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Can Electric Scooters Be Used Manually?

Everyone who buys an electric scooter has one thing in common — a desire to zap around from place to place with their gadget. But then, sometimes you may get predisposed to a situation where you may not be able to continue driving it, and in such situations, newbies may ask questions like “can electric scooters be used manually?”.

Indeed, while these electric micromobility vehicles are designed to run with the engine, during unpleasant circumstances when you can’t continue driving as usual, their non-electric components can still be used for mobility. In times like these, you have to get down from the deck and either push it along or use it as a manual scooter. 

This article seeks to provide answers to riders who ask questions like “can electric scooters be used manually?”. It highlights the situations in which you can use your device manually, and also compares the electric versions to non-electric ones.

In What Situations Do You Have to Push Your E-scooter Manually?

For a personal mobility vehicle to move optimally, it requires the combined efforts of the battery, motor, wheels, tires, and other internal components. If any of these essential parts become defective, you may not be able to ride your device as you used to. 

If you have a flat tire, low battery, defective brakes, or electrical malfunction, it is best to ride your device manually. This caution also applies when you get involved in an accident, when you don’t feel well, and when you lose your helmet or other protective wear. 

Are Electric Scooters Designed for Manual Usage?

Electric personal commuters are built with battery-powered motors. This entails that they’re designed to move within a specified speed depending on the motor. Hence, they are not suitable for manual usage. While the electrically powered movement is the primary design objective, these micromobility vehicles can, however, function as manual scooters when the occasion calls for it.

Advantages of Using an E-scooter Manually

Some merits of using your device in a non-electric mode include:

  • You can conserve your battery by using your commuter manually, especially when descending a hill. During this process, if you use a brand like Äike which has a regenerative braking system, engaging the brakes helps recharge the battery.

  • Using your scooter’s non-electric mode could be a trick that allows you to use the device in places where using them is not allowed, like sidewalks, for example.
  • It helps you burn some calories by engaging the muscles of your legs.

Disadvantages of Using an E-scooter Manually

Generally, the disadvantages of using your micromobility device manually far outweigh the benefits. They include:

  • Motor damage: Excessive manual usage may damage the motor and other essential components. If your device goes off in a far place, instead of riding it manually until you get home, it is best to fold it up (if it’s foldable) and take another means of transportation. This will save your battery from the duress of manual usage.

  • It is risky: With some scooter models, it isn’t safe to ride your commuter in a non-electrical mode because the brakes may not function as optimally as they should. The brakes are designed to work electronically when the device is turned on, hence its functionality may become impaired when in the non-electric mode.

  • It’s tiring: The entire process of riding your device manually can be tiring. You have to kick it over and over again for it to cover a short distance that it would have ordinarily covered quickly when working normally.

  • Warranty loss: You risk losing the warranty of your device when you use it manually. This is because the manufacturer’s warranty, in most cases, is only valid when you use the product within the specified instructions. If you study the user manual carefully, you’ll realize that the device is strictly made for electric usage, and is not supposed to be used manually. Using them this way could cause them to not be as long-lasting as they should be.

  • High deck: Usually, the deck of your device is elevated above the ground. Placing one foot on the deck and using the other to always kick against the floor may be tiring and could even result in an injury.

  • The weight: Some products are too heavy for you to ride in the non-electric mode. 

Kick Scooter Vs Electric Scooter

Kick scooters and electric scooters provide an easy and convenient way of moving around within a street or city. While both of them are designed to look alike in most cases, the main difference between them lies in their mode of operation. 

The kick version relies on the user’s manual effort, which involves kicking against the floor with one leg to propel the device forward, while the other leg rests on the deck. The electronic version, on the other hand, relies on a battery-powered motor, and typically moves faster and covers more distance than the former.

In most cases, people buy the manual versions for their children and toddlers because, unlike the fast and electrically powered ones, they’re easier for kids to use. They’re also more lightweight, hence the little ones can fold and carry them around when they’re not riding. Furthermore, the fact that they can’t speed rapidly means that parents can rest assured that their kids will not get into any serious accidents when they fall off the scooter.

Recently, high-end electric personal vehicles such as the Äike T come with GPS protection, ride optimization features, and a mobile app with which you can monitor your device. These features do not exist in the manual variants, and help users to have total control of their device and protect them from theft.

Pros and Cons of Electric Scooters

Pros

Cons

  • They’re pricier than kick scooters
  • Risk of over-speeding
  • They may not be suitable for kids and toddlers

Pros and Cons of Kick Scooters

Pros

  • Helps in physical fitness
  • They’re very lightweight
  • Safe for kids and toddlers 
  • Not expensive 

Cons

  • Can’t travel far distance
  • Not very durable
  • Not efficient for quick transportation

Conclusion: When Can Electric Scooters Be Used Manually?

Indeed, electric scooters can be used manually, but we recommend doing so only for a limited time. You can use it to descend a hill or cover a small distance, but this is highly unadvisable because it may damage your ride, and void your warranty.