FAQ - The most frequently asked questions
Expertise on the following topics
General questions
General knowledge about electric scooters
Most sources of error and causes of problems on an electric scooter can be narrowed down to four main components: motor, battery, control unit and throttle. In the rarest of cases, the motor is defective; this can almost be ruled out. On average, there are a maximum of 2-3 defects per thousand motors. The other components are also rarely actually defective. More often, a broken connection between these parts is the cause of the problem.
We therefore recommend that you individually disconnect and reconnect the control unit's plug connections for almost all reported defects. You should also check that the cables in the plugs are correctly and firmly seated.
This approach applies not only to electric scooters, but also to e-scooters and e-bikes, as they have similar technical components and potential sources of error.
Can I ride my e-scooter in the rain or when it is wet without any problems?
Whether you can ride your e-scooter in rain or wet conditions depends on the respective IP protection class. This protection class indicates the suitability of the vehicle for use in wet conditions. The IP protection class and the associated technical data can be found in the specifications of the respective vehicle.
It is important to check this information before using your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike in bad weather.
How far can I travel with the e-scooter?
The range of an e-scooter depends on many different factors, including load, charge level, distance traveled, age and condition of the batteries, ambient temperature and driving style. These factors can sometimes cause the range to vary significantly.
A key factor is the available battery capacity, which is given in Ah (ampere hours) or Wh (watt hours). The higher this value, the greater the possible distance.
It is important to consider these factors to get a realistic estimate of the range of your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike.
Where can e-scooters be used?
SXT scooters are versatile and are suitable for commuters as well as for leisure and hobbies, camping and boat owners. The areas of use vary depending on the model and partly depend on whether the model is approved for road traffic or not.
Whether you can use your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike on public roads, in parks or on private property depends on the respective legal requirements and the registration of the vehicle.
Can I easily push my scooter home if the battery is empty?
A distinction must be made here between hub motor and chain drive:
- Hub motor : Yes, with hub motors it is possible to push the scooter home without any problems, as there is virtually no rolling resistance from the motor.
- Chain drive : Pushing is also possible with engines with chain drive, but you will encounter resistance from the engine, which makes pushing the scooter considerably more difficult.
We deliberately do not use motors with freewheels, as these are very prone to errors and often stop working after a short time.
This information applies equally to e-scooters, e-scooters and e-bikes, as similar drive types can be used.
Why does the scooter sometimes not reach the stated maximum speed?
To reach the maximum speed, the appropriate conditions must be met. These include factors such as tire pressure, battery charge level, ambient temperature, battery age, terrain and payload.
It is also important to check on the vehicle, on-board computer or app whether the correct speed level is set. These factors can significantly influence whether your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike reaches the specified maximum speed.
Where can I find the frame / chassis number?
Information on the exact location of the chassis and/or frame number can be found in the relevant product manual or in the operating instructions for your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike.
Frequently asked questions from customers regarding the rechargeable batteries and batteries installed in our models.
Batteries
What are the advantages of lithium batteries over conventional lead batteries?
Lithium batteries offer numerous advantages over conventional lead batteries:
- Higher energy density : Lithium batteries have a much higher energy density and therefore a higher capacity in the same size as a lead battery.
- Lower weight : Despite their larger capacity, lithium batteries are also about 50% lighter than lead batteries of the same dimensions.
- Longer lifespan : Compared to lead batteries, lithium batteries have a life expectancy about four times longer.
- Fast charging : Lithium batteries can usually be charged with fast chargers and a much higher charging current, which shortens the charging time.
These advantages make lithium batteries a preferred choice for e-scooters, e-scooters and e-bikes.
How long is the lifespan of batteries?
The lifespan of batteries depends heavily on maintenance and care as well as on the battery type. It is not specified in months or years, but in the number of charging cycles.
- Lead batteries : These usually have a lifespan of about 250-300 charging cycles.
- Lithium batteries : Depending on the lithium type (LiFePo4 or Li(NiCoMn)O2), these have a life expectancy of 1200-1800 charging cycles.
Due to their longer lifespan, lithium batteries are often more cost-effective in the long run than lead batteries, even though they may initially seem more expensive. This makes them a better choice for e-scooters, electric mopeds and e-bikes.
Can I replace my battery with a new one when it reaches its wear limit?
Yes, all of our vehicles are designed to be sustainable and the battery in all models can be replaced with a new one when it reaches its service life or wear limit. This applies equally to e-scooters, e-scooters and e-bikes.
Can I replace the battery myself?
For safety reasons, we recommend that you have the battery replaced either by us or by a specialist workshop. This ensures that the replacement is carried out correctly and safely to avoid any possible damage or safety risks.
Why do I get less and less distance with my scooter with a lead battery the older the battery gets?
Every battery is a consumable part and has a limited lifespan. Lead batteries in particular wear out from the first charging process until their lifespan is exhausted. Every lead battery is subject to a natural sulfation process. During the discharging process, sulfate crystals form on the lead plates inside due to the flow of energy. These crystals are partially dissolved during recharging due to the increase in voltage, but never completely.
Over the lifetime of the battery, more and more sulfate crystals accumulate, causing the battery to gradually lose power and capacity. This process is inevitable and will eventually lead to the battery needing to be replaced.
This process can be slowed down by regularly recharging and handling the battery carefully. We recommend that lead batteries be fully recharged when they have a remaining charge of 50 percent. However, wear and tear cannot be completely stopped, as it is a normal and natural part of battery aging.
General information about the batteries
Each battery type requires a suitable power supply or charger. Other power supplies must not be used as they can irreparably damage the battery. The use of chargers that are not included in the scope of delivery will void the guarantee and all warranty claims.
It is therefore important to only use the specified charger for your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike to maximize battery life and maintain warranty claims.
Charge
What is a battery charge cycle?
A charging cycle describes the process by which a battery is charged from completely empty to fully. When we talk about the lifespan of a battery, we usually refer to full charging cycles.
A full charge cycle means that the battery is completely discharged and then fully charged. For example, if a battery has a lifespan of 200 charge cycles, this means that the battery can be charged either about 200 times from completely empty to completely full, about 400 times from half empty to full, or about 800 times from 75% to 100%.
When a battery is fully recharged when it is only 50% empty, it is called a "partial charge cycle". These partial charge cycles add up to full charge cycles to determine the total life of the battery.
Can I charge my battery outside the scooter?
Our range includes vehicles with and without a removable battery. These allow the battery to be charged externally. You can find more information about this in the technical data of the respective vehicles. Please check the specific information for your e-scooter, e-scooter or e-bike to see whether the battery is removable and can be charged externally.
How does a normal charging process work?
- Connect the charger to the power socket : The LED on the charger lights up green.
- Connect the charger to the battery/scooter : The LED on the charger lights up red, the battery is charging, and the fan (if available) starts running.
- Complete charging : Once the battery is fully charged, the LED on the charger will turn green again and the fan will stop (if equipped).
Make sure you only use the correct charger to avoid damaging the battery and to preserve your warranty.
“The charger only shows green LED and does not charge”
If the charger is connected to the scooter and the LED is solid green, there can be two reasons for this: either the battery is already fully charged or the charger is not charging the scooter.
To resolve the issue, follow these steps:
- Check the blade fuse : Most of the time, the blade fuse is the problem. Replace it with a new one to rule out the problem.
- Check the plug connection : With lead batteries, the problem may be with the plug connection to the charging socket (on the side of the footboard). Make sure that this connection is secure.
- Use the correct charging socket : Make sure you are using the correct charging socket. If you have a lithium battery and try to charge it using the lead-acid charging socket, the battery will not charge. This charging socket is designed for lead-acid batteries only and current cannot flow due to the different polarity on the XLR Canon connector.
- Check the wiring between the battery cells : For lead-acid batteries, it can be helpful to check the wiring between the battery cells. Disconnect and reconnect the cables to make sure all connections are secure.
If these steps do not solve the problem, we recommend having the charger and battery checked by a specialist workshop.
Why does my charger emit radio waves when plugged into the scooter?
It sparks when you connect the charger to the scooter because you do not follow the order when connecting.
To avoid sparking, proceed as follows:
- First connect the charger to the power socket .
- Only then connect the charger to the scooter .
This sequence ensures that the voltage is already stabilized before it is passed on to the scooter, thus avoiding sparking.
STVZO approval
Can the SXT scooters be used on public roads?
This depends on whether the respective model has a STVZO approval or not. Our vehicles, if they are approved, always have an EU-wide approval. This means that a registered vehicle can be used on public roads throughout the EU. However, the registration, registration and insurance procedures can vary depending on the country.
For example, some models require insurance and a driving license in Germany, while in other countries, as in the case of our SXT 500 EEC in Austria, this is not the case because they are considered bicycles there.
It is important to check the relevant regulations in the country in question and ensure that the vehicle complies with the applicable regulations.
Can a model that is not eKFV-approved be made “approval-ready” through hardware updates?
Updating the vehicle by replacing the relevant components is always extremely time-consuming and expensive. The costs are disproportionate to the cost of purchasing a new vehicle. In addition, there are no necessary certificates such as EMC certificates for vehicles made up of components. This can lead to the individual approval that is then required being simply refused.
It is therefore not advisable to make a non-eKFV-approved model eligible for approval by means of hardware updates. Purchasing a new approved model is usually the better and more cost-effective solution.
Miscellaneous
Where is the control unit located?
The control unit is usually located near the battery. Possible positions are:
- Under the running board
- Under the seat
- In the frame, often under the display
The exact position may vary depending on the model and is described in the operating manual of the respective vehicle.
Why can I turn on my scooter but it won't move when I press the throttle?
The side stand must be folded down for the scooter to start moving, similar to motorcycles. Sometimes the mechanism on the side stand may not work. In this case, the mechanism must be replaced so that the scooter can work properly again.
Summarized:
- Check that the side stand is fully retracted.
- If the scooter still does not move, check the mechanism on the side stand and have it replaced if necessary.
If these measures do not help, there may be a technical problem that should be examined by a specialist workshop.
Why doesn't my scooter start from a standstill?
There are several possible reasons why your scooter does not start from a standstill:
- Kickstart function activated : Your scooter may have a kickstart function. Please check the owner's manual to see if your scooter has this function and how to deactivate it.
- Safety switch on the side stand : Some scooters have a safety switch on the side stand. The scooter will only start moving if the side stand is fully raised.
Check these two points to make sure that none of the safety features are activated that could prevent you from driving off.
Why can't I turn off the lights on my street-legal scooter?
This is intentionally configured as it is a requirement of the EC type approval to obtain road approval. This ensures that the scooter is always operated with the lights on, which contributes to road safety.
My brakes squeak – what can I do?
Brake squeaking often comes from a brake caliper that is not positioned correctly. This can happen when the brake pad wears out during use. With only one moving brake pad, over time the brake disc can be pushed to the side during braking, causing vibration and the typical squeaking.
Here's how to fix the problem:
- Adjusting the brake caliper position : Check the position of the brake caliper and adjust it correctly. This should eliminate the vibration and squeaking.
- Regular Maintenance : Adjusting the brake caliper is a normal part of your maintenance and care. Make sure you check and maintain your brakes regularly to ensure optimal performance.
If the problem persists, it might be a good idea to visit a specialist workshop to have the brakes professionally checked and adjusted.