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Scott MacGregor
Plainville, MA 02762
Phone: (508) 695-3717
Fax: (508) 643-0233
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How do SLA, NiZn, Li-ion, and NIMH batteries
compare?
2) What are the differences among the Currie Scooters?
3) Why are Soneil chargers so "fast and smart"?
4) When should I charge my electric scooter or bike batteries?
5) What kind of charger should I buy?
6) Will "fast charging" my batteries reduce their useful life?
7) What is a "smart" charger?
8) Can't I just use my lawnmower, automotive, or motorcycle charger?
9) How long do the various chargers take to complete a charge?
10) What is battery "memory"?
11) I'm still not sure what charger I need. Where can I get more information?
What are the differences among the Currie Scooters?
|
Scoot-e (2000) |
Phat-e (2001) | Phantom (2001) | Flyer (2001) | Super Scoot-e | Flyer
SE & 2002Flyer |
F-18 | |
| Speed* | 13.5* | 13.5* | 13.5* | 15.5* | 15.5* | 17.0* | 16.0* |
| Range** | 7-9 mi* | 7-9 mi* | 7-9 mi* | 8-10 mi* | 8-10 mi* | 8-10 mi* | 8-10 mi* |
| Hill climbing | good | good | good | great | great | excellent | excellent |
| Acceleration | good | good | good | great | great | excellent | excellent |
| Free-wheel Currie clutch | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Battery | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr | 24V-10A/Hr |
| Motor*** | Lo-Kol*** | Lo-Kol*** | Lo-Kol*** | Hi-Kol*** | Hi-Kol*** | Finned MAC | 600W MAC |
| Deck | Wood Laminate | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Wood Laminate | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Suspension | no | no | no | no | no | Flyer SE no 2002 yes (front) | yes (front & rear) |
| Brakes | Front caliper Rear band | Front caliper Rear band | Front caliper Rear band | Front caliper Rear band | Front caliper Rear band | Front
caliper Rear band **2002 uses front V-brake |
Front
V-brake Rear band |
| Can you add
the Internal Battery Upgrade? |
no | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | yes Long range or 36 volt |
| Can you add the External Battery Upgrade? | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
yes |
| Adjustable handlebar height? | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
| Is there an adjustable height handlebar option? | yes | yes | included | included | yes | included | yes |
| Can you add a seat? | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Can you add the EVdeals basket option? | no | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | no |
* Speed varies with conditions-see Dyno tests for details
** Range varies with conditions-see Dyno tests for details
*** All 2001 Currie scooters use the new Kollmorgen motors.
The motor is black in color, and has heavy
heat sink fins
around the motor body. There are two sizes,
Lo-Kol and
Hi-Kol. The Lo-Kol motor provides somewhat
less power
for hill climbing and acceleration. The Hi-Kol
motor is
larger, and offers better hill climbing,
acceleration, and a
higher top speed.
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Why are Soneil chargers so "fast and smart"?
SLA batteries can be charged by using either technique. i.e.., constant
voltage or constant current. Soneil chargers utilize a constant current
mode. Although this requires a more sophisticated (and expensive) circuit,
it results in a reduced charge time. In addition, the Soneil chargers
monitor voltage during the bulk charge phase and switch to a "maintenance
mode" when the voltage reaches 14.8 volts. (the optimum finish voltage for
cyclical applications)
The charging algorithm goes like this: Initial charge current is limited by
the maximum capacity of the charger model. During this phase, voltage is
monitored as well. When it reaches 14.8 volts, the charger holds it
constant. The charge current gradually reduces till the battery is at full
charge. When current reaches a preset minimum, the charger switches to a
constant voltage mode, and drops its output to 13.8 volts. (maintenance
mode) In this constant voltage mode, the battery determines the charge
current. (trickle)
As for cyclic vs. standby: The battery application determines this.
Batteries used in alarm systems, standby power supplies, cars, etc., are
generally maintained in a "ready" state for long periods of time.
Occasionally, they may be called upon to deliver large amounts of current,
but this is not the norm. The generally accepted voltage for this
"trickle"
charge (standby) condition is ~13.8 volts. Under these conditions, the
charger will be supplying ~50 to a few hundred milliamps depending on the
A/Hr rating of the battery.
In cyclic applications, (such as with scooters and bikes) this
"standby" or
"maintenance" charge voltage results in an incompletely charged
battery.
This is the reason why a standard automotive charger is a poor choice for
e-bike applications. To obtain a "full" charge, the voltage must be
raised
to ~14.5-15.0 volts until the battery current reduces to some predetermined
level, then is either shut off completely, or reduced to the "standby"
voltage of 13.8 volts mentioned above for long term maintenance.
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When should I charge my electric scooter or bike batteries?
The simple answer: Every time you use the scooter or bike! The
most often used batteries in small electric vehicles are SLA batteries. (sealed
lead/acid) These batteries have little or no "memory effect" as found
in many portable electronic devices, so recharging after every use is not a
problem. In fact, it is the best way to insure longevity. However......be sure
to read and follow the instructions that come with your EV. Some newer scooters
and bikes now use NiCAD and NMHD batteries, and may require a different charging
techniques.
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What kind of charger should I buy?
In general, the charger that comes with your scooter or bike is
adequate. You may, however, want to re-charge more quickly than it allows. In
this case, you can purchase a charger with greater charging capacity. In
general, chargers are rated by output voltage and amperage. Be sure that you
purchase a charger with the correct voltage output. Check your owners manual for
this information. Next, select the charge amperage rating that suits your needs.
The greater the "Amps" rating, the faster the charge will be
completed. However, there is a limit to the charger size (capacity in Amps) you
can use with a given battery. You should determine the "Amp/Hour"
rating of your battery, then choose a charger with about 1/3 to 1/2 this value.
Example: In most Currie scooters the battery set is rated 24 volts @
10Amp/Hours. The highest capacity charger I would recommend in this case is a 24
volt, 3A to 5A unit.
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Will "fast charging" my batteries reduce their useful life?
Probably. However, the amount of life expectancy reduction
can be minimized by using the fast charger sparingly. That is, use it only when
a "quick" turn-around is essential. Use the standard low capacity
charger at all other times. Example: Charley rides his scooter to work every
morning, then uses it to ride to the local park to eat lunch. He doesn't use his
scooter after he gets home from work in the afternoon. Recommendation: Get a
3A-5A charger and leave it a work. Use the standard "slow" charger to
recharge the scooter overnight. After getting to work, plug in the high rate
charger, and the scoot will be ready for lunch break. Use it again after lunch,
and it's ready for the ride home.
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Well....There is "smart", and
"smarter" when it comes to chargers. The term "smart"
generally refers to the charger's ability to sense the condition of the battery,
and adjust its charging output accordingly. By "smart" charging your
battery this way, the charger maximizes both the longevity and peak power
capability of your battery. EVdeals recommends the Soneil
line of smart chargers. They provide high rate "constant current"
charging with a voltage sensing cut-off, followed by a
"maintenance" charge rate. Soneil chargers are
specifically designed for "cyclic" charge applications.
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Can't I just use my lawnmower, automotive, or motorcycle charger?
In most cases this is not a good idea. In the first place, most
modern electric scooters and bikes employ a 24 volt battery system. On the other
hand, most cars and motorcycles operate on 12 volt systems. These batteries and
chargers don't readily mix without circuit modifications! In addition, the
chargers used with cars and motorcycles are usually either "bulk" or
"trickle" chargers. Neither of these types is suitable for scooter or
electric bike applications. I recommend Soneil
"smart" chargers for all personal EV applications.
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How
long do the various chargers take to complete a charge?
The following chart lists the maximum charge times of
chargers available through EVdeals, as well as an assortment of scooters and
e-bikes. Charge times based on 80% depth of discharge.
(charge times are in
hours)
| Zap mini Stock 1.5A (12V) | Soneil 1205 (12V) | Soneil 1206 (12V) | Soneil 1212 (12V) | Currie Stock 2A (24V) | Soneil 2404 (24V) | Soneil 2408S (24V) | Soneil 2408CAA (24V) | Soneil 2412 (24V) | |||
| Scoot-e | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
| Phat-e | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
| Phantom | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
| Flyer | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
| Flyer with EVdeals Hawker pack | na | na | na | na | 8.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | ||
| Hot Scoot | na | na | na | na | 9.0 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.2 | ||
| Hot Scoot long range | na | na | na | na | 11.0 | 6.5 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 1.6 | ||
| Zappy | 11.7 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 3.0 | na | na | na | na | na | ||
| USPD | na | na | na | na | 6.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | .9 | ||
| Zap SX | 11.7 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 3.0 | na | na | na | na | na | ||
| Zap DX | 11.7 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 3.0 | na | na | na | na | na | ||
| Currie extender pack | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
| F-18 | na | na | na | na | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | .75 | ||
Battery "memory" is a term used to describe the
deleterious effect of
repeated "partial" discharge and re-charge of certain kinds of
batteries.
Generally, this "memory" effect has been associated with Nickel
Cadmium
batteries and results in a reduced life span.
The lead-acid batteries used in most electric scooters are not effected by
repeated
partial discharge and re-charge. In fact, the battery's useful life is actually
prolonged by immediate and thorough charging after every use, regardless of
depth of discharge.
I'm still not sure what charger I need. Where can I get more information?
If you call or e-mail me, I will be happy to answer any
questions you may still have about the care and maintenance of your batteries.
( 508-695-3717)