How Long do Electric Scooters Last? Plus Top 10 Tips to Extend your Scooter’s Lifespan
The answer to the question ‘how long do electric scooters last,’ is on average around 3-5 years. This of course depends on how well you look after your scooter, how often you use it, how it is stored, and the quality of the scooter to begin with as well as some other factors too.
If you take good care of your scooter it will last much longer than average however.
The lithium battery in your electric scooter will generally last up to around 500 charging cycles, and roughly 5000 miles (8000 km) before it can begin to slow down somewhat, and at this point it may not possible to charge it up fully to 100%. You can of course get a new battery at this stage which will help extend your scooter’s lifespan.
Replacing other components in the scooter (e.g. the scooter’s battery charger, tires etc), will also help towards keeping your scooter running well for some time to come. In this rest of this article we share our best tips for increasing the longevity of your scooter.
1 Pick a Good Quality Scooter to Start With
As with a lot of things in life, you get what you pay when it comes to purchasing an electric scooter. While there are some good options of less expensive entry level scooters out there, such as the Aovo Pro or the Pure Air3 electric scooter, the scooters that last the longest are going to be the ones that are well designed and use quality components. It’s worth paying a little more for the quality especially if you want your scooter to be around for many years to come.
Cheaper brands and scooters may be made for a quick turnaround for profit and are not always built to last. If you are looking for a well designed scooter from a reputable UK brand with a proven track record we would recommend Pure electric scooters which are innovative and reliable. Other well established brands which have a good proven track record include Apollo, Kaabo or Segway.
Do your research, check customer reviews and don’t compromise on quality to ensure you have a scooter that’s built to last.
2 Avoid Riding at High Speed Frequently
As much as it might be fun to go as fast as possible it puts strain on your motor and adds to the wear and tear of your electric scooter. This is especially true if you are pushing your scooter hard by going at full throttle uphill.
The more you push your scooter to the max the greater the risk of reducing your scooter’s lifespan. You should probably enjoy the occasional burst of high speed, just don’t go too crazy too often.
3 Treat Your Battery with Care
How well you look after your electric scooter’s battery has a big impact on the life of your scooter. You can of course replace it (although lithium ion batteries aren’t cheap), but charging your scooter the right way is a crucial part of maintaining your scooter over the long term. You might want to consider buying a spare battery that you can swap in and out to prevent your battery from overuse, especially if you are going to be riding your scooter and charging very regularly.
Here are our best tips for battery life and maintenance:
- Avoid overcharging the battery – as soon as the light turns green for fully charged unplug it. Overcharging the battery will affect its ability to hold its charge as well (the same is true of your mobile phone)
- Try not to use fast chargers as they can degrade the battery (if you must use them do so infrequently)
- Use the scooter’s original charger to avoid degradation and to keep within the warranty conditions of the scooter
- Keep the charger port covered to avoid any possible corrosion
- Charge the battery regularly and don’t let it completely discharge as this can degrade the battery over time
4 Keep an Eye on the Tires
Although tires are designed to be replaced over time, make sure that you have good quality tires on your scooter to begin with. Check tire pressure regularly and make sure to get any punctures repaired quickly.
Don’t ride on tires with low tread as this will affect your ability to brake, especially in the rain. Tires are really mini shock absorbers and when they aren’t properly maintained much of the shock from the road or other surfaces has to be absorbed by the suspension putting extra pressure on your scooter in general.
If the air pressure in your tires is too low or the tires are simply poor quality then they absorb less shock and make for a less comfortable ride as well as adding to the degradation of your scooter over time. However if the tire pressure is too high it will change the shape of the tire leading to the traction decreasing which also affects your scooter’s longevity.
Keeping an eye on your scooter’s tires can make a really big difference to the lifespan of your scooter.
5 Try to Avoid Harsh Terrain and Uneven Surfaces
Although some electric scooters are built to be off road scooters with sturdy frames, there is no denying that uneven surfaces (even on roads) and particularly harsh terrain place a good deal of stress on the frame of the scooter and wear down your tires more quickly, putting your suspension under more stress.
Ultimately this will decrease the life of the scooter especially if the scooter is exposed to these surfaces regularly.
6 Keep your Scooter Clean
In order to avoid corrosion you need to wipe your scooter down with a wet cloth to get rid of any grime, dust or mud after a ride.
Pay particular attention to this if you have been off roading or riding in harsh weather conditions. Doing this will make your scooter look better also.
7 Lubricate Moving Parts
Another great way to lengthen your scooter’s lifespan is lubricate moving parts such as the wheel bearings and shock absorber. If your e scooter has one then the folding mechanism is worth lubricating too so it doesn’t seize up.
You will need a special kind of spray for this – WD40 doesn’t work! Try to get an electric scooter maintenance spray to do the job properly.
8 Look After Your Brakes
Brake pads and discs will need replacing eventually if you want to have your electric scooter for a good while, however the rotors should last you well IF you take good care.
Clean your brakes regularly so they don’t get clogged up with dust and dirt, cleaning them by using an electric scooter brake spray. This will also help with the longevity of your scooter, reducing impact on the scooter’s frame as well as meaning a safer riding experience.
9 Store Your Scooter Properly
Your electric scooter (particularly its battery) is sensitive to extreme heat and cold as well as moisture. Another important way to extend its lifespan is to make sure it is stored properly. Don’t store the battery or scooter in a place with extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) and make sure it is stored in a cool and dry place.
This tip is particularly important if you are storing it for a longer period of time. A garage during winter time may not be appropriate depending on the climate that you live in. Equally storing it in a shed or garage during the summer can degrade your battery and reduce the lifespan of your scooter, especially if you live in a place where high humidity and heat are present.
We would recommend storing the scooter after the battery has been fully charged to stop the battery degrading. It’s also not a good idea to store the scooter away for longer than 6 months if you want to maximise longevity.
10 Get into the Habit of Regular Maintenance Checks
Let’s finish on a general tip that might seem obvious but is far too easily ignored, yet crucially important.
Just like a car, motorbike, bicycle or any other mode of transport giving your beloved electric scooter the once over with some regularity helps you avoid a whole list of problems and ultimately allows you to extend the lifespan of your scooter.
Check the tires for punctures and pressure, make sure the scooter is getting up to full charge, take care that there isn’t a build up of dust and grime which could corrode your scooter, ensure your brakes are working properly and efficiently, and check the environment that you are storing the scooter in.
Your scooter gives you a lot so give a little care in return!