How to check the battery of an electric scooter

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A battery is a special device. It is capable of storing electrical energy and releasing it when necessary. Electric scooters cover a certain distance exactly due to the battery. In such gadgets, the battery is very specific. It should be capacious, but at the same time have a minimum weight and compact dimensions. At the same time, the other parameters should also be in the norm, otherwise the device will not last long. Our article will help you understand how to check the battery of an electric scooter according to different criteria. In addition, at the end there is a video on how to check the controller, because it is this part that determines the performance of the other elements of the device.

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Causes of Scooter Battery Problems

The need to check the electric scooter for charging arises first of all when there are malfunctions. When the battery refuses to recharge or quickly loses its charge while riding, it may be Causes:

wear and tear of the battery pack;
Water entering the enclosure;
contact damage;
problems with the controller;
Deformation of the battery (due to falling, etc.);
mechanical damage to the wires in the connecting cord.

You may encounter these problems due to improper use of the device or prolonged use. If the battery does not give visible signals of failure, but weakly performs its functions, it is definitely worth checking. The available methods are described in our article.

Types of electric scooter batteries

For the most part, it is the battery that is responsible for the performance of the scooter. Today there is a distinction between the following varieties:

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion)
Lithium Polymer (Li-Pol)

Time of year to ride: Spring-Summer
Features: Compact and lightweight batteries replenish the charge quickly and consume it economically. Long-lasting when used properly. Battery capacity decreases at low temperatures.

Time of year to ride: Autumn-winter
Features: Identical batteries in the characteristics described above perform better in low-temperature applications.

Sometimes in electric scooters (the cheapest) there are lead or helium batteries, but they do not show themselves very well in the work, so it makes no sense to consider them.

Most often, electric scooter manufacturers equip their devices with lithium-ion batteries. The desired voltage is achieved by connecting the cells in series or in parallel. Let's take a look at the individual battery assembly diagrams for two-wheeled electric vehicles together with their technical features on the example of the Li-Ion 18650 cell:

Connection diagram	Voltage	Battery capacity
16S11P	60 В	28.6-38.5 Ah
16S9P	60 В	23.4-31.5 Ah
16S6P	60 В	15.6-21 Ah
14S10P	48 В	2.6-3.5 Ah
13S8P	48 В	25.6-28 Ah
13S5P	48 В	13-17.5 Ah
13S4P	48 В	10.4-14 Ah
10S5P	36 В	13-17.5 Ah
10S4P	36 В	10.4-14 Ah
10S3P	36 В	7.8-10.5 Ah
10S2P	36 В	5.2-7 Ah
6S3P	24 В	7.8-9.6 Ah
6S2P	24 В	5.2-6.4 Ah

When the lithium-ion battery begins to degrade, it is impossible to repair the battery - a different cell connection scheme will not help, and the problem can only be solved by replacing the part.

What parameters can be checked

Batteries on electric vehicles, as well as on other devices, have several important parameters that are responsible for the operation of the cells. It is possible to check them without much effort. Available characteristics to check:

reservoir - is responsible for the range of the trip;
voltage - has an effect on the speed of electric transport;
internal resistance - increases the power supplied to the motor.

These parameters are usually checked with a multimeter and a voltmeter.

Checking the real capacity

Battery capacity is the ability of a battery to store electricity for later use by the consumer. It is considered to be the most important numerical characteristic that makes it possible to estimate the duration of autonomous operation of the gadget. If you want to check the battery of an electric scooter, you should start with this indicator.

It is not possible to increase the mileage on a single charge. But to find it out by checking the battery capacity of an electric scooter is quite possible, even without resorting to the help of specialists. In this case, it is important to distinguish the real capacity from the one specified in the technical specifications of the device.

Why do you need to know the real capacity

The need to determine the real capacity of the battery is explained with an example. For example, if the device has a 14 Ah battery and the engine needs 6.9 A to work, the duration of operation of this device is 2 hours. When driving at a speed of 25 km/h, the user will be able to cover about 50 km in a couple of hours.

In the same way you can calculate the battery life of any other device.

To check the performance of your electric scooter battery, you will need to know its exact capacity. Although this characteristic is always stated in the appendix of the device, it can be disputed whether or not it is true.

How the actual capacity differs from the specifications

It is also advisable to consider this issue with the help of an example. Having stopped your choice on the Speedway 5 electric scooter, you should not trust the capacity indicated in the characteristics (23.4 Ah). This indicator must be checked in the near future after the purchase of the gadget, so that in the future not to be surprised by new phenomena. The same applies to electric scooters Xiaomi and other models. The actual capacity may be lower than that declared by the manufacturer for the following reasons reasons:

the battery already has a certain mileage;
The battery is assembled by hand (parts purchased separately).

The difference between real capacity and ideal capacity is the presence of the former error, thermal coefficient and leakage.

Despite the fact that the true figure may be lower than declared, it does not mean that the device will not perform its functions or will only work for a few days. In fact, few users think about checking the battery, and their gadgets work for a long time without problems. In addition, even with a reduced capacity, the service life of the electric scooter and its components, if used properly, is fully consistent with the specifications from the manufacturer.

Real Capacitance Check Scheme

It is possible to find out the real value after a full discharge/recharge cycle. This means that when you buy a new device it will be problematic to perform the test.

The principle of the test is to discharge the battery completely with constant electrical power. At the same time the duration of the discharge should be measured. Subtract the current consumption from the power.

Let's look at an example: we connect a 1A device to a battery with a capacity (specified by the manufacturer) of 5 Ah. If the battery discharges not in 5 hours, but, for example, in 3 hours, this indicates that the real capacity is equal to 60% of the declared value, i.e. 3 Ah.

The methodology can be applied to any type of battery.

How to check the battery voltage

The battery voltage reading is determined by multimeter. To do this you need to connect the probes to the contacts of the battery and select the appropriate parameter on the device. After obtaining the result it is recommended to compare it with the declared in the characteristics. If the discrepancy is minimal (0,1-0,2 V) you should not worry - the battery is ready to work and will not fail in the near future.

Checking internal resistance

It is advisable to check this indicator by voltmeter. The scheme of operation in this case is similar to that described above. Therefore, it is recommended to determine the internal resistance according to the same scheme. In addition, do not forget about comparing the number obtained with the manufacturer's declaration.

It is recommended to check the internal resistance at regular intervals in order to monitor the condition of the battery and replace it in time.

Power supply diagnostics

Checking the functionality of the power supply for the electric scooter requires the use of multimeter. It should be carried out not only when a breakdown is detected, but also as a preventive measure. Correct diagnostics will enable you to prevent unpleasant situations and allow you to ride your two-wheeler with confidence.

Speaking about how to check the power supply unit, it is worth noting that the scheme is no different from the above described. In this case you will also need to disassemble the part, and then use a multimeter for its intended purpose and carefully watch the measurement results.

How to prolong battery life

Natural wear and tear or sudden breakdowns are not the best things about an electric scooter battery. A user riding this type of transport should treat his gadget seriously and responsibly. It is possible to increase battery life by observing the following tips:

Do not use transport in cold weather. On long trips in "subzero" temperatures, the battery begins to drain faster as the gadget requires more energy.
Avoid temperature extremes. If the electric scooter is able to perform its functions without problems in the cold, you should not immediately put it on charge when you get home. It is recommended to let it "warm up" at room temperature first. Otherwise, the battery may fail.
Provide waterproofing. Moisture entering the body of the electric scooter contributes to the emergence of new problems, for example, oxidation of the battery. Therefore, when going outside in rainy weather, it is worth taking care to protect the device. Waterproofing is done by means of a special silicone cover or liquid rubber.

Rules for charging an electric scooter

For the electric scooter to serve you as long as possible - it is worth considering and adhering to the following rules:

Do not recharge the gadget. The device should be unplugged as soon as it reaches maximum charge. In this regard, it is not recommended to leave it plugged in overnight. This is explained by the fact that the constant current negatively affects the capacity of the battery, and unfortunately modern devices are not protected against overcharging. To learn more about how to properly charge your electric self-powered device, please refer to here.
Use the original charger. This advice is universal - it is suitable for all types of electric vehicles, smartphones, tablets, etc. The characteristics of the battery must match the charger itself, and this is only possible if the elements used are original. If you lose the charger that came with the gadget, you should buy exactly the same one at the store - today parts for electric scooters are freely sold separately.
Do not discharge the device "to zero". The battery of the electric scooter should not be brought to a state of charge less than 15%. When this indicator is reached, the device itself alerts the owner with a sound signal, so you can not miss it. If you plan to travel long distances, it is advisable to take an additional battery with a full charge to change it at the right time.

Following these tips will extend the battery life of two-wheelers guaranteed for several years.

Video tutorial

Answers to popular questions

1. What should I do if my scooter runs out of power quickly?

When the battery on an electric scooter runs out in just a few minutes, you should replace it with a new element. There are many reasons for this problem (mechanical damage, wear and tear, etc.), but there is only one solution.

2. How do I check the battery of a used scooter before buying it?

The battery should be inspected for visible damage. If there is none, ask the retailer to remove the battery and check its characteristics with a multimeter.

3. Can a faulty battery be identified externally (by eye)?

Inspection of the battery will reveal only backlashes, cracks, deformation, etc. External damage does not always make the device inoperable, but it is not recommended to use it if it is present. But such characteristics as voltage, capacity and resistance cannot be determined "by eye".

4. How many kilometers does a scooter charge last?

Starting to drive with the battery charged on the 100%, it will be possible to cover 20-60 km. The driving range is affected by battery capacity, the charging process, as well as speed and weather conditions.

Checking the battery of an electric scooter is done at home and with the help of devices that every man has in his arsenal. This procedure will help to avoid problems with the battery, as well as to verify the duration of its operation.