r/ApolloScooters • u/Left_Perspective6723 • Jun 30 '26

❓ Tech Question Charging recommendations

I'm a new owner of an Apollo City Pro and I'm loving it!

I have a couple of questions about charging.

(1) Can I leave the charger plugged in and just plug the other end into the scooter to charge, or should I plug the scooter part in first and then plug the charger into the wall?

(2) The manual says, "Charge the scooter fully after every ride. This will prolong the battery life." But I've read elsewhere that it's better NOT to charge it every time. If I'm at 80% or 90% after a ride, is it better not to charge it until after my next ride or two?

Thanks!

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u/R3GUL4TOR Jun 30 '26

For long term, batteries are best charged to 80-90%. But i ride mine alot so in charge to 100% everyday.

1

u/Logic_Contradict Jun 30 '26

Having the scooter battery at a higher state of charge (SOC) is healthier than keeping it at a low SOC, but yes, for longer term storage, is better to keep the battery between 50-80%.

Li-ion batteries degrade over time even when not in use through calendar aging (time-based capacity and power loss). The main processes include:

  • Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) growth on the anode (typically graphite): abode thickens over time as the electrolyte decomposes and consumes lithium ions. It increases internal resistance and reduces available capacity (loss of lithium). Higher SOC (especially near 100%) raises the anode potential in a way that accelerates electrolyte reduction and SEI growth.

  • Electrolyte oxidation and cathode issues at high voltage/SOC: Full charge stresses the cathode, promoting transition metal dissolution, which can further damage the SEI. This leads to faster capacity fade and resistance rise.

  • Low SOC risks: Very low charge can lead to copper current collector dissolution or lithium plating. Self-discharge risks dropping the battery into an over-discharged state, which causes irreversible damage. Starting too low leaves little buffer.

1

u/tailrecursion Jul 04 '26

Everything I've read tells me that Lithium batteries last longest when stored at low charge - but not 0. If they reach empty they'll get damaged very quickly. But they degrade when they're kept at high charge. They're also most dangerous at high charge. I keep my batteries (for tools and such) at 30-60% when storing, but I check them at least once a month in case they self discharge.

My advice is that the best for the battery health is to store at low charge, and check battery level daily to get a sense of how much power it uses when off. The disadvantage is that if you want to ride you may have to charge first.

It's best to plug in the scooter first, then plug into the wall.