How to Fix an Electric Scooter – Major Issues With Solution
Electric scooters are the most convenient ways to travel short distances as they’re portable and battery-charged. Like other vehicles, electric scooters have components that are sensitive to wear and tear. What if you’re up for a refreshing ride and find that your e-scooter isn’t working correctly? Don’t worry; we’re here to assist you in how to fix an electric scooter!
Fortunately, it’s not that hard to fix e-scooters, and anyone with a bit of knowledge can repair them. In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll walk through common Electric scooter issues hindering your work and how to fix them. So let’s dive in!
Electric Scooter Battery Not Charging – How to Fix
If your e-scooter isn’t taking charge, check the below 3 reasons and fix them accordingly.
Check the Battery
If the battery is taking longer to charge or not getting charged, it’s an indication of deterioration that will lead to the battery becoming unresponsive. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have a life span of 2-3 years with about 300-500 charge cycles compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Dead battery problems are common among e-scooter and are not a cause for alarm. So, how to fix an electric scooter’s dead battery?
- Try charging the battery pack for longer (8-10 hours) and then check.
- The permanent solution for a dead battery is the replacement of the battery.
Test the Charger
A defective charger can also be the reason if the electric scooter battery isn’t charging. Plug the charger into the power outlet and check for the illumination indicator (green light when connected to the port, and the light turns red when charging starts). If there’s no illumination, it’s time to replace the charger immediately.
Check Charging Port
A faulty connection between the charging port and battery or a defective charging port lodged with dust and debris is sufficient to cut off the electric flow, resulting in the battery not being charged. Open the battery and bypass the charger port to see if it’s broken or if there’s dust in the terminal and connectors. If there’s dust, remove it gently with the assistance of a small stick. Avoid using a needle or any other sharp tool for this purpose.
Why Does Electric Scooter Turn On, But Not Move?
If you’re looking for a solution on how to fix an electric scooter that doesn’t move even after the motor turns on, the 2 points mentioned below are as right as rain to fix that issue.
The Ignition Fuse is Blowing Out
If the e-scooter turns on but doesn’t move, the blown-out circuit breaker or ignition fuse may be the reason. In case the fuse blows, check for any short circuits or loose connections between the terminals on either side of the protective device. Replace any damaged or defective components with ones rated for a higher amperage than what came stock with the system.
Test Key Switch or Power Switch
It’s also necessary to test the power switch or key switch, as a defective one may cause an electric scooter not to move. For this purpose, twist the power switch or key switch between the “Off” and “On” positions several times. If it snaps at each position, it’s the indicator that the switch isn’t faulty. If you feel the switch is loose, you may be dealing with a defective one. The best way to test the power switch or key switch is by using a multimeter. You’ll need a technician to replace or repair the switch.
What to Do if My E-Scooter is Not Running Fast?
Inspect the Motor and Battery
The batteries are the vital component of the e-scooter that may need to be fixed when the scooter isn’t getting enough speed and range. The batteries mainly consist of cells wired in series and parallel batches. In the case of lithium polymer or lithium-ion balancing circuits also make an addition to batteries composition.
The battery can be the number-one culprit when the electric scooter is not running as fast as it must be. An electric motor has a special K-value determined by the rate at which the motor spins a certain RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) in response to the input voltage. It’s absolute that a decrease in voltage will ultimately result in slower motor spins.
Each cell in the battery outputs a specific voltage that differs from battery to battery. A 10-cell battery outputs 10-times more voltage than a single-celled. But if there’s a flaw in any cell, the battery performance decreases, leading to slowing down the motor. If 4 cells in the pack get faulty, the motor spins drop to 60% of the RPM compared to 10 properly working cells. To Fix this issue :
- Use a Multimeter to check the voltage of the battery. If it’s much less than the fully charged specified voltage, then it’s a good indicator of a faulty cell; you need to get a new cell.
- The peak voltage of a battery also declines with age due to multiple charge/discharge cycles, resulting in a reduction in capacity. The average e-scooter battery will better last for 2-5 years. After which you must consider replacing it to get higher speeds.
If BMS has Failed
If 1 or 2 cells from the battery pack have become faulty, the BMS (Battery Management System) will go dead in the struggle of balancing the voltage loss due to dead cells. This may result in slowing down your electric scooter. To fix this issue, you’ll need to put back the recent BMS with a new one having the same stipulations.
Test the Throttle
If the battery and BMS are working fine, then the problem with the throttle may also result in the e-scooter not running fast. You can test this by turning off your scooter and then turning it on again while holding both brake levers at a time until you hear 2 beeps from the controller. If you hear an unusual sound or no bleep, there may be a snag with the throttle. You can also use a 4.5-5DC power source or a multimeter to test the throttle. After finding out the problem, you need to fix the throttle to make your e-scooter run faster.
Scooter May be Overloaded
When the weight on the e-scooter exceeds the recommended load capacity, the scooter will not run faster. To fix this issue, you can follow the 3 options:
- Suck up to travel at low speeds.
- Reduce the load.
- Upgrade to an e-scooter with a higher payload capacity.
Fix If the Speed Controller is Faulty
The speed controller is the “brain” of an electric scooter. All the acceleration, deceleration, and braking of a scooter rely on the speed controller’s input from a throttle, brake lever, foot pedal, or all. The speed of the e-scooter basically depends on the controller, and a malfunctioned one can’t perform well, limiting the scooter’s speed. If it’s not working, then:
- Inspect the battery
- Switch on the power button
- Test the brake lever and key switch
- Test the throttle and battery pack voltage
- Check if the connection wires are loose, and then tighten these yourself.
- Seek help from a technician to fix the issue and get you back on the road.
If you’re worried about speed of your electric scooter, then our guide on how to remove speed limiter on electric scooter will assist you better to get rid of this worry.
If Tire Pressure is Insufficient
Low air pressure in tires can cause the e-scooter not to run as fast as it must. This’s because insufficient tire pressure results in increased contact patch leading to an increased driving resistance. To fix this problem, try the below points:
- Pump up the tires to the company’s recommended PSI.
- If there’s a puncture in the tire, try fixing it to make your scooter run faster.
How to Fix an Electric Scooter that Won’t Start?
If you’ve tried everything, but your scooter engine won’t start, check the issues below and fix them to make your ride’s engine fire.
Kill Switch is On
Nowadays, most e-scooters come with a kill switch that’s recommended to keep “on” to save energy while the scooter is not in use or in charging mode. When your scooter’s engine doesn’t start, then double check if the kill switch is still “on”, turn it back to the “off” position, and try to start the scooter again.
Motor is Overheated
If the engine/motor of the scooter isn’t taking a spark, there’s a good chance that the motor is overheated. To check this, move your nose closer to the motor and take a whiff; if it smells like it’s burning, it’s not a good sign. You can’t fix the overheated motor or battery issues by yourself, so a visit to your nearest e-scooter repair center is inevitable.
Reset E-Scooter
Occasionally, resetting the electric scooter can solve the issue of the engine not starting. But if you think, “how do I reset my electric scooter?” there’s a simple answer, we can reset most the e-scooters by using the power button /reset button. But it’s not the same for all scooters, so it’s recommended to consult the scooter manual to get the reset solution specific to your scooter’s brand and model.
What to Do If the Breaks aren’t Working Properly?
It’s a fact that brakes are an essential component of any moving device. But if these aren’t working correctly, then:
- Adjust the brake pads and clippers.
- Adjust the brake cable tension by tightening the handbrake tension knob and rear tension knob.
- Maintain the overall braking system.
What if Electric Scooter Only runs at Partial Throttle?
If you’re facing the problem with your electric scooter that it runs only at partial throttle, then:
- Test the throttle’s working and ensure it’s not stuck in any way.
- Make sure to remove all the obstructions that are blocking the motor or wheels from moving at full pace.
- Check for any loose wire connections between motors.
Electric Scooter Only Runs When Charger is Plugged Into It
How to fix an electric scooter if it runs only when the charger is plugged in?
- Test the battery and try to charge it for longer times (Minimum 8 hours). If the problem persists, then consider replacing the battery.
- Check for any loose wires and connections and tighten them up.
- Clean out all the debris and dust particles that may be blocking the motor from running smoothly.
How to Fix an Electric Scooter that Shuts Off While Riding?
Are you facing the issue of turning off the electric scooter while riding? If yes, this means your circuit breaker is being tripped repeatedly. To fix this:
- Check for any loose wires and secure them tightly.
- Steep incline can also be the cause of fuse or circuit breaker tripping. In that case, if the scooter shuts off, wait for a few seconds and try to start it again.
- For a permanent solution to this issue, it’s better for you to seek help from a professional.
FAQs
Where’s the reset button on an electric scooter?
In most electric scooters, the reset button is located near the handlebar, next to the power button, or on the left side of the battery box.
Why’s my electric scooter not turning on?
A defective battery, freezing temperature, faulty throttle, or improper charging are the leading causes of the electric scooter not turning on.
How to fix e-scooter water damage?
Remove the battery from the scooter and try to dry it with a clean, dry piece of cloth. In extreme cases, the only fix to water damage is to replace the battery.
What to do when the E-scooter key is lost?
Replace the key switch when you’ve lost your e-scooter key.
Final Verdict
We hope this electric scooter repair guide has helped you figure out “how to fix an electric scooter”. While it can be a pain to deal with, with proper knowledge, you can troubleshoot common electric scooter issues and get it back up and running. However, if you’re unsure about what’s wrong with your vehicle, always consult with a professional before making a fix.
Have Fun and Enjoy Safe Ride!
