The Most Common Electric Scooter Issues and How to Fix Them

Owning an electric scooter is a fun and convenient experience. After all, you get to go anywhere at any time because they are portable and battery-charged. However, as with any vehicle owner, you also need to be mindful of using your e-scooter to avoid damaging it, or else, you might end up with expensive repair and maintenance costs. 

However, in some cases, common and minor electric scooter issues can be fixed on your own. Just remember to take proper caution when trying to fix your electric scooter. If fixing your electric scooter on your own doesn’t work, it’s best to call for a technician to help. 

Always prioritise your safety, and, as much as possible, don’t touch components that you are unsure how to repair. With this said, here are common electric scooter issues that you should know and how to fix them. 

Issue 1: The battery dies

Surprisingly, dead batteries are a common issue with electric scooters. This can be a result of a defective battery, improper charging, extremely cold temperature, or a slowly degrading battery capacity. High-temperature conditions. Storing the battery without charging or discharging for more than 14 days. It is highly recommended to charge the battery after every use.

Take note that a dead battery is different from a low battery. A dead battery suddenly does not turn on anymore, while a low battery has a few energy charges left. The latter can simply be resolved by charging the battery.

How to fix a dead battery

To fix a dead battery, you may simply charge it. However, take note that it will take longer to completely charge the battery. To avoid this, make sure that your battery never runs out of charge. Always charge your electric scooter battery at the end of the day.

If it’s not charging, try plugging the battery in other sockets, and see if it will charge. It’s also a good idea to invest in a voltmeter to check if your battery is charging or not. If it’s still not charging, replace your battery with a new one, and discard the old one.

Issue 2: The engine heats up

Excessive engine heat can be caused by a poor environment or handling such as high temperatures or overloading. When you feel your electric scooter engine heating up, turn off your electric scooter and fix it immediately. Otherwise, it could impact your engine and battery negatively.

How to fix a heated engine

As mentioned, turn off your electric scooter first, and let it cool down before checking it. Once it’s safe to touch the e-scooter, check the wiring, fuse, or electrical controller for issues. Wiring and fuse issues mean that your e-scooter can still run. However, you should call your technician immediately to fix this problem. In the meantime, avoid riding your electric scooter until it is fixed. 

Issue 3: The fuse blows

Overloading is often the reason why the fuse blows or the circuit breaker trips. When your fuse blows, your electric scooter will not turn on. If you often blow your fuse, it could damage your speed controller or motor eventually. 

How to fix a fuse blow

When your electric scooter doesn’t respond, check if the main ignition fuses are turned on. If it’s not, switch it on, and start the engine again. If it doesn’t start, you need to replace it with a new fuse. It’s best to have a technician remove and replace your broken fuse for your safety.

Issue 4: The scooter is slowing down

If your electric scooter is slowing down or stopping during trips, especially on flat roads, this is a sign that your batteries are wearing down. Fortunately, there’s a way to fix this.

How to fix worn-down batteries

Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is by replacing them with a new one. Since your battery is already at the end of its lifespan, it’s best to switch to a new one to avoid any inconvenience. However, if you can’t replace your battery yet, making sure that you don’t undercharge or overcharge your battery will help prolong its lifespan.

If you want to make the most out of your electric scooter battery life, here are our tips to maximise your battery.

Issue 5: The kill switch is on

Some electric scooters have a kill switch, which is used to help you save energy after using your electric scooter. It’s often recommended to turn the kill switch on when the e-scooter is not in use or while it’s charging. 

How to fix a turned on kill switch

Before checking for a low or dead battery, check if the kill switch is turned on. If it’s turned on, simply switch it off and then restart your engine. If it’s not, check the battery and then the engine. If you can’t determine why your engine isn’t starting, it’s best to bring it to your technician immediately.

Issue 6: The speed controller is faulty

Another common electric scooter issue is a faulty speed controller. The speed controller manages your speed and keeps it within a predefined range. It's an essential part of your e-scooter, but it’s also prone to damage if you don’t take care of your e-scooter.

How to fix electric scooter speed controller

If you have a defective speed controller, you will need to dismantle the speed controller first. Then, tighten loose wires or replace damaged wires. After this, reassemble it back together. Be careful when reassembling to avoid making mistakes and to keep you safe. Make sure to test your electric scooter if the acceleration is running smoothly.

Issue 7: There is little to no acceleration

This is similar to the previous issue. After all, it’s regarding your speed. If you’re not moving or accelerating fast on flat ground, then there’s something wrong with your e-scooter.

How to fix speed or acceleration issue

To fix this, check your speed controller or fuse. A faulty speed controller or a blown fuse can be the cause of speed issues. You can also check the wires as it may be an electrical issue. If there’s no problem with your controller, fuse, and wiring, have a professional check it immediately.

Issue 8: The battery charger is defective

Chargers can sometimes become faulty if you are overcharging or plugging them in a socket with a higher or lower voltage. Having a defective charger can be quite inconvenient since you need it to use your e-scooter.

How to fix defective electric scooter charger

First, try to plug the charger into other sockets and see if it works. There’s usually a light indicator that shows if it’s receiving electricity. If it’s turned off, you may need to replace your charger with a new one. To be sure, you can use a voltmeter to check your charger’s output. Also, before you buy a new e-scooter charger, make sure that it’s compatible with the power voltage in your home to avoid damaging your new charger.

Issue 9: The electric scooter shuts off while riding

Have you ever experienced your electric scooter turning off while riding? If you have, this means that your circuit breaker has been tripped.

How to fix shut down while riding

Check your fuse or circuit breaker and see if it’s heated or has loose wires. Make sure to secure wires tightly. Steep inclines or overloading can cause the circuit breaker to trip. You can also just wait for a few seconds after your electric scooter has stopped. Then, start it again. To prevent this from happening again, it’s best to have it checked by a professional.

Take care of your electric scooter to avoid problems

The best way to fix the common issues above is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Although most electric scooters are low-maintenance and don’t need a thorough cleaning, it pays to have a regular check-up and cleaning for your electric scooter, especially in the long run. Taking care of your electric scooter before, during, and after riding will not only prevent any damage on your e-scooter but also prolong its lifespan and save you from unnecessary costs.

 

How to Fix an Electric Scooter Battery That Doesn’t Charge

In general, adult e-scooter are low-maintenance, but they still need a few repairs or replacements in some components. An electric scooter battery, in particular, is a vital component that may encounter issues if you don’t take care of it.

 

For example, how do you fix a scooter battery that won’t charge? Ultimately, you need to determine the cause of the defective battery and replace it if it’s no longer working. Before buying one at an electric scooter from the online store read this electric scooter repair guide to fix a defective battery.

 

Why is My Electric Scooter Battery Not Charging?

An e-scooter battery doesn’t charge due to two reasons. First, the battery has a defective charger, wire, or charger port, preventing it from charging to a full capacity. 

 

Second, the battery is over-discharged and has reached a low level that prevents it from recharging. It happens if a battery drains or doesn't recharge for a long time after storing it with a full charge.

 

If the battery has a full charge but doesn’t turn on the e-scooter, it means that the battery can no longer hold a charge. It is also the possible cause for batteries that run a vehicle slowly or only keep an e-scooter for a short time.

 

How to Fix an Electric Scooter Battery That Doesn’t Charge

Try the following methods to determine the cause and status of your e-scooter battery.

Identify the Battery Pack’s History

How long has the battery been left uncharged or stored? Was it stored with a full charge? If the battery has been left with a full charge for less than six months, it has a higher possibility of recharging. However, leaving the battery uncharged for more than three months means that it will no longer charge. You can assume that the electric scooter battery died already. It is the same with an over-discharged battery.

 

Check the Battery’s Condition

If the battery is regularly used and charged, check the condition of the battery. Open the e-scooter deck and inspect the battery by sight, smell, and touch. See if there is anything unusual with the battery and the wires connected to it. Check if the wires are connected tightly.

 

If you smell a burnt plastic smell, the battery or wire might have burned. If you see a burned wire or part of the battery, take it out and replace it with a new one immediately. Additionally, check if there is a battery leak. 

 

Note that overusing and overcharging can cause the components to burn or melt, so avoid doing these to your e-scooter. Moreover, storing the battery in extremely hot or cold temperatures impacts its capacity.

Test the Charging Port

Another way to check the cause of an e-scooter battery that doesn’t charge is to check the charging port. If you don’t know how to test the electric scooter battery charging port, the fastest way to check if it works is to look at the indicator light on the charger. If the indicator lights up, it means that the port is charging.

 

However, if your charger doesn’t have an indicator light, use a multimeter to check the charger port voltage. Connect the multimeter to the port and check the voltage level. It should have the same voltage as the battery pack. If the port has male terminals, be careful not to short circuit the terminals to each other or the port’s metal housing.

 

Test the Charger

If the port is working, test the charger next to confirm if it is recharging. First, check if it has less than a 100 per cent charge and if it needs to recharge. If it does, plug it into the wall to charge it. Next, test the battery pack using a digital multimeter to see if the voltage is climbing. Make sure to set the multimeter to a DC voltage to read the voltage accurately.

 

If the battery voltage increases, it means that the battery charger is working. Continue to charge it to 100 per cent and check if it is truly charged to full capacity. Otherwise, the battery charger is faulty and needs to be replaced.

 

Where to Get Your Electric Scooter Fixed

After you identify the cause of your defective battery, the usual resolution is to replace the battery, especially if it is badly damaged.

However, it is best to bring your e-scooter to your local mechanic to replace the battery, especially if you are a first-time owner. Contact your local retailer or your e-scooter’s manufacturer to buy the same original battery or have it repaired.

If you need to repair your Tomoloo electric scooter, you may contact us on our website. Complete the form and wait for our team to help with your concern.