What safety tests are required for the electric scooter brake system after installation?

As a convenient short-distance transportation tool, the brake system of electric scooters is a key component to ensure riding safety. In the production and sales process of electric scooters, a series of safety tests on the brake system are an indispensable link. This article will introduce in detail the various safety tests that need to be carried out after the installation of the electric scooter brake system, aiming to help electric scooter manufacturers, sellers and related practitioners fully understand and strictly implement these tests, so as to improve product quality, ensure consumer safety and enhance market competitiveness.

1. Safety tests that need to be carried out after the installation of the electric scooter brake system

(I) Braking performance test

Dry braking distance test

This is a basic test to evaluate the braking performance of electric scooters on dry roads. Accelerate the electric scooter to 0.9 times the maximum speed specified by the manufacturer, then brake urgently and measure the distance from the initial braking point to the complete stop. Test 4 times in a row and take the average value as the final braking distance. According to relevant standards, electric scooters of different speed levels have different braking distance requirements. For example, for electric scooters with a maximum speed of no more than 25 km/h, the dry braking distance should not exceed a certain value to ensure that they can stop in time in an emergency to avoid accidents.
Wet braking distance test
Compared to the dry braking distance test, the wet braking distance test can better simulate the slippery road conditions such as rainy days that may be encountered in actual use. The test method is similar to the dry test, but the road surface needs to be sprinkled with water before the test to make the road surface slippery. By comparing the braking distances in dry and wet conditions, the performance stability of the braking system under different road conditions can be evaluated. The braking distance in wet conditions is usually longer than that in dry conditions, but it still needs to be controlled within a safe range to ensure the safety of riders in various weather conditions.
(II) Sensitivity test of the braking system
The sensitivity of the braking system is directly related to whether the rider can get a quick response when the brakes are needed. During the test, the electric scooter is driven at a certain speed, and then the braking force is gradually increased, and the time from the start of the braking action to the vehicle's obvious deceleration or stop is recorded. A sensitive braking system should be able to respond to the rider's braking operation in a short time, usually no more than a few seconds. In addition, the response consistency of the braking system can be checked by repeated tests to ensure that each braking operation can get a stable and timely response.
(III) Durability test of the brake system
Mechanical fatigue test
The mechanical fatigue test is designed to evaluate the performance changes of the brake system after long-term and frequent use. The electric scooter is fixed on the test bench to simulate the rider's repeated braking action, and mechanical stress of a certain frequency and strength is applied to the brake system for a certain number of times (such as thousands or even tens of thousands of times). After the test, check whether the various components of the brake system, such as the brake disc, brake pad, brake line, etc., are worn, deformed, broken, etc., to ensure that they can still maintain reliable performance after long-term use.
Electrical fatigue test
For electric scooters equipped with electronic brake systems, electrical fatigue tests are also required. By simulating the frequent on and off of the electronic brake system, it is detected whether it will fail or degrade in performance under long-term electrical operation. For example, the brake motor, controller and other electrical components are repeatedly started and stopped to observe whether their working state is stable, and whether there is abnormal heating, current fluctuations, etc.
(IV) Environmental adaptability test of the brake system
High temperature test
Put the electric scooter in a high temperature environment (such as around 60°C) for a certain period of time, and then conduct a brake performance test. High temperature may cause some materials in the brake system (such as rubber products, plastic parts, etc.) to expand, soften or degrade, thus affecting the braking effect. Through high temperature testing, the reliability of the brake system in hot climates can be evaluated to ensure that it can still meet safety requirements under high temperature conditions.
Low temperature test
The low temperature test is to place the electric scooter in a low temperature environment (such as around -10℃), and after a certain period of freezing, the brake test is performed. Low temperature may cause problems such as increased brittleness of brake system components and solidification of lubricating grease, affecting the flexibility and braking force of the brake. The purpose of the test is to ensure that the brake system can still work normally in cold weather, and there will be no brake failure or slow response due to low temperature.
Wet heat test
The wet heat test combines high temperature and high humidity environmental conditions to examine the corrosion resistance and electrical insulation performance of the brake system. In a wet and hot environment, metal parts are prone to rust, and the insulation performance of electrical parts may also decrease, thus affecting the safety and reliability of the brake system. Through wet heat testing, the comprehensive performance of the brake system in a humid and high temperature environment can be evaluated to ensure its safety in use in areas such as the southern rainy season or coastal high humidity areas.
(V) Electrical safety test of the brake system
Insulation resistance test
Use a megohmmeter to measure the insulation resistance between the power circuit, control circuit and exposed conductive parts of the electric scooter. Under normal circumstances, the insulation resistance value should be greater than 2 MΩ to prevent current leakage and avoid the risk of electric shock to the rider.
Short circuit protection test
Check whether short circuit protection devices such as fuses are installed in the relevant circuits of the brake system, and verify whether they can cut off the circuit in time in the event of a short circuit to prevent safety accidents such as fire and explosion caused by short circuits.
Overcharge and over-discharge protection test
For electric scooters equipped with rechargeable batteries, test the safety of their brake systems in the event of battery overcharge and over-discharge. Ensure that the brake system can still work normally when the battery is in an abnormal state, and no additional safety hazards will be caused by battery problems.
(VI) EMC electromagnetic compatibility test of the brake system
Radiation test
Test the electromagnetic radiation level generated by the brake system of the electric scooter during operation to ensure that it will not interfere with other surrounding electronic equipment (such as mobile phones, radio communication equipment, etc.) and affect its normal operation.
Anti-interference test
Simulate external electromagnetic interference environment, such as being close to strong electromagnetic field equipment in operation, to detect the stability of the brake system when it is interfered. A qualified brake system should be able to maintain normal operation under a certain degree of electromagnetic interference, and will not cause brake failure or malfunction due to interference.

2. The importance of safety testing of electric scooter brake system
(I) Ensure consumer safety
As a personal means of transportation, electric scooters are completely exposed to the outside during riding. Once the brake system fails, it will directly endanger the life of the rider. Through strict safety testing, possible problems and hidden dangers of the brake system can be discovered in advance, ensuring that the product meets high standards of safety performance before being put on the market, thereby effectively reducing the accident rate and protecting the personal safety of consumers.
(II) Improve product quality and market competitiveness
In the fierce market competition, product quality is the foundation of an enterprise. Comprehensive and strict safety testing helps enterprises discover deficiencies in product design and manufacturing, and make timely improvements and optimizations, thereby improving the overall quality of the product. High-quality electric scooters can not only win the trust and praise of consumers, but also establish a good brand image in the international market and enhance the market competitiveness of enterprises.
(III) Meet international certification and regulatory requirements
Many countries and regions have established strict safety certification and regulatory standards for personal transportation vehicles such as electric scooters, such as the EU's CE certification and the US's UL certification. These certification requirements cover safety tests in many aspects, including the brake system. By conducting safety tests in accordance with relevant standards, companies can ensure that their products meet the regulatory requirements of the target market, smoothly enter the international market, and avoid trade barriers and product recalls caused by non-compliance with standards.

3. How to conduct safety tests on electric scooter brake systems
(I) Select a professional testing agency
In order to ensure the accuracy and authority of the test results, companies should choose professional testing agencies with relevant qualifications and rich experience to conduct safety tests on electric scooter brake systems. These agencies usually have advanced testing equipment and professional technicians, who can conduct various tests in strict accordance with international and domestic standards, and provide detailed test reports and improvement suggestions.
(II) Develop a detailed test plan
Before conducting safety tests, companies need to work with the testing agency to develop a detailed test plan. The test plan should include test items, test methods, test standards, number of test samples, etc. A clear test plan helps ensure the standardization and completeness of the test process and avoid missing important test links.
(III) Strictly test in accordance with the standards
During the test process, the enterprise should actively cooperate with the testing agency and operate in strict accordance with the established standards and methods. The tester should carefully record the test data and observed phenomena to ensure the authenticity and reliability of the test results. For the problems found in the test, the enterprise should promptly organize technical personnel to analyze and solve them, and improve the product as needed and test it again.
(IV) Continue to pay attention to test results and improvements
Safety testing is not a one-time job, but a continuous process. Enterprises should regard safety testing as an important part of product quality management and test and evaluate products regularly. At the same time, pay attention to the latest technological developments and standard changes in the industry, and adjust the test plan and product design in a timely manner to adapt to the changing market needs and safety requirements.

4. Case analysis of safety testing of electric scooter brake system
(I) Case 1: A certain brand of electric scooter caused an accident due to a brake system failure
Soon after the launch of a well-known brand of electric scooters, consumers have successively received complaints about brake failure. After investigation, it was found that the brand's electric scooters had defects in the design of the brake system, which led to a significant decrease in braking performance in high temperature environments, and it was easy to have a long braking distance or even brake failure. This incident not only brought safety hazards to consumers, but also caused serious damage to the brand's reputation. Subsequently, the company had to recall a large number of products for improvement and incurred huge recall costs and legal compensation. This case highlights the importance of safety testing of electric scooter brake systems. If comprehensive and strict high-temperature tests and other related safety tests can be carried out before the product is launched, and problems with the brake system can be discovered and solved in a timely manner, such accidents can be avoided.
(II) Case 2: Improving product quality and market competitiveness through strict safety testing
Another electric scooter manufacturer attached great importance to brake system safety testing during the product development stage. They not only carried out various basic tests in accordance with international standards, but also added additional test items simulating complex road conditions and extreme weather conditions. Through these rigorous tests, the company discovered potential problems in the brake system under certain special circumstances and optimized and improved them in a targeted manner. After the product was launched, it quickly won the recognition and praise of consumers with its excellent braking performance and safety, stood out in the fierce market competition, and its market share continued to expand. This case shows that through strict safety testing, companies can not only improve product quality, but also enhance market competitiveness and achieve sustainable development.

5. Future development trend of electric scooter brake system safety testing

(I) Application of intelligent testing technology

With the continuous advancement of science and technology, intelligent testing technology will gradually be applied to the safety testing of electric scooter brake systems. For example, the sensor network is used to monitor the changes in various parameters of the brake system during the test in real time, and the test data is deeply mined and analyzed through big data analysis and artificial intelligence algorithms to achieve accurate evaluation of the performance of the brake system and fault prediction. The application of intelligent testing technology will greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of testing and provide stronger support for product quality control.

(II) More stringent international standards and regulations

In order to further protect consumer safety and promote fair competition in international trade, governments and international organizations will continue to improve the safety standards and regulations for electric scooters and other related products. In the future, the safety testing requirements for brake systems may be more stringent, covering more test items and more complex test conditions. Companies need to pay close attention to changes in these standards and regulations, and adjust product design and testing strategies in a timely manner to ensure that products always meet market access requirements.
(III) The rise of cross-domain comprehensive testing
As a product that integrates technologies from multiple fields such as mechanics, electronics, and materials, the performance of the brake system of electric scooters is not only related to their own design and manufacturing, but also affected by the overall performance of the vehicle and other components. Therefore, more cross-domain comprehensive testing methods will appear in the future, combining the brake system test with the vehicle's power system, control system, structural strength test, etc., to evaluate the safety and reliability of electric scooters as a whole. This comprehensive testing method will help to discover various complex problems that may arise in actual use of the vehicle and provide a more comprehensive basis for product optimization.

6. Summary
After the installation of the electric scooter brake system, a series of comprehensive and rigorous safety tests are required, including brake performance test, sensitivity test, durability test, environmental adaptability test, electrical safety test, and EMC electromagnetic compatibility test. These tests play a vital role in ensuring consumer safety, improving product quality and market competitiveness, and meeting international certification and regulatory requirements. Enterprises should fully realize the importance of safety testing, select professional testing agencies, develop detailed test plans, and strictly test and continuously improve in accordance with standards. By continuously optimizing the design and performance of the brake system, combined with the application of intelligent testing technology and cross-domain comprehensive testing methods, the electric scooter industry will be able to better meet consumer demand for safe and reliable products and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the entire industry.