Every electric scooter is powered by a battery, and it is also where the most worthy of the scooter lies. The more powerful the battery, the higher the price of the scooter. The most commonly used batteries in electric scooters are lithium-ion batteries, as they offer the highest energy density per mass. Therefore, in this article, we will go into detail about how much the electric scooter battery costs, what types are there, and how long they last. So, let’s start!
How Much Does An Electric Scooter Battery Cost?
So How Much Does an Electric Scooter Battery Cost? A typical battery for an electric scooter costs between $100 and $500 depending on its type. The lithium-ion battery is the most used type of battery for scooters and their price is around $140 per kilowatt-hour. Factors that depend on the price are the weight, quality, and lifespan of the battery.
The type of battery is what determines the cost of an electric scooter battery. The cheapest are the lead-acid batteries that cost around $110, the nickel-metal hydride batteries are around $140, while the lithium-ion batteries are the most expensive ones and cost between $140 up to $500. Battery capacities in e-scooters range from 100 Wh to almost 3000 Wh.
Most times the cost of a battery for an electric scooter is shown in ratio cost/Wh. Almost 90% of electric scooters on the market are equipped with lithium batteries. Lithium batteries are preferred by manufacturers, due to the fact that they are lighter, have the ability to recharge quickly, and because can store more energy.
Electric Scooter Battery Cost Range:
| Battery Model: | Battery Size: | Price: |
| Li-ion Battery Pack For Xiaomi M365 | 300 Wh / 36V / 7.8Ah | ~$190 |
| Li-ion Battery Pack For Segway Ninebot | 250 Wh / 36V / 7.5Ah | ~$140 |
| Li-ion Battery Pack For Swagger 5 | 280 Wh / 36V / 12Ah | ~$180 |
| Li-ion Battery Pack For Glion Dolly | 260 Wh / 36V / 30Ah | ~$170 |
| Li-ion Battery Pack For Apollo Explore | 320 Wh / 48V / 5.8Ah | ~$200 |
As for the lifespan of the lithium battery, it is estimated to be around 31,000 miles (50,000 km). The manufacturer can indicate a number of cycles to indicate the battery life which is on average around 800 cycles. It should be noted however that the use and maintenance of the electric scooter have an impact on the battery life also.
How To Choose The Right Battery For Your Electric Scooter?
It is usually not possible to use a random type of battery and install it in your electric scooter. Each electric scooter generally has a certain type of battery that can be used and installed in it, and the appropriate model should be selected according to these parameters. The most important battery parameters are input voltage, rated power, and rated capacity. Therefore, to choose and install the right battery for your electric scooter, check to see what type it is, and how many voltage (V), ampere-hour (Ah), and capacity (Wh) it has.
Electric Scooter Battery Parameters:
- Rated Power (W)
- Input voltage (V)
- Rated Capacity (Wh)
- Nominal Capacity (Ah)
Types Of Electric Scooter Batteries
There are three main types of batteries that electric scooters use:
What Determines The Battery Cost?
Things that determine the price of a battery for an electric scooter are the type of battery, its power, and rated capacity. Most electric scooters run on a lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lithium-polymer (Li-Po) battery pack. The reason why lithium batteries are so popular is that they can store the largest capacity per unit, have great stability, and have the largest lifespan (cycles). The current price of a lithium-ion battery pack is around $140 per kilowatt-hour (kW).
Where You Can Buy Electric Scooter Battery?
Electric scooter batteries can be bought in the nearest bike or moped repair shop or online on stores like Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and others. If you have a more popular model of scooter like Xiaomi Mi, Razor, or Swagtron, finding a replacement battery will be easy because the batteries of these models are in high demand. On the other hand, if you have a scooter that is less trendy, it can be difficult to find a replacement or spare battery.
Best places to find a new electric scooter battery:
- Bike repair shops
- Moped repair shops
- Online true Amazon, Walmart, eBay
- Order from your scooter manufacturer
Note! If you have never installed a battery on an electric scooter, I recommend that you contact some professional and let him do it.
How To Replace Electric Scooter Battery?
Almost every electrical scooter has a battery either under the scooter’s deck or in the handlebar. Depending on the model, the battery is changed by disassembling the lower part under the deck, disconnecting the battery, and inserting and connecting the new one. Keep in mind that on some scooters it is much more complicated to change the battery than on others and you may be forced to call a specialist to replace it. Here are the steps on how you can do this with basic models.
Steps on how to replace the electric scooter battery:
- With the screwdriver, unscrew the bottom deck of the scooter.
- Make sure to unplug the battery from the scooter.
- Remove the old battery and replace it with the new one.
- Make sure to connect all the connectors correctly as they were on the old battery.
- Put the lower deck back on and screw it on.
Note! If the battery is placed in the handlebar, it’s best to contact the professional or manufacture to do the replacement.
How Long The Electric Scooter Batteries Last?
A typical Li-ion battery that comes with the electric scooter is able to have 300 to 500 (charge/discharge) cycles before it starts to lose its capacity, which is around one to three years. For an average electric scooter, this is around 3,000 to 10,000 miles (4,828 to 16,100 km) of the ride. The factors that affect the battery life are its size and watt-hours. If you take good care of the battery, lifespan can even be extended. Some electric scooters even use lithium polymer batteries which also have some advantages over lithium-ion batteries.
Battery Management System (BMS) In E-Scooter Batteries
Most new and advanced models of electric scooters have a built-in battery management system (BMS). Its main purpose is to intelligently manage and monitor your battery system. In other words, it takes care of your battery and allows it to last longer.
For a BMS to work effectively, it needs data. He must know at all times what is going on in the battery. A BMS regularly measures temperature, voltage, current, and even coolant flow to ensure the power supply is operating safely. In addition, the state of charge of the battery is calculated and forwarded to the driver so that he knows his range.
When it comes to voltage, the BMS doesn’t just monitor overall battery voltage, but it can even track individual cells and packages. If a cell fails, the BMS can identify it and stop using it to make sure it is safe. For example, if you are charging fast, the BMS will ensure that the battery receives the right amount of volts to charge as quickly as possible without damaging individual cells. If you want to know more about this system, you can read my article Electric Scooter Batteries – Ultimate Guide.
Ways To Extend the Battery Life Of An Electric Scooter
There are a few ways how you can extend the battery life of every electric scooter. Each battery must be properly maintained in order to work and to use its maximum for as long as possible. Below we will describe all the ways to extend the life cycle of your battery:
1. Avoid Deep Battery Discharges
Each of us likes to drain the battery to the end, and then charge it. Don’t do that! Always try to keep your battery at least above 10%, while ideally, above a 40% charge. The best thing would be to fully charge the battery before each ride. A deep discharge battery can lose its full capacity which means you will be able to cover fewer miles with your electric scooter.
2. Always Use The Correct Charger
Always use the original charger that came together with your scooter to charge your battery. Sometimes it might seem that you can make some financial savings when you buy a cheaper charger, but it can actually only complicate things. Even if some other charger work and charges your scooter, the battery can overcharge because it doesn’t have safety protection and it can lead to damage. Contact your manufacture if you want the new charger.
3. Don’t Charge The Warm Battery
If you’re taken a long ride and the battery is already pretty hot, it’s best to let the battery dissipate before you charge it again. Just leave the battery for around 30 minutes to cool down before you start charging it again. For a shorter ride, you can plug in and charge your scooter battery immediately. Also, when the charging is finished, let the battery cool down before you start your new ride.
4. Charge Your Battery Before Storing
Most batteries, including Li-ion, last much longer when they are stored charge. So, if you decide to store your electric scooter during winter, try to charge your battery to at least 40% before you put it away. It is recommended to charge the battery at least once every 30 days. The best place to store the batteries is a cool and dry place. Avoid hot temperatures, sun, and cold places.
5. Don’t Charge Your Battery For Long Periods of Time Unattended
Once your battery is fully charged, you need to disconnect it from your scooter. Most chargers and electric scooters have a LED indicator that signals when the battery is fully charged. If you notice that charging takes longer than usual, your battery may be near the end of its lifespan or may be defective. Then a replacement is needed.
Always Use The Original Charger To Charge The Battery
Always use the appropriate (original) charger to charge your electric scooter battery. Other chargers may be able to charge the battery, but they may not have the same input voltage and current, and this may cause the battery to overheat and damage it. Most original chargers have charging protection that allows when the battery is fully charged to stop and green LED indication appears.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge Battery On Electric Scooter?
On average it takes around $0.02 to $0.05 cents to charge a battery on an electric scooter. This depends on the type of battery and its capacity. A fully charged battery can provide around 24 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) per charge.
Maximize Your Electric Scooter’s Battery Life
One of the benefits of electric scooters is that they require so little maintenance. Improper use and bad charging habits are in most cases the main reason why the battery on your electric scooter lasts much shorter than usual. All high-quality electric scooters run on Li-ion batteries. To maximize your scooter battery life you must adhere to certain rules.
Tips for Maximize Electric Scooter Battery Life:
- Never fully deplete your scooter battery
- Know the range and battery capacity of your scooter
- Let the scooter battery cool before charging
- Before storing scooter for longer period of time, charge your battery
- Always use the original charger for your electric scooter battery
- Store your electric scooter in normal room temperature
What Is Battery Life?
Battery life is a measure of its performance and longevity that can be described in several ways such as:
- A run time on a full charge
- A estimated time by a manufacturer in mAh
- A number of charge cycles
The factors that affect the battery life are the number, the type, and the quality of cells used.
If you have a battery problem, feel free to read our complete guide Electric Scooter Battery Doesn’t Charge.
Final Thoughts
As we could see in this article, the price of the battery is about the price of a 1/3 electric scooter. Electric batteries normally last about one to three years, which is around 3,000 to 10,000 miles. They can be very easily replaced, but also their lifespan can be extended if they are taken care of. We also mentioned that the most commonly used types of battery are lithium-ion. They are quite reliable and offer the best performance, which is very important, but it also affects their price. We hope this article has helped you and if you have additional questions feel free to contact us.