a rotating field to drive the permanent magnet. These electromagnets are mounted on the non-rotating part of the motor, and the permanent motor is mounted around the motor’s shaft.

Brushless Motor

This is an advanced form of a brushed motor. As the name implies, these motors come without brushes; hence, their efficiency is usually greater than the brushed motor. Instead of the absence of brushes, motor controllers apply current to each three motor windings utilizing continuous rotation of the rotor. The two basic methods are used for generating the rotating magnetic field in the motor winding. They are

• Trapezoidal communication
• Sinusoidal communication

The brushless motor doesn’t need extra care, but a brushed motor requires some extra care and maintenance due to the brushes wearing off as passes of time.

The power generated by the motor is expressed in watt (W), and common scooters have a capability of 250- 600 watts. The speed of the scooter specifically relies on the power of the motor. And the power of the motor varies over time.

 Most of the time, it will be around the baseline, which is called the Real power, and this power is likely to get most of the time. Sometimes the motor reaches its higher limit, and this maximum power the motor can reach is called Peak Power. Also Read: What is Engine

Working of Batteries in Electric Scooter

Nowadays, most scooters come with Lithium-ion batteries. Now in modern technology, various battery manufacturing companies are participating in this particular field of manufacturing of batteries, but Samsung & LG batteries are more durable than others. The unavoidable points in the batteries are

• Its voltage, which is denoted as Volt (V)
• Its charge, which is denoted as Ampere –hours(AH)

As we know, the voltage is directly proportional to the current and inversely proportional to its resistance, according to Ohm’s law. Hence as the voltage is higher, the batteries may supply more power to the motor. More storage capacity of batteries makes batteries bigger and heavier. The storage capacity of batteries is denoted in Watt-hour (Wh), which is obtained by multiplying the volts concerning the time the Ampere hours.

WH = V * Ah

The average capacity of batteries to drive a scooter for a kilometer is 10 to 20 watt-hours. Batteries are not a permanent power source that will generally deploy bypassing over two years. Hence we need to replace the batteries from time to time for better performance.

The upgrade of the batteries makes batteries more powerful, and this will cause an increase in the range and provide better speed and better efficiency.

The lithium-ion batteries come from 24 Volt to 120 volts. And their capacities are between 150 Watt-hours to 750 watt-hours, but the expensive scooter has much more capacity. The average charging of batteries will take up to 5 hours to fully charge. The batteries may last between two to three years.

Types of Batteries are used for Electric Scooters

Generally, nowadays, lithium-ion batteries are used widely because these have many advantages over other batteries. These are as follows:-

• These batteries have a sound density which provides an electric scooter longer range.
• Its unique feature is that it does not drain fast when idle.
• These do not require much more maintenance.
• Voltage capacity is higher than the other electrical batteries.
• These batteries are not needed for priming. That means charging slowly and discharging it fully.

Lithium-ion batteries also have some limitations, and they are as follows:

• They could not be fully discharged.
• They can catch fire and explode.

Also Read: Fuel Pump

Controllers in Electric Scooter: How it Works?

The controller of the electric scooter may perform a vital role in the performance of the electric scooter. It may work like a gum between the accelerator and brake controls, the battery, and the motor.

Whenever the rider presses the throttle, the command goes through the wire to the controller, passing the signal through the battery to release more or less power to the motor. Generally, electric scooters have hydraulic brakes, but the scooters have electric brakes that stop the extract from the battery and command the motor to stop working.

Also Read: What Are The Different Types Of Magnetic Susceptibility?

Brakes in Electric Scooter: How it Works?

Generally, a brake is used to control the speed or regulate the speed of moving devices. One of these devices is used in the electric scooter. In electric scooters, three types of electric brakes are used:-

The ancient type is the rear foot brake, where we just push against the rear pad with our foot to develop the friction. This is the least accomplished way to brake because we need to hit the rear pads with our foot without knowing and looking back. But these types of brakes are not used in lots of brakes.

Later on, another braking system is developed, an old and mechanical brake, either hydraulic or disc. These scooters have a brake lever on the left handle; when the lever is pressed, it activates the disc brake on the front wheel, the rear wheel, or both.

The advancement of technology develops the third and more reliable braking system known as the Electronic brake. Now, this is common in most electric scooters, and they cut off against the acceleration and stop the movement of the motor.

This braking system has a feature to re-create, which refills the battery a small part whenever activated. However, more brakes are quite useful for the braking of the scooter. But very few scooters have all these types of braking systems. But a combination of disc and electric braking is a great combination. 

Also Read: Gear Box

Electric Scooter Wheels: How it Works?

Great quality wheels play an important role in their performance and efficiency in moving devices. Hence these scooters are used two types of wheels, and they are

• Solid
• Pneumatic (Air filled)

Solid wheels

Solid wheels are not the most common in every scooter. The solid wheel advantage is that this is a puncture freewheel, or it may be difficult to get punctured, and there is no flat tire. This is an advantage, but there is also a disadvantage of this type of wheel is that the rider is not very comfortable while riding due to the absence of a flat tire and experiencing shock and bump. That’s why these wheels need a sound suspension system to absorb the shaky and bumpy ride.

Pneumatic wheels

Air-filled tires make us careless while riding occasionally; we get punctured but provide a very comfortable ride. Hence this type of scooter does not need any suspension system. Air-filled tire contains rubber which provides more surface tension against the ground. Hence, it rarely slips and allows us to inflate or deflate them whenever required to adjust for speed versus control.

Wheels come in unique sizes and patterns. For everyday use, it needs smooth wheels, which also provide a faster ride. When we need to ride over off-road, we need wheels with pinholes in them, allowing the scooter to handle rough and uneven roads. Many scooters are efficient for both rides and off-road tires.

 The size of the scooter is helpful and provides a smooth and well-balanced ride; hence we need a proper sized wheel for the scooter. Suppose we put wide wheels in the scooter that allows better control, increased acceleration, and decreased braking distance. These scooters also have demerits that provide less comfortable rides, increase battery consumption, and rapid wear and tear of wheels.

Therefore scooters generally come equipped with suitable tires intended to fulfill the rider’s needs. Some scooters come with these above two wheels, which is sure not common for all. Very few scooters have both wheels, and you can swap these two as their ease of need. However, this is not suitable in most models; hence riders are stuck with their initial choice while choosing the scooters.

Suspension System in Electric Scooter: How it Works?

A suspension system for any device helps riders have a more comfortable or smooth ride. This type of suspension system mostly comes with solid wheel scooters to reduce the shaky and bumpy experience of the rider.

 Generally, scooters have either hydraulic suspension or spring arm. Hydraulic suspension is complex and even consists of hydraulic fluid. But spring arm suspension is very simple and will work in many models. A hydraulic suspension is quite costly and comes with higher-quality scooters. Also Read: Diesel Engine

Screen & Controllers in Electric Scooter: How it Works?

Generally, scooters have LCD screens in the middle of the handlebars, and some scooters have only one button: the power button. Many other scooters use circular devices on the right handlebar. These screens may use for the following things: –

• They are used for powering the scooter on and off.
• Change the mode of driving.
• Showing other info like battery level, time and direction, speed of the scooter and km of travel, etc

Sometimes scooters have only the power button and throttle button for controlling the scooter unless it also has a brake lever. Few scooters have a key to start the scooter and do not need to start with the screen. Scooters also have additional equipment for notifying other participants in traffic, that is, a horn or bell.

Deck of Electric Scooter: How it Works?

The size of the deck decides the comfort of the ride. Most of the deck will come around 40 cm long, whose width varies from 10 to 20 cm and more. The size of the deck is very important for the rider’s comfortability and stability. This will especially be for those whose feet are very large or taller riders because they generally face the problem with scooters having narrow decks.

 The ground clearance provides stability and the capability to cross the obstacle smoothly. For example, higher ground clearance of the scooter allows the rider to ride over sidewalks, and riders may easily cross the bumps, but it also generates a higher center of gravity, which will give less stability to the rider.

The electric scooter comes with a deck with extra grip and better resistance for feet. This is a feature to have, and it comes from rubber bumps, a material similar to sandpaper.

Electric Scooter Handlebar: How it Works?

As the four-wheeler, there is steering to guide the direction to the wheels, and there is also a handlebar used to turn and guide the wheels. Some electric scooters adjust the handlebar to set the height for the rider. Many scooters have shorts of cover on the edge of the handlebar for ease to hold them. Mainly rubber or silicon is used for this. Mainly, it should be important to keep these handlebars are not slippery and provide a strong grip to riders to avoid any damage or safety purposes.

This handlebar consists of a screen generally placed on the middle of the handlebar,  the brake lever, which is placed on the left side of the handlebar, and the throttle that lies on the right side of the handlebar.

Lights of Electric Scooters: How it Works?

The electric scooters generally have LED headlights, and some scooters also have tail lights which are active whenever riders place the brake. These lights may consume battery; hence very specific lights are mounted in such types of scooters because consumption of power may cause draining of battery very soon. There are a few types of electric scooter lights, and these are as follows:-

• Main headlights
• Brake lights
• LED strips
• Turn signals
• Reflective stickers

These lights are often activated using the dashboard but can also be controlled through an app if the scooter has that feature.

Main headlight

These types of light are only useful when the rider rides in the night or at low light and usually at high speed. The usual main headlights positions are as follows:-

• Top of the handlebar
• Bottom of the handlebar, right over the wheel
• Within the front of the deck.

This is the most common light in the electric scooter. If the electric scooter has a single light, that should be a headlight. Generally, scooters come with single headlights, but few models have two or four front lights.

These headlights are present in the scooter due to following the traffic rules in various countries. The main properties of light are angle, distance, and power.

Brake light

The brake lights are usually activated only if riders use any brakes; generally, these lights are red, but some models prefer this as orange. Several models of scooters can also be turned on permanently. These brake lights are situated as bellow:-

• On the back of the rear pad
• In the rear of the deck

These brake lights are common in electric scooters, and these are also mounted in the scooter to follow the traffic guidelines in many countries. These lights are very useful for safety purposes at night because riding at night without brake lights puts riders at serious risk.

Turn light

Turn light is not common for all-electric scooters; the help of pressing the button turns on these lights. New model scooters may come with these features. These are mostly orange in color and activated by the button given on the handlebar, but these lights are not as important as the main headlights or rear brake lights. Turns signal generally place at:-

• The front side of the deck
• The rear side of the deck

Led strips

These LED strips are useful at night and in the traffic where the other traffic participants know the riders’ presence and increase the visibility at night, but many new model scooters mount these lights only for the fun and decorative element.

These lights are not common in all-electric scooters. But probably approx. 35 to 45 % of electric scooters have these types of light. Mainly the riders choose to add LED Strips to their scooters additionally. LED strips are commonly mounted as follows:-

• Bottom of the Deck
• Side of the deck
• Alongside the handlebar

Reflective stickers

In the present-day reflective stickers are widely used in all types of moving devices. This is the modern phenomenon as very old model scooters have these reflective stickers. Some countries have legal requirements to have reflective stickers on their scooters which reflect in deemed light, so manufacturers and brands use them.

These stickers at night are not as effective, but it’s much better than the scooter not having these, as they are very simple but don’t have any demerits for having on the scooters.  These scooters are generally placed at:-

• Sides of the deck
• Rims of the wheel
• Pads

These lights mostly come in orange, yellow, and sometimes white. Generally, many scooters have poor lighting due to these reasons:-

• These electric scooters are not suitable to widely used at the night
• This light will consume batteries to a large extent; hence its drain the batteries more rapidly
• Strong light in electric scooters generally did not happen or expected to.

General Guideline for Riding Electric Scooters at Night

These electric scooters don’t mean to be a ride at night, but a rider still plan to ride at night, then he has to follow some basic guidelines, which are as follows:-

• Always follows the fundamental safety rules and procedure
• Always aware of local laws for night riding.
• Always wear a safety jacket and helmet, and safety equipment.
• First, check your battery level and electronics before going on the ride
• Riders need to be always turn on their headlight
• Always wear reflective clothing at night while riding
• Keep your speed to the limit.
• Always prefer to ride in well-lit areas.
• Being rider be extra care while in the dusk and down
• Always keep a charged phone with you.

Seats of Electric Scooters

The seat is an additional part of the scooter in electric scooters, which will get by paying some extra money, but it makes the scooter much more reliable. Nowadays, many models of scooters come with the seat having features to add and remove the seats as the rider needs.

Best electric scooters having a seat are listed below:-

Electric scooter	Comes with a seat(Yes/No)	Seat removal(Yes/ NO)	Best for
NanRobot  D5	Yes	Yes	Overall best
Hiboy S2	Yes	Yes	Best value
Uberscoot 1600	Yes	Yes	Best value alternative
Razor E300s	Yes	NO	Best budget
Razor eco-smart	Yes	No	Best with a trunk
Joyner F	No	Yes	Great range
Techlife l5t	Yes	Yes	Best water resistance
Erev – 800	Yes	No	Best for heavy Adults
Scrooser	Yes	No	Best design
Inokim light	Yes	Yes	Best high-end alternatives

Basket or Trunks

Baskets or trunks make scooters more useful for adults in day-to-day life activities. However, very few scooters come with a built-in way to install baskets and trunks. This will be possible only if the rider puts in some customization, but it is quite possible for some models because the overall construction and balance of the scooter may be affected due to customization.

Methods of Charging Electric Scooters

Charging an electric scooter is very simple. But there are a few steps given that increase the potential life span of the scooter’s battery.

• First of all, cool down your scooter before charging
• Turn off the scooter before charging.
• Always use the original charger.
• Always charge in cool, in dry and in-room temperature
• Keep your charging until full charge as possible
• Don’t force the battery to die
• Always avoid the  overcharging
• Avoid riding just after charging

Advantage of Electric Scooter

• Electric scooters are favorable for the environment.
• Riders do not need a driving license
• Very simple design and easy to use.
• There is no emission of greenhouse gases
• It does not pollute the air.
• This is energy-saving.
• Its operating cost is very less.
• Riding of electric scooter is very ease
• Very easy to find a parking area
• Very suitable for a short distance
• It allows riders for traffic-free
• Emits very less noise pollution
• Very low maintenance cost as compared to car and motorcycle

Limitations of Electric Scooter

• An electric scooter may be reliable for flat tires
• Batteries drain as time passes and may need to replace with a new one
• A possible breakdown happens for a few lower budget models and shortens its life span.
• Few models of electric scooters have a very shortened warranty period.
• Its battery charging time is generally very long.
• Its range could not be advertised.
• Few models do not provide a smooth ride.
• Powerful and fast electric scooters are very bulky and difficult to carry.
• Light electric scooter does not support heavy rider
• Handlebar in electric scooters may not be common for several models
• Old model electric scooters do not be fold
• Someplace don’t allow electric scooters in the street
• Many places limit the top speed for the electric scooter
• Electric scooters are not allowed in the airplane
• Electric scooters are hardly used in the winter and rainy season
• Some electric scooters do not have lightning
• Accidents are always the possibility
• Its repair may be tough
• Spare parts of these are difficult to arrange

Maintenance of Electric Scooters

If riders focus on the two things that properly charge the scooter and do not let it drain completely, then the electric scooter does not require extra maintenance. If scooters have a serious issue in the sector of not charging, turning on, running, the rider has to take it to the repairman because they cannot be troubleshot by themselves.

Summary

This article taught us about the electric scooter, its types, power source, and how long it may charge. Herewith also elaborate on the benefits and limitations of the devices. This article can easily make decisions while buying the proper electric scooter.