Light Electric Vehicles are gaining popularity for a bunch of reasons: they are efficient, economical and eco-friendly. They provide comfortable travel and independence, and are good for commuters, sports enthusiasts, distance cyclists, those seeking additional mobility options and much, much more.

With the wide variety of users, and such rapid development in the industry, it can be difficult to follow all the terminology in the industry. That’s why Daymak has produced this video series, to help you learn all the ins and outs of Light electric Vehicles.

What Does All This Lingo Mean?

Today we’re going through just a few of the common terms you’d probably heard as you’ve found out more about riding electric. Let’s jump right in.

You’ve heard of range, right?
This is a common term that is used to describe the distance your vehicle will be able to travel autonomously before it needs a charge. It’s important to note that if you are riding an Ebike or scooter, you will be able to physically pedal the machine- this muscle power will ease the energy pull from the battery and increase your range.

Many Light Electric Vehicles have a push-to-start or on-off button. A key switch is the same thing, just with a physical key. It gives a more “car-like” feeling to your riding experience. 

HR stands for Hour Rating- this is a universal storage battery rating system. What does that mean, exactly? It’s the standard for how AMP Hour Ratings are calculated. We have a great video explaining Wattage, Voltage and Amperage- you can check it out in our Explainer Series.

SLA stands for Sealed Lead Acid , it refers to a type of battery that relies on the chemical reaction between Lead-alloy plates and fibreglass spacers that have filled with an acidic chemical compound. The result is a hefty, powerful battery that is one of the most economical on the market to date. 

The speed controller is...exactly what it sounds like. But this is also often referred to as the throttle. 

This is a speed control that exists on the handle bars, and is designed to be easily moved ergonomically with your thumb.  

Torque refers to the output from the motor that causes the rotations of the wheels within your bike. Essentially torque means power. 

A twist throttle is a speed controller that controls the speed with a twisting motion. 

SOC stands for State Of Charge, and it refers to your power meter, which will show you the status of your battery, and lets you gauge when it needs a recharge. 

Lithium Ion batteries are known for being lighter and for having a longer lifespan, capable of holding up to 1,000 full charges. They come at a higher price-point, but given their longevity, their additional upfront cost pays for itself.

It’s important to note that even a fully charged battery will loose power slowly, even when not running. It’s a good general rule to check your device's power level intermittently if it hasn’t been run in a while. 

We have a whole video on batteries you can check out if you want to learn more. 

VOLTAGE
So, Voltage refers to the potential charge that exists between two points on an electrical circuit. The higher the voltage, the more power (and the more danger)

This is a location that is designed to allow electric vehicles to be plugged in and charged. This is often down at home, but public charging stations are becoming increasingly more accessible. 

What A World Of Words!