What are the causes of electric scooter breakdowns? What to do to avoid them?
The electric scooter is a practical everyday vehicle when you have to go to work or when you have to get around town.
However, like any other motorized vehicle, it can sometimes be subject to breakdowns. This is particularly noticeable in electric scooters that have been used for many years. Electric scooter breakdowns can cause many problems if they are not dealt with first. But what can be the causes of these breakdowns and how can they be prevented?
A charging failure
The first breakdown that can occur is a failure to charge your electric scooter. This could be due to many reasons.
A charger problem
Your charger may be faulty, causing the battery to not charge. In some cases, the red light on your charger may not work but the green light does. This is explained by the following facts:
▪️ an already worn battery
▪️ a loose thread
▪️ a faulty connector between your battery and the charger port
▪️ a faulty charger port
▪️ a blown fuse in the charger
It is possible to check the cause by using a multimeter to test the output voltage of your charger. With zero voltage or even lower than the nominal voltage, this means that your charger is no longer working correctly.
A problem with loose wires
Your charging outage could also be the result of a loose wire problem. You can also use a multimeter to see if there is voltage at the wires going to the charging port.
Engine failure
The motor of your electric scooter may also break down and no longer work. In this case, you need to check certain points.
The fuse or circuit breaker
Your engine may not run due to a blown fuse. To find out, simply look at it through the light. In case your electric scooter uses a circuit breaker, you must return it to see if it can be reset or not.
A problem with the engine
Of course, if the problem does not come from an external source, then it must necessarily involve the components of the engine itself. You must therefore carefully inspect whether the fault comes from the following elements:
▪️ faulty wire connectors
▪️ melted or burned electrical components
▪️ the braking system (the motor may not work with an engaged brake? damaged in some electric scooter models)
A battery problem
Your battery is the main source of power for your engine. This is why a faulty or poor battery can cause your engine to stop. So you need to test the battery voltage to check if it is still working.
A scooter that turns slowly
Your scooter may also turn slowly while riding. So you cannot drive at a higher speed. This is probably due to a fault in your battery.
You should know that the lifespan of a battery is approximately 6 to 10 years for a lithium-ion battery. If your battery has far exceeded this period, it is time to replace it.
A brake failure
You may also experience brake failure with your electric vehicle. Depending on the type of brake on your machine, you may discover different problems.
Disc brakes
You may have squeaky brakes or your scooter may be lagging behind. This is caused by misalignment of your calipers or poor fit of your brake pads.
But also, your scooter may not be able to brake effectively or it may take time to stop completely. In this case, this is due to a problem with your brakes applying.
Electronic brakes
Most electric scooters have electronic brakes. These are activated by a switch which will deactivate the rotation of the motor. So in the event of a brake problem, it may be due to a wiring problem or even a switch problem.
A scooter malfunction
Electric scooters can also experience certain malfunctions that can disrupt its functionality. Malfunctions with your electric scooter can be of two types: mechanical and/or electrical.
These problems can present themselves through the following facts:
▪️ sudden acceleration
▪️ an impossible stop
▪️ irregular functionality
These malfunctions may be due to the following problems:
▪️ wear of the pads
▪️ wear of the gas regulator
▪️ wear of the motor controller
▪️ wear of bearings and mechanical assemblies
▪️ a discharged battery
▪️ a blown engine
A battery failure
This is the most common breakdown in an electric scooter. With a battery problem, your scooter may not start. In other cases, your scooter might start but not operate as it should.
This battery failure is mainly due to these different situations:
▪️ a normal charging time exceeded which could create an overload
▪️ a battery without charge for a long time
▪️ using a bad or unsuitable charger
Preventive measures to avoid breakdowns
In order not to incur expenses for electric scooter repairs, you must adopt certain preventive measures. It's about following a few simple rules to ensure the proper functioning of your vehicle.
Here are a few tips :
▪️ Drive carefully dodging all forms of obstacles that could lead to falls or collisions (walls, objects, potholes, etc.)
▪️ Protect your scooter against humidity to avoid damaging the electrical system
▪️ Contact a service center to resolve your problem as soon as a sign of malfunction begins to limit the damage and avoid costly repairs later
▪️ Do not exceed the weight required for driving the scooter
▪️ Avoid overexposing the battery while charging to avoid impacting its lifespan
▪️ Only install original parts for your electric scooter and not unsuitable or unverified parts
Regular maintenance of the electric scooter
It is also important to consider regular maintenance of your electric scooter so that it can always be as efficient as possible and so that it can operate correctly, without breakdowns.
Maintenance is an effective and preventive means that will ensure the longevity of your electric scooter. When maintaining your electric scooter, you must take certain aspects into account.
Refer to the vehicle manual
When you purchase your electric scooter, you generally benefit from a manual in which you will be able to follow all the detailed information on the mechanical part of your scooter.
The manual informs you of the type of maintenance to be carried out on your scooter as well as the frequency with which you must do it.
The manual can be useful to you because it allows you to:
▪️ Perform your interview correctly
▪️ Check the quality of the work carried out
▪️ Avoid raiding concerning the repair of the scooter by a third party
Charge the battery regularly
Proper maintenance of your scooter also requires charging your battery regularly. This also involves constantly checking the condition of the battery. As soon as the latter no longer charges sufficiently, you must then check its capacity using a voltmeter.
It is important that you recharge your battery to 100% after each use of your scooter. Not only will you extend the life of your scooter, but you will avoid the premature purchase of a new battery.
Check tire pressure
Tire pressure should be checked regularly, especially if it has been a long time since you have used your scooter. Having tires with good pressure will prevent you from wearing them out while driving. You will also be able to efficiently reach optimal speed. Additionally, sufficiently inflated tires can benefit your braking system.
But still, to ensure the good condition of your tires, you must also check if they are not cracked or worn. This is why it is always essential to have a spare tire or even have a tire service available if they ever puncture.
Monitor your brakes regularly
The braking system is a device that must be constantly monitored. With an electric scooter, it is essential to brake calmly and gently. This will prevent damage to the brake pads and their rapid wear.
So here are some checks ication to carry out for your needs:
▪️ Check your brakes every 5000 km traveled by the vehicle
▪️ Make sure the cables of your braking system are in good condition
▪️ Make sure the plastic cover of the cables is solid and secure
Clean your scooter as needed
Cleaning the scooter further optimizes its operation and thus avoids certain problems. Ideally, you should clean your electric scooter once a week.
When cleaning your scooter, you should recommend the following wash:
▪️ Use microfiber cloths to clean dust and other dirt from the bodywork (bristle brushes can also do the trick)
▪️ Keep the wheels and brakes clean
▪️ Clean the handlebars with a cloth as well as the scooter screen with a specific towel
▪️ Do not wet electrical components
Keep the scooter in a suitable place
To keep your electric scooter well away from damage that may arise from its surroundings, it is important to keep it in the right place. When you are not using it, choose a more secure location. Do not leave it outside in direct sunlight where the temperature is high. A scooter needs to be in a place with room temperature to remain functional.
Also, the scooter cannot stand the cold. This could significantly damage the battery, leading to complete discharge.
Other precautions to take include:
▪️ Remove the battery when not using the scooter
▪️ Park your scooter in a covered area protected from rain to avoid corrosion
Take care of the components
It is also important to keep your components clear in order to prevent all forms of breakdown. Indeed, when the components are often subject to dirt or dust this can damage the scooter.
So check the dirt accumulated in the following areas:
▪️ Rays
▪️ Terminals
▪️ Axles
▪️ Wheels
▪️ Handlebar
Provide good lubrication of parts
Your moving parts should be regularly lubricated to prevent corrosion and wear. This also prevents your parts from squeaking when driving your electric scooter.
The parts to be lubricated regularly are mainly:
▪️ The channel
▪️ Brakes
▪️ The hinges
Use a professional interview
In case you don't have enough time to effectively maintain your electric scooter, you can always resort to professional maintenance. You can then carry out an interview every week or every month as you see fit.
Calling professional service is also useful when you cannot resolve a problem with your scooter. A professional will be able to clearly diagnose your electric scooter and advise you on the best practices to follow in order to avoid possible breakdowns.
It is also possible to contact your insurance company if you have subscribed to coverage with a maintenance guarantee.
Pay attention to the noises of the scooter
Finally, it will also be important not to neglect the noise generated by your electric scooter when it is running. Some noises may be normal, others may not. If you hear an unusual noise from your scooter, it is recommended to always check the source in order to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and thus prevent it from getting worse.
Taking into account the irregularities as well as the complications encountered by your electric scooter, it is therefore essential to carry out its maintenance and adopt preventive measures that can optimize the proper functioning of your vehicle.