Several things are secretly damaging your electric scooter without you knowing.
Electric scooters will provide you with longer rides and a longer lifespan if you maintain them properly.
Many people damage their scooters unknowingly. Hence, reducing their lifespan
Things damaging your electric scooter
Here are several things that could be slowly destroying your scooter.
Where do I store my scooter?
Storage of electric scooters is one of the things many people ignore or assume. Storing your scooter in extremely hot or extremely cold conditions is secretly damaging it. Scooters are like human beings; they cannot get too hungry or too hot.
How cold conditions damage your scooter battery
Cold conditions cause sluggish movement of lithium ions in the battery. This is why it is advisable to let the battery warm up before charging because charging it under freezing circumstances can destroy the battery components. Storing it in very hot conditions is also bad because it may cause overheating.
How charging damages your scooter
Overnight charging or continued power supply to the scooter battery, even when it surpasses the 100 per cent threshold, is also damaging your scooter battery.
Overcharging might make the battery overheat, reduce its lifespan, and damage the cells. However, modern scooters have Battery Management Systems (BMS) that automatically shut off when the battery reaches the required charge level.
Bad scooter charging habits
Using a charger that is not the original one bought alongside your scooter is also damaging it. The issue is that the voltage may be higher than what your scooter is supposed to handle.
Some riders also charge their scooters immediately after a journey. The scooter should be allowed to cool for a while before charging because charging it while still hot also damages the battery without you knowing. You should allow it to cool for around 20 minutes before charging it.
Dangers of draining a scooter battery
Draining your scooter battery to zero before plugging it into the charger is also damaging it. Leaving it undercharged for long periods is also detrimental to your scooter’s longevity. When not using your scooter, it is advisable to leave the battery at around a 20 to 30 per cent charge.
Electric scooter water damage
Washing your electric scooter with pressurised washers will also bring devastating effects to your eco-friendly machine.
Many people may argue that scooters are water-resistant.
The answer is both yes and no. Most scooters’ ingress protection (IP) ratings cannot sustain such high water pressure.
Remember, scooters are made with rubber and gasket seals, and when high pressure is applied, those seals can be damaged, allowing water to enter the battery or other components, leading to short-circuiting and corrosion.
Water may also enter areas such as the dashboard.
Riding electric scooters in rain
Riding in the rain is also slowly damaging your scooter. Some scooters cannot sustain certain levels of water splashes and wet pavements. As a result, moisture may build up inside the scooter, causing slow corrosion. Riding in icy conditions for long periods when temperatures are freezing will also damage your scooter in the long run.
Scooter servicing tips
Lubricating parts that are not supposed to be lubricated is another thing that destroys your scooter without you knowing. Always learn which parts should and should not be lubricated. Ignoring loose screws and bolts on your scooter is also another issue affecting its performance and lifespan.
Exceeding electric scooter cargo limit
Carrying goods beyond the scooter’s recommended weight limit is slowly damaging your electric scooter. When you carry too much weight, the battery has to overwork to propel the scooter, something that will destroy it over time. Exceeding the cargo limit also damages the shocks because they are only designed to support a specific amount of weight.
Electric scooter longevity tips
Bad riding habits such as consistently riding at very high speeds and making jackrabbit starts, where you pull the throttle fully at once, are also harmful to the scooter. Acceleration should always be gradual.
Lack of servicing and failure to visit a technician regularly while using the scooter are other major problems. Changing parts that are subjected to wear and tear quite often is also fundamental to your scooter’s longevity.
