Having problems with your electric scooter is one of the most infuriating things to deal with before your daily commute. This new craze is supposed to be a fun and convenient way to get around without needing to use a car, reducing your carbon footprint and doing your best to save the planet simultaneously.
But what happens when your electric scooter turns on but won’t move?
Source: Websta
In this article, we’ll explore:
- The most common reasons your electric scooter might turn on but won’t move.
- How to fix them.
- How to extend the life of your electric scooter battery.
Many of these methods require some simple tools and are things you can do without contacting the manufacturer or local repair business.
Common reasons why your scooter won’t move
One of the most common issues you may encounter with your electric scooter is starting but not moving, and it can be relatively simple to fix.
Dead or low battery
Like all battery-powered objects, sometimes the battery runs low without you noticing it. If you go to start your electric scooter one day and it turns on but won’t move, you may have a dead battery, or your battery level may be too low for your electric scooter to function correctly.
Source: Unagi
If you simply forgot to plug your scooter into the battery charger but have a spare battery, then simply replace the dead battery with a fresh one and go away. However, if your battery pack was plugged in but is not charging correctly, you may have a defective battery or a defective battery charger.
If your spare battery pack can hold a charge while on its charging station, then you may have a problem with your battery charging port. Check your battery charging port for any bent pins or debris, and carefully use a pair of pliers to straighten a bent pin.
You can also use a sewing pin to clear any noticeable debris in the battery charger. If this still does not resolve your issue, you may have a defective battery charger that will need to be replaced.
If you’re still having trouble getting your battery pack to charge or notice that it dies after a short period (despite being charged all night). In that case, you may have a defective battery and should contact the manufacturer if your scooter is new. You may need to buy a new battery if it isn’t new.
Faulty motor
Another possible cause of your electric scooter turning over but not moving is that you have a faulty motor. Faults with electric scooter motors are rare but certainly possible.
Source: IndiaMART
Electric scooter motors sometimes come with a kill switch installed by the manufacturer as an energy-saving mechanism for use while the electric scooter is charging. This kill switch is often turned on, which means the scooter won’t start while it’s charging, but it can become stuck in an on position.
To turn your kill switch off, locate it on your electric scooter by reading the instruction manual that came with it. Then, switch it off and try starting it again. If that doesn’t work, try checking your motor’s wiring.
It could be that a wire is loose or disconnected. You’ll need a few simple tools for this: an Allen wrench and a Phillips screwdriver. If you notice that your motor runs but won’t move forward, this disconnected or loose wire may be the cause. Check these connections thoroughly. You can also use a voltmeter to check if your scooter’s wires are receiving power from the battery to the motor.
If they are not, you must research how to replace your scooter’s wiring system or find a local repair shop. Alternatively, you need to contact your scooter’s manufacturer for support.
Faulty speed controller
One of the critical components of any electric scooter is the speed controller. The device tells the scooter how fast to go, as dictated by your pressing the acceleration lever. Sometimes, the speed controller can become damaged, or its wiring can become defective.
Source: eGear Solutions
Leaving your scooter out in the rain without a cover can damage your wiring, or wires can become loose or damaged over time. Locate and disconnect your speed controller housing and inspect it for physical damage or electrical faults. You may notice some loose or damaged wiring. Either tighten or replace wires and re-install the speed controller.
Once reinstalled, test your electric scooter’s acceleration to see if it is running smoothly. Your scooter should be able to maintain speed without slowing down or stopping without you decelerating the scooter.
If you notice it slowing down or stopping without your help, your speed controller may need further inspection and repair or replacement by your manufacturer or local scooter repair shop.
Faulty wiring
Another of the most common electric scooter issues is faulty wiring. As your entire electric scooter is powered by wiring from one component to the next, a break in this chain, or ‘short circuit’, can cause problems when riding or stationary. You’ll need to inspect all parts of your electric scooter for loose or damaged wires.
Source: Mearth
Faulty wiring can occur over time from corrosion, or wires can break off due to a collision. If you’ve recently had a crash with your electric scooter, despite there being minimal physical aesthetic damage, you may still have broken a wire connector, which can cause a short circuit in the system.
After any crash, take apart and thoroughly inspect your electric scooter for damage, or have a professional do this for you, either via the manufacturer or a local repair shop.
Other possible causes
Of course, the above are not the only causes of why your electric scooter is not functioning correctly. There are a few other possible reasons your electric scooter will turn on but not move.
Blown fuses
Blown fuses happen. Sometimes, they occur when loose or damaged wires have not totally disconnected from the circuit but have created a short circuit, causing too much power to flow through the electric scooter’s fusebox and, consequently, blowing a fuse. Frequently blowing fuses can result in fatal damage to your speed controller or battery pack.
To check the fuses for damage, locate and remove the fuse box cover. Replacing a fuse is easy enough to do with adequate information on how to replace the fuses on your specific scooter model. However, if you’re uncomfortable with this, take it to a repair professional.
Check your brake sensor
Sometimes, your electric scooter will turn on but not move because of a problem with your brake sensor. Brake sensors are a part of the braking system and are engaged when your brake levers are pulled toward you, causing the brake pads to engage stopping your scooter.
Check to see if your brake levers are engaging properly, and then disengaging with you, take your fingers off them. If not, you may have a faulty brake lever that must be replaced. You will notice two wires coming from the bottom of your brake lever. These are your brake sensor wires.
If you notice these are loose or damaged from wear-and-tear, namely, exposed copper, these will need to be replaced. These can be found online or from your manufacturer and replaced simply enough.
Cut the damaged brake sensor wiring when the machine is turned off and unplugged from its charger. It’s also a good idea to remove the battery while you do this. Remove the screw that holds the brake sensor wire in place, then disconnect the sensor wire from the wire connector that connects it to the rest of the braking mechanism by pulling hard on the wire housing.
Replace the damaged wire with your new wiring and reconnect it to the wire connector. Always test the braking mechanism before taking your newly repaired scooter on the road. If you’re not confident enough to do this yourself, take it to a professional or the manufacturer.
Check the throttle
Your scooter may be starting but not moving because of an issue with your throttle. Locate your throttle by reading through your user manual and checking its wiring by placing a voltmeter on the corresponding wires; they should hold a rough voltage between zero and 3+ volts.
If you’re not getting that 3 or above number or have a 0 reading consistently, you may have a damaged throttle or loose or damaged wires. This is not generally something that you should repair yourself. Seek professional support from the manufacturer.
Check the kickstand sensor
Your faulty kickstand sensor could be another reason your electric scooter does not move. Kickstand sensors were designed to prevent the scooter from accelerating while the kickstand was engaged.
Sometimes, this sensor can become defective or damaged. Locate your kickstand sensor by reading your electric scooter’s instruction manual or locating a parts guide online.
If your kickstand sensor is damaged, you’ll need to find a replacement by contacting your electric scooter manufacturer or locating the specific replacement online by searching for your specific electric scooter model number.
How to extend the life of your electric scooter battery
Unfortunately, electric scooter batteries don’t last forever. Despite being a much more affordable option than a car, electric scooter batteries sometimes need replacing more often than they should, probably due to user error or a defective battery from the manufacturer.
Source: E-Scooters 4 Less
If you’re noticing that you’re spending a lot of money on electric scooter batteries, here are some steps you can take to extend the life of your battery.
Avoid extreme temperatures
In general, most batteries don’t like extreme temperatures, neither hot nor cold. Do not store your spare batteries or electric scooter anywhere that is exceedingly hot or freezing cold. This will drain your batteries significantly, even in as little as eight hours or an overnight charge.
Store your electric scooter battery pack and battery charger in a room-temperature environment. If that isn’t possible, check the temperature tolerances of your battery and battery accessories and ensure you don’t exceed these tolerances.
Avoid overcharging or completely discharging your battery
Did we mention that batteries don’t like extremes? The same goes for their level. Try not to let your batteries drain completely, as this reduces their lifespan by requiring more power than normal to restart.
Similarly, avoid over-charging (leaving them on the charger for days or weeks), as this can cause surges and other issues that may damage the battery or your electric scooter fuses once the over-charged battery is put into the machine.
Store in a dry place
Moisture is the enemy of electricity. Ensure you store your battery and any battery accessories in a dry location, well away from any water or where water can collect.
How to troubleshoot common electric scooter problems
Often, common electric scooter problems can be troubleshooted by a process of elimination. “If that part isn’t the problem, then it must be this part,” and so on. They are fairly straightforward machines that require a relatively basic understanding of mechanics and electrics for most at-home repairs.
The first step to troubleshooting any electrical scooter malfunction is to check the owner’s manual. The issue you’re experiencing is likely something the manufacturer has addressed and solved.
If you cannot find the answer to your problem in your scooter’s manual, check online electrical scooter forums, social media pages, or research articles that may have been written about your issue.
Lastly, contact your scooter’s manufacturer if you can’t solve the problem via the manual or an online forum/social media page/article. Their technicians may be able to talk you through a fix, or they may request that you send them your scooter for repair.
Electric scooters can be finicky, with minds of their own. Fortunately, there is a wealth of knowledge out there as to why your electric scooter might turn on but won’t move, and there are generally only a few things that could be causing such an issue.
Learning how your scooter should work and learning how to repair common electric scooter issues will not only make you more knowledgeable about electrics and mechanics in general. Still, it will also save you money on having to pay others to do repairs.
