Whatever the electric vehicle, range is one of the most important and determining elements for most drivers when purchasing.
Indeed, when investing in an electric scooter or any other vehicle such as a hoverboard, a scooter or a motorcycle, it is essential to ask about the number of kilometers you are going to be able to browse.
It is equally important to realize that many factors can have an influence on the range and speed of your machine, in particular the outside temperature. We therefore took advantage of the winter period to look into the question of autonomy, for the duration of an article.
Whatever the time of year, your electric scooter, your electric bike or even your electric scooter offers you a multitude of advantages daily. When the winter cold arrives, there is no question of parting with it. You just need to adopt the right actions for your scooter to perform its role without problem.
The autonomy of an NEVI in winter
Factors that influence the range of your electric vehicle
The battery
- The power of your battery: depending on the type of battery (lead, lithium, nickel-cadmium, etc.), the autonomy differs and can be more or less influenced by the weather, like a thermal vehicle whose full tank will not allow you to cover the same distance depending on whether it is winter or summer.
- The battery charge level: a battery charged to the maximum before being used will be more efficient. In fact, it will benefit from the surplus added to its nominal value. This is determined by the output voltage of the charger.
- The brand and quality of your battery: there are several models of batteries with different performances. Sheet batteries will not be as efficient as cells and vice versa depending on the uses and the way they are arranged.
- Age and type of battery: Batteries lose power over the years. Their life cycle is designed to last more than 1000 refills and more, but this container loses its carrying capacity and this can happen quite quickly if you do not take some precautions for use.
The charger
It is essential to use the charger provided with the purchase of your vehicle. The latter has been specially designed for your product and will be the one that will help maintain the good condition of your battery. Fast chargers , although more practical, send higher currents and contribute to battery wear. However, the impact remains less on its lifespan. It is worth noting that not all products are compatible with fast charging.
The driving
The style and manner of driving have a direct impact on the range of your vehicle. Frequent stops and sudden braking tax your battery.
In addition, a higher speed reduces the autonomy of the electric scooter. Note that its autonomy also depends on the use you make of it. Indeed, driving in town, unlike driving in the countryside, requires more braking and acceleration and therefore more energy from your battery.
The weight carried
Overloading is absolutely to be avoided because the more weight the vehicle carries, the more the battery will be used and the vehicle's autonomy will therefore be impacted.
The quality of the road
The better the quality of the road, the better the autonomy of your electric vehicle will be. Sloping roads or even uneven roads place a lot of strain on the battery.
The tire pressure
You must ensure that the tire pressure is good enough before starting a journey. Tires with inappropriate pressure reduce the range of your vehicle in winter.
The weather conditions
Weather conditions: Batteries don't like extreme temperatures, especially cold.
How to maximize battery life?
The battery is the first element to suffer the cold of winter, like any other type of vehicle. In order not to damage it, here are some essential tips:
- Make sure your battery is not cold before charging it.
- After using your electric vehicle, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes to 1 hour before recharging the battery. Hot recharging harms its autonomy.
- Avoid waiting until your battery is completely depleted before recharging it, which will damage it and therefore considerably reduce its lifespan.
- Always store your product in a dry place at room temperature (20°). Because due to low temperatures, you can lose up to 50% of battery life during use.
- Be sure to charge your battery to the maximum, and only when the battery level is very low. Because in fact, your battery life tends to run out more quickly in winter. Be careful, however, avoid overloading.
- When you ride, remember to adapt your speed mode according to the remaining battery percentage. Below 30%, choose a low speed or go directly to eco mode so as not to deplete your battery.
So don't worry if you notice that your electric scooter is less efficient than usual. If you take care of it by following these tips, your scooter will travel as well as possible throughout the winter and will regain its autonomy next season.
If this is not the case, at Weebot, we have the battery you need for your electric scooter
Our advice for optimizing the autonomy of your electric scooter or other NVEI and driving in cold weather
Prepare your vehicle to face winter
It is important to check the condition of your electric vehicle throughout the year, especially before winter. So in order to prepare it well for this season, consider doing a review.
Drive safely
In order to ensure safety on journeys, for yourself and other road users, it is recommended to adopt flexible driving, without sudden movements or aggressive maneuvers. Being extra vigilant and anticipating events in your environment as a driver is also recommended.
Wear the appropriate accessories
To increase your safety, choose reflective clothing which will increase your visibility during these darker and shorter winter days.
Also ensure that your vehicle has adequate powerful lighting: red headlights for the rear, white for the front and orange on the sides.
Warmer clothing will also be required to protect you from the cold and drive comfortably.
Clean your vehicle
Whatever the level of waterproofing of your machine, it is preferable to clean your vehicle as often as possible to avoid the risk of water intrusion which leads to rust. There are water-free cleaning products specially designed to enhance your electric scooter, without the risk of oxidation.
A battery is impacted at less than 15 C°. So you will have understood, whether for a Tesla or an electric bike, winter makes us lose autonomy.
Of course, you also have the possibility of extending the autonomy of your scooter using an external battery to strengthen the main battery of your scooter.
It is therefore very important to take care of yourself and your electric vehicle by following all these tips, to continue to enjoy driving whatever the weather and with complete peace of mind.