Did you know that there are a number of ways you can increase the range of your electric scooter?
Indeed! There are twelve ways actually.
This is true. Range is critical, so you must learn the following practical tips if you want to increase the range of your electric scooter – of course, with great care and diligence.
Practical tips to increase the range of your electric scooter:
It all starts from the simplest methods that don’t require any modifications to the scooter, all the way to the tips that significantly alter the scooter’s internal parts.
- Ride in the optimal mode and speed for maximum range. It’s a simple thing you can do to get more range. Remember the general rule: ride in the slower, power-saving modes with a lower-end, budget scooter. Ride faster with a top-quality and more upscale scooter. The added benefit here is that you get the best battery life possible.
- The most important factor that determines the range you will get is the battery. You can check out Smartwheel’s website if you want to buy the best electric scooters in Canada with good batteries.
The faster the battery gets drained, the less range you will get.
This means you should do everything you can to get more battery juice while riding.
- If you’re not riding during the night, make sure the lights of the scooter are turned off. Make sure too, that you have no unnecessary electronics running. So that your battery only needs to worry about your scooter running.
- For most e-scooters, this is a simple and very short list:
Clean your electric scooter regularly, thoroughly. The wheels are usually susceptible to these sorts of things. So make sure they are squeaky clean. Otherwise, you might be impeding the maximum range you can get. If your scooter has disc brakes, check them as well to keep the e-scooter in good maintenance form.
Aside from cleaning the e-scooter’s exterior, clean the battery too, every now and then. If the battery gathers a lot of dust or trash around it, it will heat up faster when you drive, which will make it less efficient. Just wipe off the dirt or dust with a dry towel or a toothbrush to bring it back into top shape.
Warning: There are manufacturers that may void your warranty if you as much as unscrew a screw. But warranties usually last a year. Take note that range decreases in the first year because of battery grime.
- Reduce the weight the e-scooter has to carry.
It’s the law of gravity. Remember that the more weight your scooter has to carry, the more power it needs to use in a shorter period of time. The more power it uses in less time, the less range you will get. Got it?
This is another warning: Never sacrifice safety for range. Put on all your safety gear when riding, especially your helmet. Travel light as much as possible especially if you’re after getting the best range.
Some riders have shared that they’ve been definitely getting a few extra kilometers of range after they got rid of bulky amounts of weight upon their body.
You may think it’s not much, but the load that your scooter carries does have an effect on the range.
- Inflate the rear tire of your electric scooter, but not too much. The logic here is that the less inflated a tire is, the more its surface touches the ground when riding. What happens then? There is more friction that your scooter has against the ground, which, in turn results in less energy efficiency. The outcome is that more battery power is used to cover the same distance, and the effect is less range. By inflating the tires you will help improve your range.
Check your e-scooter’s recommended tire pressure, and use a pump that can measure the pressure when inflating the tires.
Be aware that the more you inflate your tires, the more slippery your ride becomes. That’s the price to pay for less friction, so weigh carefully the option – less friction, more slippery.
- If you’re just starting out, and not that experienced riding an e-scooter, better to keep the tire pressure at the recommended level. When you have gained more riding experience, then you can consider getting that extra range for your rideable. This tip however, doesn’t apply to scooters with solid tires.
- And now, the brakes. Make sure the brakes are not too tight or cause friction. Does your e-scooter have cable brakes? It is not recommended that you tighten them up too much as they may cause friction with the wheel while riding. What could happen is that you will be using more power to cover the same distance and yet, you will get a reduced range.
Check to make sure your brakes are properly set. How? Try spinning the wheels manually and see if any unnecessary friction occurs. Loosen up your brakes a little if there is friction. Try again.
If you have the rear foot-press brake, make sure there’s nothing stuck between the brake and the wheel where you press the rear fender to get some extra braking, as this will have the same effect as tight brakes.
- Never drain the battery completely. All batteries suffer from inevitable wear and tear. It is estimated that lithium-ion batteries (the most common one in scooters) last between two to three years, or around 300 to 500 cycles.
Over time, your scooter’s battery is slowly dying, already. So remember not to drain your battery completely, because every time the battery is totally drained, it loses some of its capacity. If you drain it often, its capacity will be reduced way faster than the normal cycle. What to do to avoid this and extend your battery’s life? Charge it frequently, and never let it get drained completely.
- When is it time to upgrade the battery? It cannot be said too often. The e-scooter’s battery is the most important factor to get the range you want. Getting a stronger battery (usually with more voltage) can directly give your electric scooter a boost in range. Take note though, that you can only get a stronger battery if the motor and the controller support voltage levels are much larger than your current battery has.
The Mearth RS is considered the ultimate long-range e-scooter and is very popular. It has a bigger battery and therefore can really give your ride a boost up in range.
- Add an extra battery. The most reliable way to get more range out of your e-scooter is to add an extra battery. Mearth RS and RS Pro are the ultimate in long-range electric scooter category that boast hot swappable batteries. Many e-scooters in the market don’t have this kind of feature, so choose well.
- Rewind the motor. This is an advanced technique that can get you more range if you’ve had your electric scooter for some time. You need to check first if you need to rewind the motor. A professional help will determine if this is possible as it is a complicated mechanical procedure that requires an expert to do it.
Basically, all mechanical parts, including the motor, are subject to wear and tear — over time. Rewinding a motor is like energizing it to increase its efficiency and power. Check first if the motor of your e-scooter needs rewinding. Another important thing to remember: If you don’t know how to do this and you don’t have the necessary tools and equipment for motor rewinding, it is best to take your electric scooter to a professional.
There you have it — the dirt-free dozen ways to get the most range from your electric scooter, for your own leisure pleasure trip, of course. Ride safely. Enjoy!
