Electric scooters are a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around the city, but what if you run out of battery and don’t have a charger?
Don’t worry, there are some alternative methods to charge an electric scooter without a charger.
In this blog post, we will explore some of these methods, such as using a portable car jumper, or a variable power supply. We will also discuss safety tips for charging e-scooter batteries.
Read on to find out how to charge an electric scooter without a charger and never get stranded again!
- Also Read: How Long Do Electric Scooters Last?
- Also Read: Best Electric Scooters for Winter
- Also Read: Best Electric Scooters Under $300
- Also Read: Best Electric Scooters Under $200
Steps and Tools for Charging an Electric Scooter Without a Charger
You can charge your electric scooter without the charger in different ways: get a new charger, use a car jumper, or use a variable power supply.
Buying a new charger from your e-scooter’s manufacturer is easy, but you have to wait for it to come by mail. So, if you want to charge your electric scooter without the original charger, below are the usual steps for most electric scooters.
Don’t forget, it is also important to know how to test if your e-scooter motor is bad because it can break down sometimes.
Remove and Reinstall the Battery
You need a screwdriver for removing and reinstalling the e-scooter battery. This step helps to release the heat from your battery while it charges.
Your scooter model may have some variations in the steps, so check your e-scooter manual to see if there are any differences.
Remove the Screws
The majority of the batteries that are used in electric scooters are held in place by a few screws and a plate holder. You will be able to reach the battery once these are removed.
Disconnect the Battery
The scooter engine has negative and positive terminals that are connected to the battery by two wires. These wires often have clips or slide hatches.
Position the Battery for Charging
Before connecting other ways of charging, let your battery cool down and dry in a safe place. Make sure that no flammable materials like paper or fabric are around it.
Reinstall the Electric Scooter Battery
After you finish charging with a different method, you can reassemble your e-scooter. Wait for it to cool down from charging and do the opposite of steps 1 and 2.
How to Charge Electric Scooter With a Portable Car Jumper?
Follow the below steps to charge an electric scooter with a portable car jumper.
Remove the Electric Scooter Battery
To reach your battery, follow the steps mentioned in the previous section. Once you remove the battery, put it somewhere dry.
Connect the Portable Jumper
Attach the red cable of the jumper to the port with a plus sign, and then attach the black cable of the jumper to the port with a minus sign on the battery.
Confirm that all your connections are tight and have no leaks.
Turn on the Jumper
Switch on your jumper and the cells of the battery will begin to charge. Leave the battery charging for around 20 minutes, and feel how warm your battery is.
A hot battery probably means it is at least half charged. However, don’t let the battery become too hot as it might overheat and get damaged.
Disconnect the Jumper
Switch off your jumper and unplug the cables. First, take off the black jumper cable, and then take off the red jumper cable. Wait for a few minutes until the battery cools down.
Reinstall the Battery
After completing the steps above, attach the battery back to the motor of the electric scooter, and then secure the plate and screws.
How to Charge Electric Scooter With a Variable Power Supply?
Follow the below steps to charge an electric scooter with a variable power supply.
Remove the Electric Scooter Battery
Follow the instructions given above to take out the e-scooter battery.
Connect the Power Adapter
Attach the negative electrode to the cable that is black and then attach the positive electrode to the cable that is red.
Set the Voltage
The voltage should be adjusted to 4.20V/cell for most batteries. You need to make a guess here, but you can also look for this information in the manual of your electric scooter or by reaching out to the manufacturer.
Set the Current
To find the current, multiply the battery capacity by 0.2. Setting the current too high can damage your battery, so be careful not to exceed this value.
For instance, if your battery has a capacity of 10Ah, the current should be no more than 2Ah from the power supply.
Wait for Charge
It may take a while, so put your battery somewhere safe, away from anything that can catch fire. An electric scooter usually takes 3 to 8 hours to charge, but sometimes more.
Your scooter is fully charged when the current from the power supply drops to 3% of the battery capacity(Ah).
Reinstall the Battery
Unplug your battery from the power source and wait for about five minutes. After that, put your battery back by doing the opposite of what you did before.
Can I Charge an Electric Scooter With a Solar Panel?
One way to power modern devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and other portable electronic devices is by using solar panels. However, a solar charge controller is needed to charge the battery from standard commercial solar modules.
Solar panels can also be used to charge an electric scooter battery, but it is not very convenient. It requires a lot of money and space for large size panels. Most solar panels are made for 12V batteries and they only produce less than 20V on a very sunny day.
To charge a scooter battery, which is usually 36V or 48V, you would need to increase the voltage output with a charger controller or MPPT, which are quite costly.
For a 48V scooter, you would need 52V to charge. To fully charge a 48V battery that is empty, you would need at least 5-6 hours of full sun and large panels, probably 2 x 100 Watts, 2 x 4 feet each, which are around $250.
There are also portable, flexible and foldable panels, but they are less efficient and more expensive. This is a challenge that might be overcome in the near future, but for now there are only ideas and experiments, like this one.
Can You Charge an Electric Scooter With Standard AA Batteries?
It is possible in theory, but not in reality. A typical AA battery has a voltage of 1.5V. So, you would need 24 AA batteries to match the 36V of your scooter battery.
You would have to link the AA batteries in a series to make a single pack, which would be very long. The links between the batteries should be tight and gapless.
Then, you would have to remove the battery from your scooter, attach the positive end of your long AA pack to the positive terminal of your device and the negative end to the negative terminal of your Li-ion battery.
This is a very complex process, and not a practical way to charge a battery in a hurry.
Order a New Charger From the Manufacturer
This is the most reliable way to revive your e-scooter, but it also takes the longest. You may decide it’s worth the wait so you can use your top electric scooter for commuting without worrying about running out of power, especially in risky areas.
You need to be patient until your scooter’s charger arrives by mail, but you can trust that it will restore your scooter’s battery. However, if your scooter still won’t start and your battery is fine, learn how to replace the ignition switch on your e-scooter.
Safety Tips for Charging Lithium-ion Batteries
As we have discussed before, there are some key points to keep in mind for battery safety and maintenance:
- Extreme heat can make your battery overheat and short-circuit, which can start a fire. So keep your battery away from high temperatures.
- Using the wrong charger can harm your battery. Always follow the instructions in the manual and the manufacturer’s advice before charging your battery.
- If you want to store your battery for a long time, reduce its charge to around 40 percent and keep it in a cool place.
- Try not to let your battery drain completely too often. It is better to charge it more frequently.
- Invest in a scooter with a bigger battery and more range. It may cost more at first, but you will save money in the long run by not having to replace your battery too soon.
Conclusion
Charging an electric scooter without a charger may seem like a daunting task, but it is not impossible. There are several methods that you can use to power up your scooter’s battery, such as using a car jumper, or a variable power supply.
However, you should always be careful when using these alternative methods, as they may damage your battery or cause safety hazards. Therefore, it is advisable to use a charger that is compatible with your scooter model and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
A charger will ensure that your battery is charged properly and efficiently, and extend its lifespan. Remember, a well-charged battery means a smooth and enjoyable ride on your electric scooter!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you charge an electric scooter with standard AA batteries?
It is possible, but it takes a lot of time and it does not work very well.
Does charging an electric scooter without the original charger void the warranty?
If you charge your scooter with a different adaptor or another way, you lose your warranty. The manufacturer is not responsible for any problems that happen from the charging session.
What is the best way to charge an e-scooter battery?
To ensure optimal charging for your device, you should use the charger that came with it. You can find a charger in the box when you buy a scooter, or you can buy a new one from the same manufacturer.
Can you overcharge an electric scooter?
You don’t have to worry, as many new scooters’ chargers have a feature that prevents overcharging. However, it is still recommended to disconnect your device as soon as it is fully charged.
Can you charge an electric scooter with a laptop charger?
You can do it! A lot of laptop chargers these days have the same voltage output as the original charger of an electric scooter.