Test drive of electric scooters. Zen and the art of electric scooter care

In fact, it requires very little maintenance and it is a real pleasure to drive.

The electric scooter is an interesting opportunity to focus on two-wheeled public transport. In fact, it turns out not only quite convenient and cheap, but also fun.

The size of the global electric scooter market is growing rapidly and reached a turnover of $ 2019 billion in 1,8. How the pandemic will affect this is still unclear, but given the need to maintain a social distance, it is probably quite positive. Added to the bill is the fact that transport costs are lower than public transport.

In many countries there are also incentives associated with zero local emissions and the integration of regenerative braking. In Western Europe, the growth of e-scooter rental companies is growing exponentially.

Scooters are becoming a special part of e-mobility that requires less maintenance and more peace of mind when you need to travel short distances. There are different types, but retro style scooters such as the Motoretta model dominate.

Battery selection

Unlike modern electric vehicles, electric scooters can be powered not only by lithium-ion batteries, but also from Toyota's favorite for their hybrids, nickel-metal hydride (due to their high level of reliability) and encapsulated lead acid (Sealed Lead Acid, SLA). , also called "gel".

The considerably greater weight of the latter can be tolerated in a vehicle such as a scooter, with its need for much less capacity than a car. On the other hand, gel batteries are cheaper and relatively reliable, and less vulnerable.

More than 62 percent of scooters have a 36 volt supply voltage, the shares of 24 and 48 volt systems are almost equal, and systems over 48 volts have the smallest share. However, in the future it is expected that the majority will be 60 and 70 volt systems.

Motoretta also offers options with lithium-ion batteries, but the red retro scooter is their classic version, equipped with a gel battery, which gives it a very massive character, contrasting with the ethereal lightness of its exterior design.

Moving and climbing stairs is not an easy task, so keep this in mind when storing if you don't have a garage. On the other hand, its battery is integrated at the bottom into a rather stable shoulder structure, which helps to lower its center of gravity. This, combined with the considerable wheelbase, contributes to increased driving stability and driver protection.

To keep it stationary, they have a single goosefoot side stand with which the scooter can be placed for a short time. There is a solid trapezoidal support for long stops.

Charging is carried out using a charger stored in a compartment under the seat and a 220-volt side socket. The main emergency switch is located in the same compartment. Next to the "throttle" handle there is a second "work" switch - it can be used for more safety during short stops, for example at a traffic light.

Finally on the road

In practice, driving the scooter turned out to be much easier than expected. It is not a problem to keep complex transport (in the classic version it weighs 117 kg) in one place, and then it takes over the gyroscopic effect of the wheels turning, providing a stable vertical position. It only takes a little getting used to supplying "gas" with the help of the right handle, because the electric motor in the hub transmits a fairly large torque to the wheel.

In new models, the electronics make sure that this happens smoothly, using FOC - technology for smooth starting, but in any case, after a certain number of starts, the hand gets used and everything is adjusted. You quickly get used to the features of this vehicle, and moving around it becomes a comfortable pastime.

You have to keep in mind that vehicles don't make a loud enough sound to alert nearby pedestrians, but its compact size has all the mobility benefits that a scooter can offer. Unlike regular scooters, these don't have a muffler at the back, don't emit dirt, and above all, you definitely attract passers-by.

If you have how and where to store and charge, this vehicle pays off with exceptional flexibility, convenience and very low costs – a run of about 100 km, equivalent to three or four days of driving, will cost you only 60 cents. Even less than a dollar! The comfort seat also allows a second person to be carried, and the speed limit is 45 km/h.

And one more important point - when you approach a street or an intersection in our country, you can easily feel the heavy and suffocating gases of old and worn-out cars, which, unfortunately, make up the majority of the total.

An electric scooter is an important step in the process of realizing the responsibility of each to others. The smiles of many pedestrians, cyclists, and even motorists as you pass them in traffic show that using an electric scooter is worth it, and our society understands that there are ways to make the air cleaner.