The Exciting Future of Electric Scooter Battery Technology
he electric scooter revolution shows no signs of stopping. Riders can look forward to exciting developments in e-scooter batteries.
Due to increasing government support, the electric scooter is one of the fastest-developing urban mobility options. In the past five years, several major countries have ramped up their support for micromobility vehicles amid intensifying calls for sustainability. Thus, governments supplied generous subsidies to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to accelerate their R&D projects. They also encouraged consumers to switch from conventional transportation by granting tax incentives and rebates.
Here are the top battery advancements e-scooter lovers can look forward to in the coming years.
Improved Battery Life and Capacity
The battery is an electric scooter’s most essential and most expensive component. Hence, most EV makers focus their research and testing efforts on improving it. Furthermore, the limited range is one of the greatest challenges to the widespread adoption of EVs. Lithium-ion batteries, the most used EV battery type, have become more compact and lightweight, boosting their capacity. The average single-charge range of modern e-scooters has doubled to 40 miles.
In addition, some manufacturers have begun testing solid-state batteries (SSBs), which are superior to their lithium-ion counterparts in every aspect. SSBs burn out charging cycles several times slower than lithium-ion ones. In January, Volkswagen announced that it had tested an SSB that maintained 95% of its capacity after 1,000 charging cycles.
Industry experts predict it will take several more years before solid-state batteries become widely available. For now, lithium-ion batteries are the most efficient and longest-lasting. The Flash Motors Infinity X premium hyperscooter uses a 72V 29.4Ah/2016Wh Samsung lithium-ion battery. It boasts a maximum range of 70 miles and can recharge from empty to full in six hours.
Shorter Charging Times
Another major complaint regarding electric scooters is the long charging time. It takes 8 hours to recharge the average e-scooter from 30% to full. Hence, most riders can only charge their PEV once daily, usually at night. Fans of long-distance scootering are often forced to get external batteries to achieve satisfactory mileage.
Fast chargers can cut the charging time to 30 minutes. However, the increased electrical power surge can accelerate the consumption of a lithium-ion battery’s charging cycles. Hence, experts recommend using fast chargers only when the rider is pressed for time.
Electric scooter riders can expect immense improvements in overflow protection technology in the next five years. It will make fast chargers as safe as conventional, slow chargers.
