by Tony Adam on Feb 24, 2023
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the most common electric scooter issues and how to fix them. As electric scooters become increasingly popular, it's important to know how to maintain them properly to ensure they operate smoothly and safely. In this guide, we will provide you with valuable insights on how to troubleshoot common electric scooter issues and provide you with the solutions to fix them.
Issue 1: Scooter won't turn on
This is the most sophisticated problem, as there could be several possible reasons why an electric scooter won't turn on. Here are a few common causes and solutions:
Dead battery
If the battery is dead, the scooter won't turn on. Try charging the battery fully and then turning on the scooter again. If you haven't charged it for months and you found your scooter cannot be turned on anymore, you have to replace the battery because it is dead.
Loose or damaged wiring
Check the wiring connections to make sure they are secure and not damaged. If there is a loose or damaged wire, it may need to be repaired or replaced.
Faulty switch
Use a multimeter to check the battery voltage first. If the battery voltage is normal, it's likely that the power switch on the scooter may be faulty. Try replacing it to see if this solves the problem.
Blown fuse
Check the fuse to see if it has blown. If it has, replace it with a new one.
Controller issue
If your scooter electric motor controller is short out, you won't be able to turn on the scooter. Just replace the controller. so how do you simply know the controller is broken? Simple, just push the wheel, if the wheel feels stuck or seized, in most cases, the controller is short out.
Solution: It's important to note that working with electric scooter components can be dangerous if you don't have the necessary knowledge and expertise. If you're unsure of how to fix the problem, it's best to seek help from a professional.
Issue 2: Electric scooter range is much shorter
If your battery can still be charged to the specified maximum voltage, but your range is getting less than less, it's likely that your battery has reached the end of its lifespan. Normally, an ordinary lithium battery pack can be charged between 500-1000 times. If the battery is several years old and has been used frequently, it may be time to consider replacing it. The bigger capacity a scooter battery has, the longer lifespan it will have, so when upgrading a battery pack, you'd better choose a bigger one if you use the scooter as a daily commuting tool.
Solution: replacing the battery and upgrading it to a bigger one.
Issue 3: Scooter shut down when riding
Very likely: One possibility is that the battery is not holding a charge, which could cause the scooter to shut down unexpectedly. This could be due to a damaged battery cell or a damaged battery management system board (BMS board) in most cases.
Likely: If the battery cells are not providing enough power to the electric scooter, the battery may shut down as a safety measure to prevent damage to the scooter battery. That "shut down" is triggered by the battery management system (BMS). An aging battery pack may have this problem. In addition, if your motor power is big (dual motors) while the battery capacity is small, the high discharge rate imposed on the battery will trigger the "shut down". That is called "a small horse pulling a big cart". No good.
Likely: If your scooter electric motor controller has problems, that would also lead to a "shut down" of the scooter when you're riding.
Less likely: Another possible issue with the battery is that it may be overloading the electric motor, causing the scooter to shut down. If the battery is not the correct voltage or amperage for the scooter, it may overload the motor and cause it to shut down.
Possible but less likely: It's also possible that there could be a problem with the electric scooter's wiring or electrical components, such as a loose connection or a damaged wire. If the scooter's electrical system is not functioning properly, it may shut down unexpectedly while you're riding it.
Solution: If your electric scooter is shutting down while you're riding it, it's important to have it inspected by a qualified technician to determine the root cause of the problem. You can choose to replace a controller first as a controller is much cheaper than a battery pack. If a new controller cannot solve the problem, you have to replace the battery pack in most cases. In Australia, no shops bother repairing battery cells, and you have to buy a whole new battery pack. That won't be cheap.
Issue 4: Battery cannot be fully charged
It's very likely that your battery cells are damaged (not many, just 1 or 2 cells are broken in most cases at the beginning). That's why you can't fully charge it. If you don't have it fixed, the whole battery pack will be broken soon.
Solution: To fix this problem, you have to replace the dead battery cells (this is the most cost-effective solution but that requires some expertise), or buy a whole new battery pack.
Issue 5: Scooter motor does not run properly
Another common issue with electric scooters is the motor. If you notice your motor has weird noise when accelerating, and the symptom persists even after you change the electric controller, it's very likely the motor's hall sensors have developed problems.
Solution: To fix this problem, you can replace the motor.
Issue 6: Electric scooter brake Issues
Brakes are crucial when it comes to riding an electric scooter. If your brakes are not functioning properly, it can be dangerous and increase the risk of accidents. There are two types of brakes found on electric scooters: mechanical and electronic. Mechanical brakes use a physical mechanism to stop the scooter, while electronic brakes use the motor to slow down and stop the scooter.
You pull the accelerator/throttle, and the scooter does not run or has no reaction? It's likely that your brake is engaged. Otherwise, it is either a motor problem or controller problem.
Solution: If you notice that your brakes are not functioning properly, you can replace the brake pads or adjust the brake cables. If your electric brake has problems, check the e-brake wires first. The e-brake issue can also be triggered by the rear brake light. When the back light is short out, it can make e-brake gets engaged.
Issue 7: Flat tire on an electric scooter
Tire pressure goes down quickly
Your tire pressure goes down so quick but you haven't found any puncture. If you are using a tube tire, that's normally a tube problem. Low quality tube can have gas tightness problem.
Solution: using a quality tube of right size.
Tubeless tire leaks air
Your tubeless tire's edge is not perfectly round, or some section of the rim was not smooth. You use.
Solution: apply 100ml tubeless tire sealant to solve this problem.
Issue 8: Electric scooter wobbling issue
This issue really depends. Why? Because the scooter wobbling can be caused by many factors.
Tire pressure is too low
Check both wheels' tire pressure. If your back wheel's tire pressure is much lower than the front one, wobbling problem will occur.
Control has problems
When your control has problems, your motor may be viberating, and you feel the scooter is wobbling.
Motor hall sensor problems
If your motor hall sensors have issues, the motor can be wobbling.
Folding part or screws in the fork
If some screws around your folding mechanism or inside the fork are loose, you may feel the scooter is wobbling when riding it.
Issue 9: Electric scooter cannot climb hills
Your scooter cannot climb hills? That's probably because your scooter motor power is too small for your weight load. Normally, if you are an adult with 90kg weight, you need a scooter with more than 800W motor to climb a 13° hill. If you are over 100kg, you probably need a dual motor scooter to climb a bigger incline.
Solution: make sure the scooter's motor power fits your weight when choosing a scooter.
Issue 10: Electric scooter speed is slow
Damaged battery cells
A battery that is not fully charged or has been used for a long time can significantly reduce the scooter's speed and performance. If you notice that your electric scooter cannot reach the same top speed as usual, check the battery first. When your battery gets aging, the top speed will decrease a bit.
Soltuion: Replace the battery
Motor controller overheating
That's very common. The controller will restrict the power output in progressive form when it's getting hotter and hotter. Almost all scooter controllers have this protection feature. The motor performance can be reduced from 100% to 10% depending on the factory default setting. The power normally returns after you cool down the scooter for 15 mins.
Solution: open the footdeck and find your controller, adding some heat dissipation silicone sheets or sticking the controller onto the aluminum board to improve heat dissipation. These are very effective solutions.
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