Okay, so you’ve bought an electric scooter, and now you are worried about “how long do electric scooters last”? Electric scooters are a great way to get around town, but like any other piece of equipment, they can wear down over time.
Electric scooters have been around for a few years now and while their popularity is on the rise, it is still hard to pinpoint the exact lifecycle of an electric scooter.
Based on general usage and maintenance, an average electric scooter is said to last anywhere from 2 to 4 years. It also varies from model to model and the general built quality of an electric scooter.
In this article, we’ll explore how long electric scooters last, based on our own experience and the experiences of others. We’ll also provide some tips on how to extend the life of your scooter.
So, Let’s begin!
What is the average lifespan of an electric scooter?
There’s no clear-cut answer to this question as the average life span depends on many factors. However, the average life span of an electric scooter can be somewhere around 2 to 4 years.
In the initial 2 years after buying the scooter, efficiency doesn’t decrease as it falls in the years that follow. As the years go on, efficiency decreases, meaning slower speed, lesser cruise range, and more maintenance required by the scooter.
What affects an electric scooter’s lifespan?
As mentioned before, the lifespan of a scooter depends on various factors, some of which are listed below.
1. Battery
Like almost all other electric vehicles, batteries play a major part in determining the lifespan of a scooter. The better condition these batteries are in, the greater the lifespan.
Lithium-ion batteries require less maintenance and last longer than nickel-metal hybrid batteries (NiMH) and Lead-acid batteries (SLA).
2. Frame Material
The material also plays a crucial role in determining the life span of a scooter. Carbon fiber and aluminum alloy offer strong frame materials. These are corrosion-resistant and durable.
3. Tires
Tires offer the only point of contact between the scooter and the ground, therefore, playing a major role in ensuring smoother and better rides. If tires are in better condition, your ride will be smooth and comfortable.
However, flat or deflated tires will not let the scooter function smoothly. Tires wear over time, and hence performance is decreased. Make sure to keep an eye on them.
4. Riding Habits
Different riders treat their scooters in different ways. If you ride at full throttle, in harsh weather conditions like rain, or on bumpy tracks, your ride’s lifespan is bound to decrease. The way you ride dramatically affects the lifespan your scooter will have.
5. Maintenance
Like all other electric vehicles, scooters, although little, do require maintenance. Regular cleaning and checking tire pressure can increase the lifespan significantly.
Factors that cause scooter’s life to decrease
Parking your scooter and exposing it to adverse weather conditions can negatively impact its life. Keeping non-waterproof scooters outside in weather conditions like rain is a big NO.
These scooters are also affected by dust. Dust accumulates in the parts of the scooter, disrupting the normal functioning of the scooter in the short run and causing a decrease in its overall life in the long run.
Extreme temperatures also play a role here. Very high temperatures can quickly damage lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, electric motors will have to work harder in cold temperatures.
How to extend your scooter’s lifespan?
1. Maintain the battery
The battery is one of the essential parts when it comes to the smooth functioning of a scooter, and hence extra care is required for it. Here are some steps you can take to prolong your scooter’s battery life. Avoid draining the battery.
Lithium-ion batteries should not be drained entirely as it adversely affects the battery life. Draining the battery to below 10 percent is not a good idea, and hence the scooter should be charged as soon the battery percentage hits the 10 percent mark.
2. Do not exceed the charging time.
Overcharging the battery harms the battery more than does completely depleting it. It can have detrimental consequences as, in some cases overcharging might cause the battery to swell, catch fire or even burst.
To avoid this, you should read the instructions manual carefully and unplug charging after the recommended charging time.
3. Let the battery cool before you put it to charge
After riding a scooter, it’s normal for the battery to get hot. In that case, putting it to charge when it’s hot is not a good idea. Let it rest and cool down before you start charging your scooter.
4. Charge battery before long storage
Lithium-ion batteries tend to get drained if not used for a long period. As mentioned before, battery depletion results in a decreased battery lifespan.
Therefore, please ensure charging your scooter to almost 70 percent before storing it for the long term. Moreover, don’t forget to charge your scooter once a month.
5. Charge your scooter with manufacturer-approved chargers only
Chargers of different brands may seem similar on the outside, but the inner wiring in these chargers dramatically varies. If you use an unmatched charger, a scooter may be short-circuited or may even fail to charge.
Some chargers might even supply more voltage to the scooters, which might cause irreversible damage to the scooter’s battery. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the scooter to be charged only with those chargers that the manufacturer has approved.
6. Check the state of bolts and nuts regularly.
Long periods of driving your scooter on a bumpy road may cause the bolts and nuts to loosen, impacting the ride performance. It is thus necessary to regularly check and tighten the nuts and bolts of your scooter to ensure maximum performance.
7. Check and change worn-out parts and accessories.
If you’re using the same old parts of your scooters for a long time and if they’ve worn out, you should consider getting them changed as it increases their performance.
Instead of discarding your scooter and investing in a new one, you should replace the worn-out parts. The most common parts that need to be replaced are tires.
Batteries can also be replaced after getting worn out, and that’ll help boost the performance of your scooter.
8. Lubricate wheels and handlebars regularly
Friction can decrease the lifespan of your scooter. Therefore, it is a good idea to lubricate wheels and handlebars once for at least three months.
However, this varies in how frequently the scooter is used by the rider; if it is in everyday use, lubrication might be required more frequently.
9. Store your scooter in the right way
You must store your scooter in the right way to ensure a maximum possible lifespan. Try avoiding storing it in extremely cold or hot, humid temperatures. Select a place that is ventilated, cool, and not exposed to the sun as it may increase temperature.
This should be an ideal place to store your scooter.
Final Thoughts – In a Nutshell
I hope this article answers all your questions regarding “how long is the lifespan of your scooter.” Scooters, just like other machines, need to be taken care of. Therefore, it is the rider’s responsibility to take care of their ride.
Regular maintenance of the battery and the scooter itself is essential for increased life. To achieve maximum scooter life and maximum returns on investment, follow all the above-given tips, and you should be good to go.
