Electric Scooters and Rechargeable Batteries | Commute Scooters

Electric Scooters rechargeable batteries are the power source of e-rides down the road. These power units store electrical energy that is the life blood of e-vehicles. The quality of your power units will affect the performance of the equipment they deliver to, even the best electric scooter will not go far if its batteries are inferior in quality. It is best to choose the right battery pack for your equipment especially when you need to go fast or travel long distances.  

Evolution of the Electric Scooter Batteries

Can you recall when cellular phones used large battery packs but do not last long to power the units? Today’s mobile phone technology manifests how far the battery’s evolution developed. Thinner and smaller batteries came into fruition. To run forward in its development,

batteries can go cordless charging. Powerful and smaller batteries emerged through the years making it convenient for users of the device.

Electric Scooter Rechargeable Batteries Through the Years

Sealed Lead Acid Battery (SLA)

The sealed lead acid batteries were the first rechargeable units that was invented by Gaston Plante’ in 1859.This type of battery are also in vehicles that use petrol as the source of power and is the longest rechargeable battery used for its high current generation for vehicles to ignite an engine. They were the first rechargeable batteries used in cars and trucks, it was just right to apply SLA rechargeable batteries to electric scooters. Some electric scooter companies are still using these power cells for the power it delivers.

However, the disadvantage of these units come in bulky and heavier than today’s modern batteries. The reasons why these type of batteries are still in the market are its reliability for immediate power and they come cheap to e-scooter owners. SLA batteries have 400 charge cycles only and takes seven to eight hours to fully recharge. Its content is a threat to the environment when not stored properly. Sealed lead acid batteries self discharges 40% of its stored energy in a year.

If owners opt to store SLA rechargeable batteries, it must be charged regularly to prevent sulfation, a condition that damages the SLA batteries that makes it difficult to recharge. Deep cycling is discouraged with SLA batteries as it diminishes its charging capacity every time total drain out happens. The full drain is not good for this type with only 200 to 300 charge cycles available.

SLA batteries must have a storage temperature of 25° and every spike of up to 8° C will cut the battery life to 50%. SLA batteries that could have lasted for 10 years will last for 5 years once operated at 33°C. The same unit worked at 31° C will last a little over a year only once exposed to 41° C operating temperature. Performance of this type is poor at low temperatures. Its high content in lead makes this type of battery unfriendly to the environment.

The battery type improved the quality of batteries better than the sealed lead acid battery for the electric scooter and its users. The power units are 30% lighter compared to the SLA that makes it more expensive. The nickel metal hydride battery lasts longer than the SAL rechargeable battery. This type charges from 6 to 7 hours. NiMH self-discharges heavily when not in use and are bulky and weighs a lot.

One of the drawbacks of the NiMH is its deterioration after 200 to 300 cycles of charging. Shallow discharges is best than deep discharges before recharging to full capacity. Repeated battery energy discharges diminishes the efficiency of the Nickel Metal Hydride battery. These batteries will have lowered efficiencies if exposed to extreme weather.

This type of battery needs full discharge before recharging. Crystalline formation will occur if not fully used up. These batteries cost more than the Sealed Lead Acid batteries.

Lithium-ion Batteries

This type of power cells are the most in demand for modern electric scooters due to its rechargeable batteries. Lithium-ion batteries have higher density that makes it effective on higher capacity requirement. Its self discharge is 50 percent slower than the NiMH and SLA batteries. Another beneficial feature of the Lithium-ion battery is its low maintenance upkeep.

Lithium-ion batteries last approximately three times more than the sealed lead acid type making it attractive to electric scooter producers. They also weigh 50% less than the SLA battery.

One of the drawbacks of the Lithium-ion battery is its high cost of production. It is not cheap to manufacture this type at 40% more than the NiMH and NiCd types. But the years will develop its manufacturing techniques and replace cheaper metals to lower its cost on users.

There are two types of Lithium -ion rechargeable batteries for electric scooters:

• Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP). This type lasts longer than the standard Li-ions and are safer when consumed by the e-scooter. It is more expensive than the regular Li-ion batteries.
• Lithium Polymer (LiPo). The LiPo battery is a produced in a pouch format instead of a cell type packing. This type is a preference for its small and flat form especially for electronic devices and electric scooters.

Rechargeable batteries are the heaviest component of an electric scooter. It is also a major part of the e-scooter that wears it down when a rider uses the ride. Modern designs use lightweight material to reduce heavy metals enforced in its production. It is common that the rechargeable batteries of an electric scooter makes up the most weight of the equipment. The weight of the battery could scale from 5 kilos to 26 kilograms and is a consideration when dismantling the device for transport.

When recharging the electric scooter, consider the charging amenities used for the procedure. The life of your rechargeable batteries will depend on how you handle the process of recharging. External Charger units are the preference of most users. External chargers are safer to use than the internal amenity; there will be no vibrations when using external chargers and will result to a longer life cycle of your rechargeable batteries. Charge the scooter correctly and you’ll add life to the rechargeable batteries it carries.

For more information on electric scooters and rechargeable batteries, visit us at www.electricscooters.com and learn the proper way to handle rechargeable batteries for your unit.

Views: 0