Electric scooters are becoming a thing these days. But this is for a good reason. They are a great form of transportation, especially in a very hectic community. They are simply quick to pull out, easy to operate, and just an overall no-fuss form of transportation. Compared to typical modes of transportation, this requires the least amount of maintenance and repair.
For people who love the outdoors, it is simply inevitable to climb uphill or go on uneven terrains such as rocky and bumpy roads, grassy lands, etc. This is why if you are practicing the outdoor lifestyle, you might consider getting off-road electric scooters. If you plan on climbing hills with your electric scooter, you might have a couple of questions running through your head. Hopefully, this article answers most of them and gives you a clearer perspective on the things to look for in an electric scooter.
Can Electric Scooter Climb Hills?
It is worth noting that not all electric scooters are made equally. Not all can climb hills. This is because there are specific functions that an electric scooter must have in order to be able to climb hills successfully and safely. It might be unsafe to use a regular electric scooter for going on uneven terrains. Here are some of the things you should look into if you wish to use an electric scooter for going uphill or downhill.
1. Climbing Angle
This is perhaps the most important feature to look after when deciding to purchase an electric scooter with the capacity to go uphill. Using a regular electric scooter on climbing uphill might result in damage to the engine as well as other electric scooter parts such as the wheels. Thus, it is definitely not recommended to just use a random electric scooter in this kind of setting.
Usually, special electric scooters have about 10 to 20 degrees of climbing angle. It really depends on the type of electric scooter. Usually, you would not need more than about 20 degrees of climbing angle.
2. Weight Capacity
It is pretty obvious that if the electric scooter's weight is too heavy, it would be much harder for it to accelerate on an uphill terrain. It is also true if the rider or passenger carries a lot of weight or a lot of unnecessary items with the electric scooter.
Keep in mind that when an electric scooter goes uphill, it goes against the pull of gravity, thus, if the actual electric scooter is heavy, plus the weight of the rider and the baggages, the motor or engine would have a much harder time to propel the scooter upwards.
3. Motor and Batteries
Basically, the motor is the driving force of your electric scooter. It is what drives your scooter to move from one point to another. As we previously discussed, driving on an uphill terrain or surface would cause the motor or engine to work much harder than it usually would, more than it would if it was just running on a smooth, flat ground.
It's important to note that the listed mile range on the product description would vary significantly if you were running the electric scooter on an uphill terrain. Obviously, because going uphill requires a lot more energy than on a flat ground, the battery would be used up more in this case. This would ultimately result in a decreased mileage overall or a shorter energy duration.
4. Tires
We all know by now the impact of gravity on the electric scooter trying to go uphill. Thus, we want to get an electric scooter with tires that have a good grip. The key is to enhance the friction between the tires and the ground, by doing so, you're eliminating most of the strain on the motor. The more friction there is, the easier it is for the electric scooter to go uphill.
Apart from this, you generally would want to get tires with good grip for safety purposes. In case you go on with your electric scooters on a rainy day or whenever the roads are slippery, tires with excellent grip will greatly decrease your chances of falling off or getting off balance. The usual recommended type of tires are those that are grooved. You also want to go for bigger wheels because they are better in carrying more weight when you're going uphill. This means that the engine will have less strain from going uphill.
5. Suspension
Suspensions are great if you are expecting the need for shock absorbers. It's ideal if you plan to frequent on uneven, uphill terrains. The suspensions work by balancing the weight distribution when the electric scooter is going uphill. When you go uphill, your weight will usually be distributed on the rear wheels alone, again because of gravity. The same thing happens when you go downhill, most of the weight would go on the front wheels. Furthermore, they act as great shock absorbers.
6. Portability
There is a reason why electric scooters are becoming more and more popular nowadays. First and foremost, they are very affordable. Second, they are very easy and quick to operate. Furthermore, they are also a reliable form of transportation. It's ideal for those who are always on the go but don't really want to commit to getting a full-on vehicle like a car.
Of course, one of the reasons why people opt to go for electric scooters is that they are very compact, lightweight and portable. Some people who already own cars carry a portable electric scooter in their trunks for emergencies. Also, as discussed previously, you want a very lightweight but sturdy type of electric scooter if you wish to always go uphill with it. This will ensure a much more smooth-sailing ride with the least amount of hassle possible.
The criteria above are some of the things you should look out for if you're trying to look for a good electric scooter or going uphill or just any type of electric scooter in general. Keep in mind these factors before purchasing your new electric scooter.
