It is a wonderful means of transportation that is becoming more and more popular all over the world. Electric scooters have been gradually tried by customers. You’ve probably already seen these devices on the streets of the city. If you are interested in a new, modern, mobile mode of commuting, if you are thinking about buying this vehicle, this article will definitely come in handy. From it, you will learn how to choose and how it works, how to use an electric scooter, how to ride and how to charge correctly.
Electric scooters, what are they like !?
Electric scooters have quickly gone from a toy for children to an almost complete vehicle for commuting. The power of the motors is growing. Electric motors with a performance of 90-100 watts can be considered children’s. For teenagers, models with a performance of 150-250 watts are suitable. The most powerful models for adults range from 350 watts to 1 kilowatt or more. They develop very impressive speeds and the electric scooter turns into compact, lightweight, foldable (when equipped with removable seats).
Thus, there are three main categories of these electric scooters – for adults, adolescents and for children. More and more adult buyers are thinking about buying this vehicle. In urban environments, electric scooters have become a viable alternative to bikes. The engine of this device in the most popular and modern models is built into the wheel. There are also models with drives (chain and belt), but the convenience of the motor-wheel is that in the event of a breakdown it can be simply replaced.
The advantages of an electric scooter:
1 Environmentally friendly urban transport for individual use;
2 Affordable price
3 Compactness and mobility;
4 Lightweight
5 Economical
There are a variety of electric scooters on the market – folding and solid. The convenience of folding options is obvious – you can easily drive from home to the subway or public transport stop, then fold the electric scooter and get on the bus or metro. You won’t even be asked to pay for your luggage. The most common models weigh 12-15 kilograms. A one-piece electric scooter usually weighs a little more, but its weight rarely exceeds 30-35 kilograms.
The battery is the heart of the electric scooter and feeds it with energy. Often, scooters comes with 18650 lithium battery cells, but there are other versions as well. Charging rules are the same as with other devices that use lithium-ion batteries – do not disassemble, use only good (“native”) chargers. The battery is hermetically sealed. The cost and resource, the frequency of replacement can be calculated by analogy with laptop batteries or other devices with 18650. On average, such cells are designed for hundreds of charge-discharge cycles, so you will be able to ride an electric scooter for several seasons without replacing the battery. One complete battery charging in a modern electric scooter is enough for at least 30 kilometers. But when leaving for the office to work, to study, do not forget the charger with you – it is not big at all. Fully charging the battery takes 2-8 hours depending on the model.
What to look for when buying an electric scooter
Above, we have already talked about the important, basic elements of an electric scooter – the motor and the battery. When choosing a device for yourself, remember – powerful performance and battery capacity are very good, this means high speed and power reserve. But it also has a downside – the weight increases, even by a kilogram or by 2 – 3, but in daily trips around the city, this may not play the most pleasant role. If you need a scooter for “short runs” from home to the nearest supermarket, to a cinema, to a metro station, small size and weight (12-15 kilos) of an electric scooter with an engine power of 300-350 watts and a battery capacity of 6-8 amperes/hour will be quite enough. Such vehicles will travel 25-30 kilometers on a full charge in the city. To drive around the city, you need to pay attention to the diameter of the wheels. The most common wheels today are 8 and 10 inches. Again, the larger the wheel, the more weight, but higher ground clearance and better off-road capability. Practice shows that although 8-inch wheels are somewhat “harsh”, they are quite enough for city trips, on asphalt, paving stones. When driving, do not forget to be careful, even with large wheels, to go around all pits and potholes. Already at a speed of 10-15 km/h, getting into a hole is dangerous – the electric scooter itself will not break, it is strong enough, it will simply throw you off of it. In general, 8-10 inch wheels are considered suitable for dirt roads, such wheels can be found on small scooters, but remember that when you are riding while standing, your center of gravity is high, you are in a very unstable position. brakes. Most good modern electric scooters have electronic brakes (from a button) equipped with a recuperation system. When braking with such a brake, the battery is charged. This is very economical, most users use a button to brake, although the rear brake (on the fender) should also be available. When buying, look for additional gear. The electric scooter must have a headlight and an onboard computer that shows the speed, mileage, battery charge. Another important detail for the convenience of using the electric scooter is the presence of a folding stand on the footboard so that the vehicle can be left in an upright position.
Lightweight, powerful, foldable, with a seat. And to have a stylish design. These are the functions that an electric scooter should have.
