Can Electric Scooters Be Charged at Home?
Trying to figure out how to charge your new electric scooter? To avoid running out of battery halfway through your commute, it's essential to know this information. It's hardly rocket science to recharge electric scooters. You'd be surprised to know that it's as simple as charging a phone.
How To Charge an Electric Scooter
Charging an electric scooter is pretty simple. The charger can be connected to the electric scooter and then plugged into any outlet. It's that simple. To prevent the charger from getting soaked, dusty, or damaged, there is usually a rubber cover attached to the end of the charger. Before connecting it to the outlet, make sure to detach the rubber cap.
Charging lights are common on electric scooters. During charging, the light will flash red, then change to green. It's normal for the charger to get a bit warm when charging so don't worry about it. It can take up to twelve hours to fully charge an electric scooter. To avoid getting stranded because of a dead battery, plan your e-scooter rides ahead of time and make sure it is fully charged before you ride it.
Here are the steps to charge an electric scooter:
To start charging, connect the charger to a standard wall outlet.
Connect the charger to the wall first before inserting it into the scooter, unless the manual indicates otherwise. The charger and its output capacitors will be safest this way. While charging, the charger will get hot which is normal. It's best to place your charger on a flat, non-flammable surface that gets a lot of air circulation to be safe.
Plug the other end of the charger into the electric scooter's port.
Detach the charging port cover and shut down your e-scooter. If necessary, use a hairdryer to remove any dust from the connector and the port. Make sure the charger is correctly aligned before you begin charging. Although most chargers have a latch that prevents them from being inserted the wrong way, some are shoddily constructed and the connector can still be shorted. Connect the charger to the port on your electric scooter and it will work as intended.
Wait for the scooter to charge up before you get on the road.
Charge until the charger's indication light turns green, then disconnect immediately. Before a charger is fully charged, the indicator will usually turn green. If your scooter has one, you'll observe that the battery level isn't quite 100 percent. If you want to reach the maximum capacity, you can keep charging until you reach 100%. Otherwise, you can use it as soon as the light turns green which indicates it’s been charged enough.
Disconnect the scooter as soon as it has finished charging.
Before you unplug the charger from the power outlet, disconnect the scooter's charging cable from the charger. As a final point of emphasis, only charge when necessary.
Important Things To Keep in Mind When Charging an Electric Scooter
An electric scooter can be charged at home with no problems. Charging your e-scooter does not necessitate a specialized outlet. Most electric scooters come with chargers that are compatible with the outlets in your country. In some cases, if you're purchasing the scooter from a different country, you might need an adapter to use it. You should be aware that different countries use different types of electrical sockets, so keep that in mind when traveling. If you're planning on taking your electric scooter to another country, be sure you know what plugs are available.
Here are other important things to remember when it comes to charging your electric scooter:
Allow adequate time for your scooter to cool down.
Even though this step is critical to extending the life of your battery, many owners' manuals fail to mention it. When charging, the combination of heat and batteries is not ideal. Allow the battery and other components to cool down for at least 30 minutes after riding your scooter in hot weather before plugging in the charger. Otherwise, the battery could be damaged and its lifespan reduced.
Keep your electric scooter and charger dry at all times.
Only a small percentage of electric scooters are completely waterproof. If you've just returned from a ride in the rain, there's a chance that water from your scooter's battery cover has gotten into places it shouldn't have. It's best to let your scooter dry out or dry it off yourself before charging it. Leave your e-scooter to dry itself by leaving it be for 30 minutes. If you intend to dry it yourself, don't use a hairdryer because it could push water into the scooter. Use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner instead.
Always use an original charger.
Never use a charger from a different manufacturer or a charger from the same brand for a different scooter if your charger has broken down. Getting your old charger fixed or purchasing a new charger is the best option here. You should only use original equipment manufacturer chargers. If necessary, double- and even triple-check that the new battery's voltage is identical to the old one. Otherwise, your battery may be damaged.
Never overcharge your scooter.
Many recent electric scooters have built-in safeguards to prevent overcharging. The ideal practice is to disconnect your scooter as soon as it reaches 100% charge. Although it has overcharging protection, don't leave it plugged in after it's been fully charged for too long. Establish a regular charging schedule. Plug your scooter after you get home, and plug it out once fully charged. Or if your e-scooter takes 8 hours to charge, you can leave it charging overnight and unplug it in the morning. Your electric scooter can be charged at home quite effortlessly. It's a simple plug-and-charge of your specific e-scooter charger. You just need to plug the designated end into your home's electrical outlet and the opposite into the scooter's charging port. However, do note that as straightforward as the process may be, there are things you ought to keep in mind to make sure you are charging your scooter properly and avoid damaging it.
