The Latest Innovations in Electric Scooters

Gone are the days when walking or cycling to work is the go-to for cheap travel. These days, modern technology has given us electric scooters that can get you from A to B in a chip and a putt. That’s not even the best part; these scooters are improving with every new model, making them faster, safer, and more economical.

Just to show you how much e-scooters have improved, we’ve listed a few innovations they’ve had in recent years.

Improvements in Power Systems

First up, we’re going to take a look at how the power systems of electric scooters have improved. Battery technology worldwide has improved, with laptops, phones, and anything that runs on lithium-ion batteries all lasting longer and giving off more power. Here’s how they’ve improved:

Enhanced Battery Technology

A decade or two ago, nickel-cadmium batteries were the go-to for portable power. It was only in 1991 when the first lithium-ion battery came out, and trust us, it wasn’t small. Over time, these batteries developed, getting smaller and more potent. These days, most e-scooters use a lithium-ion battery pack to power the scooter, ranging from 20v to 85v in size. But, it wasn’t until lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries came that scooters took their power and range to the next level. These days, some e-scooters have a range of up to 160km on one charge.

Fast Charging

Fast charging has also become a priority in the tech world. Any device with a battery in it is usually fitted with a fast charger to ensure it charges quickly. In regards to transportation, having a scooter that charges up fast is essential and incredibly convenient. When e-scooters first came out, they’d take a few hours to charge. These days, their batteries can charge in a few minutes or in an hour or two.

Performance Changes

In addition to battery innovations, e-scooters have also had motor over-hauls, which improve their overall performance. The battery of an e-scooter might be the source of its range, but the motor is the source of its power. Most newer e-scooters use a brushless DC (direct current) motor because they’re reliable and powerful.

Brushless motors add additional torque, making them more effective when it comes to climbing hills or zipping through traffic. Some motors are so impressive they can propel scooters to speeds of up to 80kmph.

Newer, Lighter Materials

Newer scooter models also use lighter materials like aerospace-grade aluminum or carbon fiber, which has made their frames lighter and more aerodynamic, improving overall performance efficiency significantly! For example, carbon fiber can weigh as little as 6kg. By using it for the frame, the scooter’s speed and portability are enhanced, not to mention a lighter frame means less power to run, resulting in a longer range on one battery cycle.  

Smart Connectivity Features

Modern electric scooters also have smart connectivity features that sync your phone with the scooter.

For instance, the Xiaomi e-scooter range allows you to connect and edit the settings of your scooter with your phone. You can change its speed mode and LED colors or check how much battery life it has left. Here are some other features added to scooters:

GPS

GPS is a standard feature in most smart devices these days, including e-scooters. Some e-scooters have a digital display that allows you to access the GPS. With GPS technology, you can navigate through your town, which helps you avoid heavy traffic and get from A to B without a hassle.

Security Systems

With the increase in theft in most major cities, electric scooters also come with built-in security systems such as anti-theft or remote-looking functions. For the anti-theft system, you might be required to put in a password or PIN or even scan your biometrics to use the scooter. Likewise, the remote-looking function could lock the scooter when you’re a certain distance away. This ensures your scooter is always secure, no matter where you leave it.

Comfort and Safety

What would all these improvements be without making the ride more comfortable and safer? Here are some of the improvements to how the scooters feel when you ride them and some safety features that have been added:

A Smoother Ride

E-scooters have undergone significant changes in their braking systems, suspension, deck traction, and tires. The softer and more adaptable suspension has become a norm in modern scooters, ensuring that they can handle diverse terrains while keeping you comfortable. Likewise, more effective braking systems have been installed to help you stop and avoid obstacles, and more robust and durable tires have been put on to give you a longer ride.

Lighting Systems For Driving At Night

Some electric scooters have had strong LED lights and indicators installed so that they can be clearly seen when driving at night and so riders can see where they’re riding. Indicators allow riders to communicate their actions with others on the road, improving their safety.

Speed Control

Finally, electric scooters can reach some pretty impressive speeds. But, just because they can doesn’t mean they must. These days, electric scooters have intelligent speed control systems that track and restrict the rider’s speed while they ride for their own safety.

These systems make use of sensors and GPS to track where the rider is and if there are any risks around them that would be dangerous. As a result, it’ll limit their speed to an appropriate one, depending on the situation.

Final Thoughts

It’s amazing to see the massive technological leaps e-scooters have taken in the last decade alone. We better buckle up because they’re just going to keep moving forward. Who knows, we might even see electric scooters become the most popular form of transportation in the coming years!