How to charge your electric scooter, without a charger, NO BS!

Air pollution is one of the major problems, and one of the primary causes is the growing consumption of fossil fuels by vehicles like buses, cars, motorcycles, and more. This is dangerous for both humans and the environment. The solution lies in using battery-powered vehicles such as electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric cars. These vehicles have the advantage of low pollution and emit no greenhouse gases.

How many ways can an electric scooter be charged?

An electric scooter can be charged in two ways – wired and wireless. One by plugging it into a standard electrical outlet and the other by using a removable battery that can be charged separately from the scooter.

Note:  What if you misplace or lose the charger, there is no way to charge your electric vehicle.

Is it possible to charge an electric scooter without a charger?

Yes, it is possible to charge, an electric scooter without its original charger. Do not use an incorrect charger, even a one difference will be very problematic for your vehicle. My first suggestion will be to get a replacement from the manufacturer itself as they can provide the same battery based on the voltage, current, and polarity.

I have gone through several kinds of research and with the best tips and tricks I am here to guide you with the best possible way to do it. 

USB charger

The simplest way is to charge with a USB cable, as some models have an inbuilt USB charging port, with a standard cable plug into a power bank, computer, laptop, or power adaptor and connect it to your electric scooter’s USB port.

Alternative charger

If your model does not have an in-built port you can visit any local second-hand electronic stores or shops, and find an alternative and compatible charger that matches the voltage, amperage, and connector type. If you are not assured, carry your vehicle try out different connectors, and select the one that fits.

Online Marketplace

You can check with any online marketplace like Amazon for a generic electric scooter charger. The price is around $60 to $70. It is quite common to have a 42-volt charger for a 36-volt battery.

Personalized charger adapter

For customizing a charger you need to gather several things like:

1. Charging Adaptor
2. Necessary Cable
3. Connector Tips
4. Electrical Tape
5. Screwdriver
6. Wrench
7. Scissors
8. Wire Brush
9. Solder
10. Voltmeter
11. Multimeter
12. Safety gear- Sunglasses and Gloves
13. Compatible power supply

Depending on your vehicle’s battery voltage, a charging adaptor is required irrespective of any connector type. Leave 10 cm to 20 cm of wire from any non-functioning charging adaptor. Cut the new charger from the connector and slide a shrink tube onto the wire of the old charger connector. The old charging adaptor and the new charger cable need to strip 3 cm to 5 cm of insulation from the wires. Join the positive wire of the old connector with the positive wire of the new charger cable and vice versa, that is join the negative wire of the old connector with the negative wire of the new charger cable. You have to do the same with the grounding wires too.

Note– Always follow the polarity rule, positive wires are usually red, and negative are black. Use a voltmeter if both the wires have similar colors.

Wrap the joined wire pair with the electric tape, and ensure there is no exposure which can prevent short circuits while charging. Plug the charger into the wall outlet, switch it on, and have an eye to notice for any uneven behavior like spark or smell. Once everything is OK, you can connect your electric scooter to the charger and check if it is charging. Slide the shrink tube over the joint with the help of solder by applying heat to secure it. 

Note – It is important to recheck the connection if you find any problem.

Charging Battery Directly

Turn off the electric scooter and locate the battery. Some models have it on the stem which are removable ones. In other models, it is under the deck and needs to be stripped out. Unscrew the cover, disconnect the negative terminal, and then the positive and vice versa in case of connecting them again. Now charge the battery with the help of an adjustable DC power supply. 

Note – Click a picture as a reference for the time of reassembling. Label the wire connection, and remove the dirt from the battery terminals if required. 

Turn on the DC supply and set the voltage depending on the battery requirement before connecting to any load. Connect the two connectors of the DC power supply to set the amperage. Set the current as per the battery’s specialized limit. Once everything is set do not go for any readjustments. Connect to the black cable from the DC power supply with the minus sign port and the red cable with the plus sign port. Secure with the tape if necessary. The current will drop to zero and the voltage will rise, indicating the charging of the battery. Once it is fully charged switch off the DC power supply. Settle to cool and place the battery back by reconnecting the wires and checking before you reassemble the deck and tighten the screw. Finally, check that your electric scooter is operating fine.

Note – Be very careful as in this process you need to open the electric scooter which can be risky if you are unaware of the components and process then do not try it.

LCD (display) is available in most DC power supplies and helps for an easy to adjust any settings. You need to monitor every 30-45 minute interval and rather turn off the DC power supply process, to prevent problems like overheating, swelling, loose connection, or overworking.

Conclusion

Any minor or major changes, in using a non-manufacturer’s charger can lead to a void in the warranty of the electric scooter. Think, before you go for any changes as it is a matter of safety. It will be highly advisable to monitor properly during any of the charging processes, to avoid damage to both you and your electric scooter. Always use safety gear like sunglasses and gloves and even keep a fire extinguisher, for emergencies.