Traveling in a bus while going to the office was becoming too hectic for me. I was becoming fed up with getting stuck in traffic as it felt like a waste of time. One of my friends suggested that I buy an electric scooter for my daily commuting. I have never used a personal electric vehicle before. One question that came into my mind was, how does an electric scooter work?
But, after riding my friend’s electric scooter, I made up my mind to buy one for getting to work and for daily commuting. Riding an electric scooter has a lot of advantages and it is really fun; it takes less time, and can help with getting to destinations quickly.
How To Ride An Electric Scooter And How Does It Work?
Are you new to the world of electric scooters? If yes, here are some tips to guide you along your way:
If you are a beginner, learn to ride an electric scooter in an open space. It will help you maintain the right balance and will give you the confidence to ride.
Find a smooth surface, as this will provide you with plenty of room and help you understand how it operates. When the surface is predictable, it becomes convenient to ride the scooter, knowing that there are no obstacles.
Generally, electric scooters have three different gear mode settings that give more power as you shift gears. Sharpen your skills to ride an electric scooter by driving it in first gear. It will help you push the throttle to apply the brakes at the right time. After gaining the confidence in riding on mode one, try out other modes/gear to become clear which mode/gear suits you the best.
Every scooter has different ways of breaking. Some have drums, some are electric, and some have a disc braking system. All braking systems work well, but disc brakes work best in all weather conditions.
Electric scooters require a kick start. Unless you use the kick start, the motor will not kick and will not give you the most power to speed up the scooter. One important thing to keep in mind is remembering to kick start only when the kickstand is up.
Before kick-starting the scooter, check around you that everything is clear and then only slowly push down on the accelerator. This will help to boost the motor and will help you attain higher speeds.
Once you are on the deck, stay relaxed and hold the handlebar firmly. Concentrate on the terrain ahead and be wary of where you want to go. Keeping your body calm will help your joints to bear the bumps of bumpy roads.
When you stay relaxed, it becomes easier to ride on uneven surfaces as you fully control the scooter.
Positioning your feet is one thing that you must take care of. If the rear fender is not made for breaking, do not keep the feet off it. If there is a sticker on your scooter saying do not step on to it, follow it.
How Do Electric Scooters Work?
When the rider uses the scooter, the throttle sends signals to the wires that further send alerts to the controller making the battery work. The energy the battery releases helps the motor work by moving the wheels of the scooter front and back.
Before learning how electric scooters work, it is vital to understand the components of the scooter:
Motor: The motor determines the speeds the scooter can reach. Two types of engines are more prevalent in an electric scooter: brushless or brushed hub-motor and PMSM motor. Today, the DC brushless motor is the best as it is fixed on the wheels that help attain better torque and speed. It has the ability to increase the performance of the scooter by 85 to 90%.
Battery: The battery capacity determines how long a scooter will run for and thus the range it can reach on a single charge.
Tires/wheels: Pneumatic and solid tires are two popular types used in electric scooters. Both have their benefits as pneumatic tires better cushion the effect and make rides smooth. There are fewer chances of wear and tear in the case of solid tires as the quality of the rubber is solid and durable. On the other hand, solid tires are better as they last longer than air-filled tires and are puncture-proof.
Framework: Every scooter component is attached to the framework, which is generally made of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber. Make sure the handlebar and the deck are slip-resistant. The handlebar and the seat should be adjustable so that you can customize your scooter to suit your height.
All these parts together make an electric scooter work. The performance, speed, and distance covered depends on the different components of the scooter.
Note: if you are a hiker and love climbing hills on an electric scooter. It is better to buy a scooter with a motor capacity above 300 watts, as the watts help the rider determine the power generated by the scooter. Scooters up to 600 watts are excellent. But as a beginner, something around 200 to 350 watts will be fine.
How Does An Electric Scooter Battery Work?
To know how an electric scooter works, one ought to understand how the batteries of an e-scooter work. As explained earlier, an electric scooter’s battery plays a vital role in enhancing performance. Today, electric scooters have lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are long-lasting, reliable, durable, and lightweight.
The voltage provides a power supply to the motor; thus, the higher the volts, the better the energy storage capacity of the battery. The range of any scooter depends on the battery. For calculating the watts-hours of a scooter, the ampere-hours need to be multiplied with the voltage/volts.
Thus, it is the battery capacity that determines how far a range the scooter can travel without charging.
How Do Brakes Work On An Electric Scooter?
Electric scooters have three types of brakes that ensure the safety of the rider. With the hand brakes, braking is instant as the rider presses the brakes on the handlebar. These brakes are generally disc or hydraulic brakes that get active as the rider presses them. Immediately, either the rear or the front wheel stops, making the rider safe on uneven roads or circumstances.
Riders should learn how to use the brakes effectively. Using both the front and the rear brakes can help you stop as soon as you hit the brake on the handlebar. Electric brakes are very common in electric scooters, making them work instantly per the user’s requirement.
Today, the regenerative braking system is popular in electric scooters. It allows the DC brushless motor to send electrons to the battery, making the motor forcefully stop working. All the scooters have either dual or a single motor that helps the rider to attain great speed.
Make sure that the speed is not more than 20 mph. According to the American street laws, the speed limit of an electric scooter is 30 mph that is essential to make it street legal.
Inspired from: electricscooters.com