Electric scooters are becoming more and more popular all over the world, so that trend has reached us as well. However, they are still unknown to many, so we will answer the most common questions.
Electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular around the world, and this trend has also reached our country. However, they are still unknown to many, so we will answer the most frequently asked questions.
With which category can you drive an electric moped (scooter)?
With the AM category. This only applies if it is legally a moped - i.e. if its maximum speed does not exceed 45 km/h and its engine power is 4 kW.
If its maximum speed is greater than 45 km/h or its engine power is greater than 4 kW, then the AM category is not sufficient, but an A1, A2 or A category is required, depending on the engine power and the ratio of engine power to vehicle mass.
Let's look at what the law says:
1) A1 - Motorcycles with an engine displacement of no more than 125 cm3 and an engine power of up to 11 kW, with an engine power to weight ratio of no more than 0.1 kW/kg and heavy tricycles with an engine power of no more than 15 kW,
2) A2 - Motorcycles with an engine power of no more than 35 kW and an engine power to weight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW/kg,
3) A - Motorcycles and heavy tricycles with an engine power of more than 15 kW,
The law here does not differentiate between electric and conventionally powered motorcycles - it looks at the engine power, regardless of whether it is an electric motor or a conventional motor.
So, is there a difference between electric mopeds and electric motorcycles?
There is, just like with regular mopeds and motorcycles.
This is the legal definition of a moped, regardless of whether it has a conventional engine or an electric motor:
A moped is a two-wheeled motor vehicle whose maximum design speed, regardless of the transmission, does not exceed 45 km/h, where the engine displacement, when the vehicle has an internal combustion engine, does not exceed 50 cm3, or with an engine whose maximum continuous rated power does not exceed 4 kW when the vehicle has an electric drive,
And this is the legal definition of a motorcycle, also regardless of whether it has a conventional engine or an electric motor:
A motorcycle is a motor vehicle with two wheels or with three wheels asymmetrically arranged in relation to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle (motorcycle with a side seat), whose maximum design speed, regardless of the transmission, exceeds 45 km/h, or with an engine whose engine displacement when the vehicle has an internal combustion engine exceeds 50 cm3, or with an engine whose maximum continuous rated power exceeds 4 kW when the vehicle has an electric drive,
How much does it cost to register an electric scooter?
An electric scooter (moped) must be registered every year. The procedure is the same as for a classic moped.
The first registration is around 7,500-8,000 dinars, depending on the cost of the technical inspection and other "details".
Each subsequent registration is cheaper, since you do not have to pay for license plates and a traffic license.
How much does an electric scooter cost?
A decent one can be bought for around 1,500 to 2,000 euros. The price can go significantly higher if you take a "more serious" model or add various options such as a larger capacity battery, a regenerative braking system (charges the battery when braking), a system for increasing autonomy...
You can add various equipment to some, while others cannot.
You can find cheaper than 1,000 euros. You have some for only 750 euros, with a 1.5 kW motor, a 20 Ah battery, and an autonomy (range) of 80 km. However, it is difficult to find any information about the manufacturer and the specific model.
Cheap can end up being expensive
If you buy an electric scooter for 600-700 euros, you can hardly expect serious quality. Of course, we know what the financial situation in the country is, so many people think:
"I don't need it for racing, or to go over 100 kilometers. I only need it for short trips, to the store, college, work, school..."
However, when they realize that their new pet has problems overcoming hills or that the battery lasts significantly less than stated in the specifications, it is too late to complain to anyone.
Breakdowns and warranty
These items are two more reasons to carefully check what kind of electric scooter you are buying and from whom. If someone tells you that there is nothing that can break on an electric scooter, know that this is far from the truth.
Just because it has an electric motor instead of a classic engine, does not mean that it is immune to breakdowns. There are all the other parts and components that are the same or similar for electric and classic scooters.
Therefore, check carefully which manufacturer and model it is. See if it is mentioned in domestic and foreign forums. Call the seller and ask in detail about all the features.
Check the service network and the availability of spare parts. Find all the features of the battery and check whether a new original or replacement one can be found and how much it costs.
It is better to pay more at the start, but to be safer. If you find yourself in a situation where the scooter breaks down, and you cannot find a part for it or you cannot obtain a warranty, all the initial savings due to the low price may go down the drain.
As with all other products, electric scooters of dubious origin may have one feature on paper, and another in practice, from battery capacity and durability, to maximum speed e.
Batteries
Some electric scooters have the ability to easily remove the battery, so you can take one out and put it on charge, and insert the other and continue riding. This option is also very useful if you live in a building, and park the scooter in a place without a socket nearby. You take the battery to your apartment and put it on charge.
The price of an additional or replacement battery depends on many factors, so check this before buying the scooter itself. In Serbia, there are several companies that assemble various combinations (voltage, power) of lithium-ion batteries according to the customer's wishes.
It is also possible to change the type of battery - for example, put a lithium-ion instead of a "lead" one (yes, there are electric scooters with such batteries), increase the capacity by adding cells and perform some other "wakes". The possibilities are quite wide, but so are the risks - improper connection, poor electronics that control discharge or charge...
How far can you go with one battery charge?
The average is 40-60 kilometers, but just as the fuel consumption of classic motorcycles depends on the driving style, the battery discharge rate of electric scooters depends on the speed at which you are moving, the intensity of acceleration, the weight of the driver (and passenger), the headwind...
Therefore, if you accelerate sharply every time you move or have a passenger, count on a significant reduction in autonomy, or range - i.e. the number of kilometers you can travel with one battery charge.
Under-inflated tires also have an impact on electricity consumption.
How long does it take to charge the battery?
It depends on the type and capacity of the battery, as well as on how discharged it is - on average from 4 to 6 hours.
Of course, you don't have to wait for the battery to charge to 100%. It should be borne in mind that the battery charging speed is not constant, but changes depending on how much the battery is charged.
For example, let's put a lithium-ion battery that has been discharged to 10%. It can be charged to 90% in 5 hours. However, it takes a few more hours to go from 90% to 100%.
What is the lifespan of a battery?
The lifespan depends on the type of battery, the number of charges and the conditions of use, but also on how we define the end of its lifespan.
Namely, every battery loses capacity over time. If after three years the battery has 70% of its original capacity, it can be said that it is time to replace it, although it can still be used.
It depends on the owner when to replace it.
Some manufacturers define the lifespan of a battery according to the number of charges – for example, 400 charge cycles. This does not mean that the battery is “finished” after you charge it 400 times.
The whole story about batteries is quite complicated, so it cannot be explained in general terms. First, it must be determined whether we are talking about lithium-ion or some other type, then there is the sophistication of the system that controls the battery charging, which greatly affects its lifespan...
What is the maximum speed of an electric scooter, i.e. moped?
The legal limit is 45 km/h, so almost everyone's maximum speed is exactly 45 km/h. However, there are some that, for an additional fee, can be purchased with a "system" for a short-term increase in maximum speed in order to make overtaking safer.
