Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery

Why use Lithium-ion batteries?

Lithium provides a great deal of power relative to the amount of material used in the battery. Lithium-ion batteries, on average, weigh approximately 50% less than Sealed Lead Acid batteries (SLA). Lithium batteries also maintain a higher voltage and longer service life compared to other primary chemistries such as SLA batteries. Also, lithium batteries feature the benefit of being largely maintenance free.

I just received my new EMU, why isn’t the battery working?
Your rechargeable battery will most likely arrive to you in a low-charged condition. Be sure to fully charge the battery before riding your EMU Trike®.

How long will it take to re-charge the battery?

This will depend upon how discharged the battery is at the time. If the battery is low and needs a full charge, it will take 4-6 hours. When you connect the charger to the EMU Trike™ and when it is plugged unto the power source, you will hear the soft hum of the cooling fan. You will also see that the charger’s two indicator lights are red. One red light indicates that the electric power is reaching the charger and the other red light will turn green once the battery is fully charged. ALWAYS unplug the charger from the battery and the wall once the charge is complete.

Do I need to disconnect the charger once the battery is charged?
Yes. When charging ANY type of battery we suggest that you are present to monitor the status of the charge and always disconnect the charger from the battery and the wall once you see that the charge is complete or to the level of your satisfaction. Overcharging any type of battery can reduce its efficiency, reduce the life of the battery, and can even cause a fire hazard. 

Can I use a different charger for my EMU Trike®?

Not all chargers are compatible with the 48V Lithium-Ion (or LiPo) battery installed in your EMU Trike®. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you use ONLY the charger that originally came with your EMU Trike®.  To avoid damage to the battery, charger, property or person, do NOT use an alternative charger. Contact American Scooter Company or your EMU Trike® Dealer if you need a new charger. Use of a different charger with your EMU Trike® or using your EMU Trike® charger to charge a different product is at your own risk and will result in an immediate void of your warranty and user will hold harmless, American Scooter Company and its Dealers, should damage to product, person or property occur.

How long will my lithium-ion battery last?

The life of the EMU Trike® lithium-ion battery will depend upon how often and in which manner you use your EMU Trike®.  How well you care for and store your trike and your battery will factor greatly as well. When operating under normal conditions, your battery should last about 2.5 years. For the average user that is about 8,000 miles. When your EMU Trike® is ready for a new battery, just contact us directly.

What if I don’t plan on using my EMU Trike® for an extended period of time?

All batteries will begin to self-discharge while not in use, therefore, if you know that your EMU Trike® is going to sit for 2 weeks or more, you will want store it with some charge.  The recommended status of charge when storing a lithium battery is about 40%-50%. This will allow a slower self-discharge than if stored with the battery at 100%. We do not recommend that you store your lithium-ion battery for more than two or three months without recharging it back up to 40%. Not only will this ensure that you will get a longer life out of your battery but it will also help prevent a full self-discharge, which may render your battery useless. For extended periods of non-use, it is best to remove the battery from the unit and store it in a cool and dry environment. (The cooler the better but not below 35°F degrees). The premium ‘ideal’ temperature for storing a lithium-ion battery long-term is about 65°F with the status of charge being 40% at three month intervals. Because all batteries begin self-discharging while sitting idle, once you do re-install the battery, you will want to be sure and re-charge it before using your EMU Trike®.

Should I let the power-indicator on my trike get down to “empty” before re-charging?

Your lithium-ion battery does not need to ’empty’ before recharging. In fact, as mentioned above, you should always AVOID a FULL discharge of your lithium-ion battery and instead, simply charge your battery as needed (or every three months). Be sure to disconnect the charger from the trike and the wall once the battery is charged to your satisfaction.

What if the charger unit does not indicate power, (no lights, fan is not spinning) or it is not charging the battery?
This can happen when one of the fuses in the charger needs to be replaced. Each charger uses 2 fuses. For those with a C3 model (silver charger), you will need to use a 10AL250V fuse. If your charger does not charge after changing the fuse(s), do not continue to attempt charging. Instead, contact American Scooter Company or your EMU Trike® Dealer directly.

What if my lithium battery doesn’t seem to be holding a charge like it used to?
As mentioned previously, all batteries self-discharge over time and eventually, you will begin to notice that you will need to re-charge your battery more often. This is the same for lithium batteries in cell phones, laptops, remote control toys, etc. When it gets to the point where the life or power of the battery is no longer sufficient for the use of which the battery was designed, it is time to get a new battery. Contact us directly when you are ready to order another lithium battery for your EMU Trike®.

I have not used my EMU Trike® for several months and have not charged it during this time. Why won’t it charge?

The lithium battery has built-in safety features, including one that shuts down the battery if it is drained or self-discharged below a particular level (usually 2.5V to 3.0V/Cell). Once this happens, the lithium battery is no longer useful and should be discarded to avoid any safety issues. If this happens, contact American Scooter Company or your EMU Trike® Dealer.

When my lithium battery dies, how do I dispose of it safely?

In the United States, regulations and laws pertaining to the recycling and disposal of rechargeable lithium ion batteries vary within state and local governments. You will need to check the laws and regulations where you live. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s web site, www.rbrc.org, is an excellent source for finding a facility to handle these types of batteries. Remember that before any type of disposal the batteries should be discharged completely. Tape the contacts with electrical tape and package so as to prevent contacts accidentally coming together at any time. If you are not sure if your waste facility can handle lithium ion batteries, contact them directly. Many stores offer free recycling of rechargeable batteries. If no outlet is available in your area, it is likely safe to dispose of these batteries in your regular trash but as always, check with your local laws to make sure that this is acceptable.

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR LITHIUM BATTERY SAFE AND LONG-LASTING:

To charge your EMU Trike®, use ONLY the charger that came with your EMU Trike®.

Do not use your EMU Trike® charger with any other product.

Always make sure that the EMU Trike® power is in the OFF position when charging.
When charging, be sure to keep charger clear of any obstruction, wrappings, etc.

Always disconnect the charger from the battery and the wall socket once battery is charged.

When battery will be idle for extended periods of time, remove from unit and store in a cool dry place.

Prior to storing battery for extended periods, ensure that battery status of charge is at about 40% and charge at least every three months.

Do not charge or operate your EMU Trike® in extreme low or extreme high temperatures. NEVER charge your EMU Trike® in freezing temperatures. Although lithium batteries can be charged and operated in the 45°F-110°F, the “ideal” range of charging and operating your EMU Trike™ with less stress to the battery and therefore longer battery life is about 55°F to 90°F.

Note:  It is a good idea to ‘recalibrate’ the fuel gauge by allowing the battery power to reduce to the LOW range (not the EMPTY range) after approximately every 30 partial charges. This ‘re-calibration’ will give your fuel gauge a more accurate reading regarding the current level of battery charge.