Zero Electric Scooters

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#2321035 20-Sep-2019 11:15

Back in the office after a few hours, and the battery indicator is now at 4/5 (earlier I said 1/8th, but I have since actually looked at the scooter to see the battery is divided into 5)

I am sitting at 115kg, which is why I looked at a scooter that had a weight limit higher than that (I was looking at the Ninebot ES4 before I saw its max payload of 100kg). I have come to understand that max range on a scooter is advertised much like petrol usage in a car - under very strict conditions that don't really echo real world at all) but I would have thought I would get 20km out of a scooter charge.

I haven't yet moved off speed 2 - I am thinking mode 3 might be a little dangerous given the nature of most roads and footpaths in the area.

Maybe I need to send Freed an email..

jonathan18

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#2321311 20-Sep-2019 15:36

A few things I'd note about the battery on the Zero scooters (based on my own experience):

battery 'life' will show as reduced when under load - by this I mean as soon as you've got your finger on the accelerator (especially full) you'll most likely lose one of the five bars; this temporary blip will return when you stop - if not immediately, a few minutes or so later. I don't recall this with my old Mi
cold weather appears to have a direct impact on both the reported battery life (in terms of bars) and on acceleration; this difference is really obvious in my journeys to vs from work (cold vs warm weather)
I imagine cold also has an impact on maximum distance on a single charge, much like it does in an EV
a low battery has an even more significant impact on acceleration and top speed; this morning, combining a cold morning and a low battery made me think I was riding my old Xiaomi scooter it was so bad! Even in the third speed I couldn't go faster than 36kmh (usually will make it to about 44)

And, yeah, I am currently getting nothing like the claimed distance off a full charge; generally, this isn't an issue as I just need to remember to charge it about every three days - it's more annoying when it dies more quickly than anticipated so I have to ride a neutered scooter for the return journey (or, like this morning, return home after I realised how badly it was riding to pick up the charger!). I imagine this will improve as the weather improves, and I'll be able to go back getting more mileage off a single charge (if not, it would suggest a reduction in battery capacity, which would have me worried).

djtOtago

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#2323700 24-Sep-2019 09:01

I have purchased a Zero 9. The charger runs quite hot.

A couple of questions to others with a Zero 9. Not a lot information in manual.

Do your chargers run hot?

I also assume the red light on charger will go green when fully charged?

How long to charge if battery is at say 25% ?

robfish

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#2323707 24-Sep-2019 09:28

Chargers for Zero 8, 9, 10, Xiaomi M365 and two electric bikes we have all run warm.

I think the Zero 9 takes about 5 hours from flat to full charge.

Yes the red light does turn green when fully charged.

Rob

nzkiwiman

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#2323987 24-Sep-2019 13:55

jonathan18:

A few things I'd note about the battery on the Zero scooters (based on my own experience):

battery 'life' will show as reduced when under load - by this I mean as soon as you've got your finger on the accelerator (especially full) you'll most likely lose one of the five bars; this temporary blip will return when you stop - if not immediately, a few minutes or so later. I don't recall this with my old Mi
cold weather appears to have a direct impact on both the reported battery life (in terms of bars) and on acceleration; this difference is really obvious in my journeys to vs from work (cold vs warm weather)
I imagine cold also has an impact on maximum distance on a single charge, much like it does in an EV
a low battery has an even more significant impact on acceleration and top speed; this morning, combining a cold morning and a low battery made me think I was riding my old Xiaomi scooter it was so bad! Even in the third speed I couldn't go faster than 36kmh (usually will make it to about 44)
And, yeah, I am currently getting nothing like the claimed distance off a full charge; generally, this isn't an issue as I just need to remember to charge it about every three days - it's more annoying when it dies more quickly than anticipated so I have to ride a neutered scooter for the return journey (or, like this morning, return home after I realised how badly it was riding to pick up the charger!). I imagine this will improve as the weather improves, and I'll be able to go back getting more mileage off a single charge (if not, it would suggest a reduction in battery capacity, which would have me worried).

Thanks for the information; I have a lot to learn it turns out.

On Saturday morning I was awake far too early for my weekend schedule, so took the scooter out on whatever charge it had from my previous days car-work-car trip. I managed approx 7km of around "town" scooting between 8-10am before my max speed when from 29km to 15km to 7km with E06 and E00 appearing, along with a noticeable shudder/clunk/no power from the battery. Thankfully I was pretty close to home so the walk wasn't too bad. However I am disappointed that a full battery charge only lasted 15km.

Fingers crossed when I manage to take the scooter out later in the day/in the warmer weather I will see better battery life/range, though until then I better neuter my expectations of just how far I can travel with the scooter from the car/home just in case. (I guess I could also use it as a manual kick scooter when it doesn't have any battery as there are no locks in place like on a Lime)

Took 8 hours to fully charge the scooter (give or take 30 minutes)

pmclgz

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#2324050 24-Sep-2019 15:44

As I said in my post of 19/09, I believe that there is something radically wrong with either your battery or your charger.

My Wife (57kg) has a Zero 9, myself (95kg) has a Zero 10 and we regularly do trips of 25km - 30km with plenty of reserve to spare, have done a 35km one and were getting low then.

Mind you I note in a previous post that you are 115kg so you're really pushing a 9's battery and motor - as noted I am 95kg so I didn't consider getting a 9, whilst great for my wife up hills it is too underpowered for my weight, the reason that I got the 10 with the larger motor and much bigger battery.

So I imagine that you can expect less km pushing a 9 with 115kg (the smaller motor has to work that much harder) but it still shouldn't drop down to anything like the figures that you seem to be geting.

I understand that the range that they talk about is for a 60kg person on the flat with constant speed of 20km or something like that, but hills really kill the life - a 500m reasonable hill will take as much energy as probably 5km - 10km on the flat (think how much energy it takes to get a push-bike up a hill compared to the flat and you will see the way the motor has to work uphill) - but then the 25-30km rides we go on have a few hills as well.

So certainly worthwhile talking to Freed about it and seeing if you have a faulty charger or battery

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robfish

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#2324079 24-Sep-2019 17:08

I have replaced a battery on a Zero 10 which intermittently stopped with the E06 error.

Seems to be OK now.

Contact Freedpev

Rob

pmclgz

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#2324270 25-Sep-2019 00:33

Also a bit more info I've been able to ferret out for those interested - error codes:

Fault Codes:
E02 – Brake
E04 – 6kmh cruise (don't know what this means!)
E06 - battery under voltage
E07 - motor faulty
E09 - controller faulty
E10 - faulty comms between controller and LCD
E11 – faulty comms between controller and LCD
E12 – BMS failure
E13 – headlight failure

nzkiwiman

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#2324622 25-Sep-2019 14:48

pmclgz:

As I said in my post of 19/09, I believe that there is something radically wrong with either your battery or your charger.

My Wife (57kg) has a Zero 9, myself (95kg) has a Zero 10 and we regularly do trips of 25km - 30km with plenty of reserve to spare, have done a 35km one and were getting low then.

Mind you I note in a previous post that you are 115kg so you're really pushing a 9's battery and motor - as noted I am 95kg so I didn't consider getting a 9, whilst great for my wife up hills it is too underpowered for my weight, the reason that I got the 10 with the larger motor and much bigger battery.

So I imagine that you can expect less km pushing a 9 with 115kg (the smaller motor has to work that much harder) but it still shouldn't drop down to anything like the figures that you seem to be geting.

I understand that the range that they talk about is for a 60kg person on the flat with constant speed of 20km or something like that, but hills really kill the life - a 500m reasonable hill will take as much energy as probably 5km - 10km on the flat (think how much energy it takes to get a push-bike up a hill compared to the flat and you will see the way the motor has to work uphill) - but then the 25-30km rides we go on have a few hills as well.

So certainly worthwhile talking to Freed about it and seeing if you have a faulty charger or battery

I do have another charger; so after I get the current charge down to 1/5 bars, I'll swap over and see what the outcome is (which probably won't be until after I get back from overseas on the 9th)

I haven't yet even attempted hills on the scooter and I don't think I even will - I live on the flat and my general use will continue to be around the flat.

djtOtago

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#2352304 12-Nov-2019 14:59

jonathan18:

So I got a reply back from Freed rep, who has confirmed the Zero 10 handlebars have an internal diameter of 16mm, so these Cycl Winglights will fit; I've ordered the removable magnetic model, and hope they'll arrive around the same time as the scooter - will report back then as to how well they work out. (Edit: I assume they'll also fit the 9, but the 10X already has those things on the ends of the handlebars.)

@jonathan18
Did you fit the Winglights?
Are they visible in daylight?
Do you think other motorists can see them and understand they are indicators?

nzkiwiman

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#2352307 12-Nov-2019 15:05

Topic bump reminds me

Order scooter, use scooter a few times, then head overseas.
Come back, weather is bad
Finally good weather - flat rear tyre after a month of not being used
Sigh

Who has recommendations for a good pump - is a standard bike pump that I can get for $10-15 good enough or should I be investing something a bit better

EDIT: I can't spell today

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

robfish

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#2352312 12-Nov-2019 15:09

You don't need a fancy pump, just one which fits the valve ok. (I have a great pump for my bikes but the connector is too big to fit small wheels)

Rob

jonathan18

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#2352336 12-Nov-2019 15:39

I've got a similar tale, but mine is more one of laziness and incompetence.

Got a flat on the rear tyre on My Zero 10a few weeks back; for the life of me I've been unable to get the tyre off the rim. The amount of force it looks like I need to apply is so great I'm bending my tyre levers. So different to a bike wheel, where the size of the wheel's circumference makes it much easier to remove.

Three weeks later I still have a scooter with a flat tyre.

Has anyone got any tips on how to get the @#$@# tyre off so I can repair the hole? I saw in a video from Falcon PV they sprayed the tyre with something before levering it off, but don't have a clue what it was. I'd appreciate any ideas before I give up and take it to a bike shop to get them to do it.

robfish

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#2352338 12-Nov-2019 15:46

I have only changed one tube (Zero 9). Apparently the smaller the tyre size the more difficult it is.

The magic fluid I used was diluted dish-washing liquid. I have since bought steel tyre levers from Ali Express and suspect they will make it even easier next time.

I also found another tip on the Interweb - you can buy a plastic sewer pipe joiner which makes a good support for the wheel (rather than the axle).

Rob

jonathan18

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#2352339 12-Nov-2019 15:51

djtOtago:

jonathan18:

So I got a reply back from Freed rep, who has confirmed the Zero 10 handlebars have an internal diameter of 16mm, so these Cycl Winglights will fit; I've ordered the removable magnetic model, and hope they'll arrive around the same time as the scooter - will report back then as to how well they work out. (Edit: I assume they'll also fit the 9, but the 10X already has those things on the ends of the handlebars.)

@jonathan18
Did you fit the Winglights?
Are they visible in daylight?
Do you think other motorists can see them and understand they are indicators?

@djtOtago: yep, sure did fit them. LEDs are certainly visible in daylight (and very bright at night). It took a little bit of practice to get used to turning them on and off while on the move (especially on a roundabout, as they need to be off at the time of exiting), but I've got it down pretty much pat.

I think they're more effective from the front (eg at an intersection so others know you're turning) than behind, but I sway somewhat to the side when indicating moving lanes (eg, into a turning lane) so cars behind me have a clearer view of the indicator. No accidents thus far!

I've come across similar but cheap-as lights on AliExpress, but have no idea of their quality or brightness, so if I was doing it again I'd go with the same ones (great price on TM when I bought them; not sure if still on there?). That said, on another site I saw some BT ones that used a mounted remote control. I can't imagine indicators on the back of the scooter would be much use, as they'd need to be mounted on a relatively wide bar (otherwise it would be impossible to see which direction they're flashing unless really close).

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