Sushant Kumar is the Founder and Managing Director at AMO Mobility Solutions, an e-mobility company in India creating reliable, sustainable and affordable e-mobility solutions. In his present role, he is responsible for supervising all areas of business operations. A serial entrepreneur, Sushant comes with a decade of experience across automobile, consulting, trading, and e-mobility. After completing his bachelor’s in Metallurgical Engineering and Material Science from NIT Jamshedpur, he joined Tata Motors in 2004 as a Manager – Quality Assurance. In 2008, he was the only person out of 420 people to be appointed as the youngest Global Sourcing Manager at Tata Motors.
India is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 1 Gt to 3.48 Gt by 2030. This would require collaborative efforts, particularly from carbon-intensive industries. With the burgeoning population and consequently increasing number of vehicles on the road, the problem will only enhance if corrective action is not taken immediately. Having said that, the situation can improve if we take a step toward sustainability. Electric vehicle, particularly two-wheelers is a brilliant alternative to engines dependent on fossil fuels.
One needs to practice safety to ensure the best results with EVs. It is imperative to understand that be it an electric gadget, appliance, or vehicle, there are certain precautions one has to exercise while using these devices in return for a much larger benefit.
Taking Care of the Battery
The battery is by far the most important component of an electric scooter. Hence, one needs to take care of it to ensure longevity and high-impact performance. Once it is taken out of the e-scooter for charging, it should not be dropped or knocked against any object. The same applies while transporting the battery for installation or any other purpose.
Charging Process
An e-scooter should not be charged immediately after using it since the battery would be heated. A cooling downtime of atleast 30 minutes is advisable. Do not unplug the connector while the switch is on. The battery side should be plugged in first and AC wall switch should be off prior to plugging in the wall socket side.
Charging Infrastructure
Charging is akin to getting your fuel tank refilled every time for higher mileage. It is very important to use only an original charger for recharging the battery. A duplicate one may seem cheaper in the short term but can do irreparable damage to the battery over a long period of time. Original chargers have been devised to be compatible with the batteries. Hence, using it interchangeably or not using the original charger can become a potential safety hazard.
Charging Environment
Like all electrical and electronic devices, the charger should be kept in a cool and dry environment. Humidity can impact it adversely, causing consequent damage to the battery and the vehicle. Furthermore, the room where the charger is stored should ideally be well ventilated to ensure not heating up.
Judicious Parking
If you take a walk down a busy road, you will find a maximum number of cars being parked in a shade or under a tree. If we extrapolate this to e-scooters, the need to park in a cool and dry spot becomes even more critical. Just like we do not leave any battery-operated gadgets in the car when it is out in the sun, parking the e-scooter under the shade would go a long way in increasing its lifespan and reducing the chances of accidental damage.
MCB protocols
MCB is vital for the safety of the electric scooter. Hence, one needs to take care of it to ensure a safe e-scooter experience. The MCB should be switched off when the discharging connector is connected or disconnected. In addition, the MCB should be turned off if the vehicle has not been used for more than four days.
When used with caution, e-scooters can be a boon. They are more economical since the fuel prices are continually rising. E-scooters are typically used for short distances and hence the users do not have to worry about range anxiety. These vehicles provide high performance and are easy to maintain. Needless to say, e-scooters reduce carbon emissions to create a cleaner and greener planet.