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Micromobility is here to stay, and it’s changing how we experience urban life for the better. With Unagi’s membership program, you can enjoy all the benefits of a top-tier electric scooter without the sky-high price of ownership or the inconvenience of ride-sharing.
We’re excited to celebrate Unagi’s 5th Anniversary, and we want you to join the fun! To thank you for your support, we're hosting an exclusive $10,000 Airbnb giveaway. No purchase necessary—just enter for your chance to win! Hurry, the giveaway ends on 10/4/2024!
In today’s fast-paced world, finding an efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation is crucial. E-scooters offer a convenient and eco-friendly way to navigate urban landscapes. Unagi stands out not only for its superior design and performance but also for its affordability and unmatched rental program.
While e-scooters have been gaining popularity due to their convenience and relatively low cost, they have been getting more attention lately for another reason: battery fires. It's important to understand the potential dangers associated with the battery technology that lies at their core.
In South Carolina, electric scooters exist in a sort of legal gray area. There's no statewide legislation that specifically addresses them.
Understand which personal electric vehicle is best, the choice between an electric bike or electric scooter might already be made for you by some critical factors, including portability and storage capacity.
When you're checking out the spec of an electric scooter, you will often find it has a BLDC motor, also known as a brushless motor. While other electric scooters will have brushed DC motors.
There's many reasons why it's important for you to know something about how electric scooter motors work.
When you're looking for a powerful electric scooter motor - you need to know why a BLDC motor is your best bet for a reliable daily commute. And how much power you really need.
Not all motors are the same, or have similar timed power distribution and motor voltage.
Having a BLDC motor can significantly enhance scooter performance, efficiency and reliability, including:
This article will explain the many advantages (and the odd disadvantage) of a BLDC motor.
Particularly if you're considering signing up to ride an electric scooter as a practical, and more stylish transport alternative for your daily work commute.
Let's dive in ...
BLDC stands for BrushLess DC
Firstly, some glossary....
DC stands for Direct Current. A Direct Current constantly flows in a single, uninterrupted direction between two poles.
This is different from AC current.
AC stands for Alternating Current. An Alternating Current periodically changes its direction of flow between two poles.
Advantages of a DC motor are:
In the world of electric scooter motors, you often find the brushless DC motor and brushed DC motor are also referred to as hub motors.
This means an electric 'hub' motor is:
As with electric-powered bikes and other micromobility vehicles, your e scooter will have an onboard battery to supply the motor with an electrical charge.
But here's where your e scooter is different...
The battery charge for e-bikes tends to be sent to a single motor for powering all the wheels, using gears or chains. This is known as a:
Chain drive motor or geared motor. Here, movement is created inside the motor and transferred to the wheel via mechanical power - a chain and gear mechanism.
Electric scooters are generally powered by a gearless hub motor, a different motor technology, entirely.
A gearless motor (also known as 'direct drive') - uses electromagnets, which turns the wheel directly to move forward.
BLDC brushless motors work by using a set of permanent magnets and electronic commutators (switching units) to control the current in the motor windings.
Movement is caused by the principle of:
In the BLDC motor, the current-carrying conductor is fixed (stationary), and the permanent magnet is moving.
A brushless DC electric motor is also known as an electronically commutated motor (ECM or EC motor).
How it works is this...
A brushless motor has a permanent magnet attached to a moving component (known as the rotor) which rotates against a fixed stator (wound-wire motor coils, known as armatures).
Energy flows through the stator, to or from the moving rotor. This creates an electromagnetic field in the air gap of the wire windings. The DC current automatically switches.
The force of interaction between electromagnet stator and permanent magnet rotor, causes the rotor to continually rotate.
Brushless motor commutation replaces the more traditional type of motor used in electric scooters - the brushed motor.
The 'brushes' in a brushed motor are two small carbon terminal blocks, which conduct the electrical current between the fixed stator and the rotating disc of the rotor wires.
When the brushes make contact, they switch the current in the motor windings. This causes the rotor to spin.
Brushed motors are not as efficient as BLDC motors, because brushes create friction and heat. An increase in motor temperature can reduce the range of an electric scooter by up to 20 per cent.
Brushes wear out over time, which can cause the motor to lose power or even fail completely.
Brushed motors are also noisier than BLDC motors, because brushes create vibration.
Increasingly, electric scooters today have gone one step further. Many brushless DC motors now no longer have electronic motor commutation.
The commutation system was used to switch the current in the motor windings, which causes the rotor to spin. Over time, friction and wear would reduce the efficiency and reliability of the motor.
Now an electronic controller replaces both the carbon brushes of the previous brushed motor AND the commutator of the current brushless motor. Making the motor more efficient, reliable, and quieter.
The electronic controller on a BLDC motor uses a switching circuit to activate the motor windings in a specific sequence. The activation sequence generates a rotating magnetic field, which causes the rotor to spin.
Digital switching circuitry on a BLDC motor is an essential component of its operation.
Your brushless DC motor will either have:
-or-
The brushless DC motor circuitry uses a set of 'Hall effect sensors' to detect the presence and magnitude of the magnetic field. The Hall effect electronic sensor detects the output voltage, which is directly proportional to the strength of the field.
A micro-controller receives the Hall sensor data to generate the pulse sequence. The pulse sequence controls the power transistors that switches the current in the motor windings.
Current flowing through the motor windings is switched in the correct sequence to ensure a smooth and efficient rotation.
The ideal number of coil phases for a particular electric scooter will depend on your specific riding needs.
A scooter motor with more coil phases - will give you more torque for climbing hills or carrying heavy loads.
A scooter motor with fewer coil phases - is best for riding at top speeds.
A BLDC motor has three coil phases, which are arranged in a star pattern.
Coil phases are an important part of motor design and operation with direct impact upon torque, speed, and control.
The coil phases are connected to the controller used in the switching circuit to activate the phases in a specific sequence. It's the sequence of activation which creates a rotating magnetic field and causes the rotor to spin.
The number of coil phases in a BLDC motor affects the torque and speed of the motor.
A motor with more coil phases will have more torque, but will also reduce a scooter's maximum speed.
This is because the rotating magnetic field in a motor with more coil phases is stronger, which allows the motor to produce more torque. However, the stronger magnetic field also creates more resistance, which limits the top speed of the motor.
The most common number of coil phases is three.
This is because three-phase motors offer a good balance of torque and speed. However, some electric scooters use two-phase or four-phase motors.
The coil phases are also important for controlling the motor. The controller uses the phase sequence to control the speed and torque of the motor.
By changing the phase sequence, the controller can:
-or-
Current is switched in the motor windings more accurately than a mechanical commutator. This can increase the efficiency of the motor by up to 10 per cent.
Not subject to wear and tear like a mechanical commutator. Reliability of the motor can be improved by up to 50 per cent.
Greater control
More precise control over motor speed and maximum torque. Motor performance particularly enhanced in electric vehicles, including e scooters.
There's a key difference between how a brushless motor measures motor wattage compared to the previous brushed motor type. Here we will compare the two...
BLDC motors are typically rated in peak power - the maximum amount of power a motor can produce for a short period of time.
The continuous power of a BLDC motor is typically lower than its peak power. This is because a brushless motor can only produce peak power for a short period of time before it overheats.
Brushed motors - are typically rated in continuous power. This is because brushed motors do not have the same problems in heat removal.
Brushless motors are also rated in torque - the amount of force a motor can produce.
Torque is normally measured in Newton-meters (Nm) while the speed of a BLDC motor is typically measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).
Brushed motors - are usually not rated in torque. This is because the torque of a brushed motor is not as important as the speed of the motor.
Input power of a brushless motor is - the amount of power that is supplied to a motor from the battery.
Output power of a brushless motor is - the amount of power that is produced by a motor. The output power of the motor is typically lower than the input power due to losses in the motor.
Brushed motors - do not have as many losses, so the input power is typically very close to the output power.
As a result of whether a DC brushless motor is needed for high torque versus rotational speed, the layout can be either:
-or-
How does all the above technical stuff actually relate to how your e scooter performs on your daily commute?
A good example is the Unagi Model One (E500).
This particular e scooter has dual motors. A dedicated 250 watt brushless DC motor inside each wheel hub.
This means you get:
-and-
Each motor also contains a monitoring system to prevent overheating.
It's likely you'll need your scooter to tackle one or two steeper gradients on your daily commute. An electric scooter driven by a pair of brushless motors has extra power advantages for its hill climbing ability.
BLDC motors can produce more power at low speeds. Which is important for climbing hills, because it allows the motor to overcome the added resistance of the increasing gradient.
BLDC motors are more efficient at converting battery power into more mechanical power. An e scooter powered by a BLDC motor can climb a hill with less battery power, which can also help extend its range.
BLDC motors give more precise control over acceleration and deceleration. This is important for climbing hills, because it enables you to maintain a steady speed and avoid losing momentum.
It's clear from even a brief dive into the above info - brushless motors offer significant advantages for riding an electric scooter.
Top riding benefits are:
Other added advantages:
Disadvantages of BLDC motors
There are surprisingly few disadvantages to riding an e scooter with BLDC motors:
Most electric scooters today will have BLDC brushless motors powering forward their two wheels. But some e scooters may still be using brushed DC motors.
Your scooter's type of motor power determines how reliable, efficient, and hassle-free your daily ride to and from work will be. Or taking a fun ride around the park or local mall.
So it's worth checking out specifics, such as whether your scooter motor is managed by an electronic controller or commutator. And does it run on a 3-phase supply?
It could make all the difference between a basic ride and a fast glide.
Discover more about what REALLY makes a difference in scooter performance.
Check out latest independent REVIEWS on Unagi scooters and activities.
In the U.S., most states don't require a license. For those that do, they usually just ask for a regular driver's license or a learner's permit.
Yes, you can bring an electric scooter on a plane, but it needs to have a lithium battery smaller than 100 watt-hours, which most don't.
Manufacturers advise against riding electric scooters in the rain. The main reasons are: water can fry the electronics, make the ride dangerous, and void your warranty.
“Is my scooter legal?” is a question many are increasingly asking. The micromobility industry is one of the fastest-growing and most exciting in the world—with promises for...in addition to abundances of the basics of time and money savings. And with this pace of innovation comes a struggle for regulation to keep up.
So, you're thinking about joining the electric scooter revolution, huh? You've seen those sleek and stylish scooters zipping around town, effortlessly gliding through traffic, and you can't help but wonder: Are electric scooters easy to ride?
In this guide, we'll break down what defines a lightweight electric scooter, why you should choose one, and the top features you should look for.
Want to get the most out of your electric scooter battery and extend your riding adventures? We've got you covered with our comprehensive guide full of maintenance tips and best practices.
*Disclaimer: Unagi, INC. has used best efforts, but does not in any manner guarantee the accuracy of the below findings regarding electric scooter laws in the United States or internationally. Electric scooter riders or those considering to purchase or begin…
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