If you have ever ridden an electric scooter before, you might have wondered exactly how does an electric scooter work knowing that its amazing technology does wonders.
Because of this common question, we have put this guide together to ensure that you have all the information you need.
There is modern technology that keeps the ride silent and a quick torque, however, when you compare most of the electric scooter to other modern technology, there is actually not that much difference.
So, keep reading to get everything explained on how does an electric scooter work!
How Do They Work?
So, how does an electric scooter work? When the rider of an electric scooter uses the throttle, there will be electric signals that are sent to the controller of the electric scooter through the wires inside.
These wires will then instruct the battery to turn on at least one of the motors in the wheels, but often more than one.
Then the motor will convert this energy into the movement of the wheels, and that is how it runs, so not actually that complex.
However, if you want a deeper understanding of how does an electric scooter work, then let’s go through the main components!
Main Components
If you want a deeper understanding of how does an electric scooter work, then looking at the relationship between each of the components and how they work will give you a much easier to understand explanation of how your electric scooter works.
This is not an exhaustive list of the parts and how they work, but we will be going over the most important parts so you understand how they work and what they do in an electric scooter!
How Does The Battery For An Electric Scooter Work?
One of the first components to look over is the battery of the electric scooter since this is one of the key components.
This will determine how far your scooter is able to go on one charge which is important if you plan to use your electric scooter for travelling!
So, the more powerful the battery for your scooter is, the further your scooter can go on one charge.
This will also improve the overall performance of the scooter as well.
And electric scooters have 3 main types of batteries being; nickel metal hydride, lead acid, and lithium-ion.
Your electric scooter battery has three main parts being the anode, the cathode, and the separator.
There are 2 terminals, and the lithium ions will be able to move through the medium.
When the battery is discharging, the ions will move between the anode to the cathode, and when they are charging they move from the anode back to the cathode.
These exchange the ions back and forth and this generates the electricity which the scooters run off.
This is why lithium-ion batteries are considered the best choice due to being reliable and efficient compared to other options.
Electric Scooter Motor
One of the other most critical pieces of your electric scooter is the motor, its power controls the speed, the load capacity, the climbing ability, and even the range of the scooter.
The way these motors work are simple since they react to the input from the controller.
The controller on the handlebars will signal the battery to release some energy into the motor when you push down the throttle.
Electric Scooter Throttle
As mentioned in the previous section, the throttle is another important component of your electric scooter.
However, it is worth acknowledging that all throttles for electric scooters are not made equal with different types available like twist throttles, finger or trigger throttles, and a thumb throttle.
The throttle works as the commander of your electric scooter (see also: Are Electric Scooters Street Legal?)which tells it when to accelerate and what speed to do this at.
When you activate the throttle it will send a signal through the cables to the controller.
The controller will then instruct your battery to release a certain amount of power into the motor.
The amount of speed you get will be based on how much pressure you apply to your throttle, so make sure you know how much pressure to apply and when!
Electric Scooter Controller
The controller has been mentioned in a few other sections, and it is what communicates between your acceleration, your brakes, your motor, and your battery, but also every other control your electric scooter has as well.
It will receive inputs from your rider and then send these inputs to where they are needed.
The controller will cut or provide energy to different parts of your electric scooter by alerting the battery using controls you have input!
Electric Scooter Brakes
As you can imagine, the brakes of an electric scooter are quite important and they are there to ensure your safety.
There are 3 main types of brakes you will find on an electric scooter being a foot brake, a mechanical brake, as well as an electric brake.
All of these are activated and used in different ways, but when you activate them, they will send a signal to your controller which will cut off power from the battery to your motor.
Electric Scooter Wheels
The wheels of your electric scooter are what influence the traction of your electric scooter as well as the braking performance, but also the quality of your ride as well.
There are 2 main types of tires that are commonly used for electric scooters, these include solid and pneumatic tires which are both solid or filled with air respectively!
Summary
Hopefully, this guide has put into perspective how does an electric scooter work so you can understand more about how all the different electronic components work with each other.
If you plan to, or already use an electric scooter, then understanding these elements is important so you will better understand how repairs work and what parts might need replacing if something goes wrong or turns faulty!
Hi! My name is Johnathan, and I am the creator of ScooterAdvice360.com. Having been riding motor scooters and bikes for over 20 years, I have picked up a few things! I ran my own scooter store in Florida, selling all manner of motor scooters, mobility scooters, hoverboards, e-scooters and accessories, from Forzas to Vipers, Hellcats to Vespas.
Here, at ScooterAdvice360.com, I want to ensure everyone has access to the information that they need to enjoy their bikes and scooters for longer.
