Electric Balance Vehicle Inspection, Inspection Company, Quality Inspection Services, Factory Audit Services

General Safety Requirements for Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection

Classification of Electric Self-Balancing Scooters

1. By number of wheels, they can be divided into:

a) Electric unicycle self-balancing scooter---an electric self-balancing scooter with only one wheel, including single-wheel dual-tire configurations;

b) Electric two-wheel self-balancing scooter---an electric self-balancing scooter with two wheels;

c) Electric multi-wheel self-balancing scooter---an electric self-balancing scooter with three or more wheels.

2. By steering method, they can be divided into:

a) Electric self-balancing scooter with a steering handle;

b) Electric self-balancing scooter without a steering handle.

3. By presence of a saddle, they can be divided into:

a) Electric self-balancing scooter with a saddle;

b) Electric self-balancing scooter without a saddle.

4. By charging method, they can be divided into:

a) Externally powered charging electric self-balancing scooter---this type of electric self-balancing scooter is not directly connected to the AC power grid during charging but is charged via a charger or external power source connected to the AC grid;

b) Internally powered charging electric self-balancing scooter---this type of electric self-balancing scooter is directly connected to the AC power grid during charging.

General Safety Requirements for Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection

1. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Material Inspection

- The flammability rating of circuit boards and non-metallic enclosures housing batteries should be no less than Class V-1 in the table below.

- Metallic Materials

The metal enclosure of the electric self-balancing scooter should be corrosion-resistant, which can be achieved through appropriate plating or coating treatments. To prevent potential short circuits between live parts and the metal enclosure, an insulating liner should be designed for the metal enclosure. This insulating liner should not be made of hygroscopic materials and should withstand temperature variations during the scooter's operation (including charging).

2. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Enclosure Inspection

The enclosure of the electric self-balancing scooter should be designed to only be opened with tools such as pliers or screwdrivers, and not by hand alone.

3. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Sharp Edge Inspection

Hard protrusions on tubular structures or device components of the electric self-balancing scooter that may pose a stabbing hazard to users should have adequate protective design (such as blunt angles, etc.) to prevent injury.

For threads that may constitute a stabbing hazard, the length of the thread extending beyond its internally mated component should be limited to one external thread diameter.

4. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Safety Protection Function Inspection

- Overspeed Protection

The electric self-balancing scooter should have continuous safety alerts when exceeding the speed limit, along with continuous tilting or similar protective functions to restrict further acceleration and ensure user safety.

- Low Battery Protection

The electric self-balancing scooter should have a low battery protection function, meaning that when the battery level falls below the minimum required for safe operation as specified by the manufacturer, it should provide continuous safety alerts and tilting or similar protective functions to restrict further use.

- Hill Hold Capability and Protection

Electric two-wheel self-balancing scooters should have hill hold capability and protection. After testing according to method 9.1.3, the electric self-balancing scooter should meet either of the following conditions:

a) The scooter shows no safety alerts, does not power off, and the motor remains functional;

b) The scooter provides continuous safety alerts and tilting or similar protective functions to prevent further use.

- Loss of Stability Protection

The electric self-balancing scooter should have a loss of stability protection function to prevent continued wheel rotation after instability, which could harm the user or others. After testing according to method 9.1.4, the wheels of the electric self-balancing scooter should stop rotating within 5 seconds (inclusive) after instability.

- Overcharge Protection for Energy Recovery

Electric self-balancing scooters with energy recovery functions should have protective measures to prevent overcharging of the battery or battery pack during downhill or deceleration. Safety alerts and tilting or similar protective measures should be triggered before the battery or battery pack reaches overvoltage, and the scooter should not cut off the discharge circuit due to overvoltage protection. During testing, the electric self-balancing scooter should not catch fire, explode, or have its enclosure crack or leak.

- Low Battery Alert and Speed Limitation

- During testing, the electric self-balancing scooter should trigger safety alerts and tilting or similar protective measures when the battery is low. Before triggering protective functions, the scooter should not cut off the discharge circuit due to low battery protection. The scooter should not catch fire, explode, or have its enclosure crack or leak.

- Charging Lock

During testing, the electric self-balancing scooter should not be operable while charging. If it can be turned on, protective measures should limit normal operation, such as preventing powered wheel rotation.

- Anti-Runaway Protection

Electric self-balancing scooters weighing less than 18 kg, when tested according to 9.1.8, should not have wheels that continue to spin or rotate for more than 5 seconds when lifted using the designed handle after startup.

5. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Component Inspection

- Batteries and Battery Packs

The safety of batteries and battery packs used in electric self-balancing scooters with lithium-ion batteries should comply with GB/T 40559. Other types of batteries and battery packs should comply with relevant national standards.

- Charger

The safety requirements for chargers or power supplies of electric self-balancing scooters should comply with GB 4943.1-2022 or GB 4706.18-2014. They should be compatible with the scooter's battery system, with compliance determined through review of battery system and charger specifications and testing outlined in this document.

Connectors provided with the charger for connecting to the scooter's charging port should be designed to prevent misalignment and reverse polarity.

- Motor: Motor overload testing evaluates the safety performance of the motor under overload conditions.

The motor should first be tested while installed in the scooter, with monitoring of motor winding temperatures. For testing convenience, the motor may be tested separately, but its heat dissipation conditions should not be better than when installed in the scooter.

The motor is initially operated under maximum normal load conditions, then the load is increased with appropriate increments in current while maintaining the original power supply voltage. When temperatures stabilize, the load is increased again. This process continues stepwise until the overload protector activates or the motor windings open.

The temperature of the motor windings at each steady state is determined, and the maximum temperature recorded should not exceed the limits in the table below.

- Fuses

Fuses in electric self-balancing scooters should be suitable for the current and voltage of the circuits they protect.

- Cables and Connectors

In a room temperature environment, discharge a fully charged electric self-balancing scooter at the maximum current allowed by the system until the discharge limit specified by the manufacturer is reached, while monitoring and recording the temperatures of cables and connectors. All components of cables and connectors should meet: the temperature of cables and connectors should be below the limit temperature specified by the manufacturer.

Exposed external cables of the electric self-balancing scooter should withstand a 156 N force applied in the most unfavorable direction for 1 minute. After testing, internal connectors should not be displaced or damaged, and the longitudinal displacement of the pulled cable should not exceed 2 mm.

6. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Electrical Safety Inspection

- Insulation

Internally powered charging electric self-balancing scooters should have sufficient insulation protection for circuit boards and components. The internal charging circuit should be effectively isolated from accessible conductive parts, using one of the following methods:

a) Basic insulation and a protective grounding system in case of basic insulation failure;

b) Double insulation or reinforced insulation;

c) A combination of a) and b).

- Wiring

In a room temperature environment, inspect cables in the following order. The scooter should meet the following requirements:

a) Cables should have good insulation and be smooth without sharp edges.

b) Cables should be protected and not contact burrs, heat sinks, or similar sharp edges that could affect insulation. Metal holes through which cables pass should have smooth surfaces, or cables should be fitted with sleeves.

c) Cables should be securely fixed to prevent contact with moving parts. Additional mechanical fastening may be added if necessary.

Detachable parts of the electric self-balancing scooter that are removed during normal use or maintenance should not place excessive stress on electrical connections and internal conductors, including those maintaining grounding continuity.

- Short Circuit Safety

After testing as specified, the scooter should not catch fire, explode, or have its enclosure crack or leak. Note: If the scooter's battery pack has passed short circuit testing and evaluation of the scooter's characteristics shows no difference between whole scooter short circuit testing and battery pack short circuit testing, the short circuit testing specified in this document may be omitted.

- Electric Strength

Electric self-balancing scooters or their components directly connected to the AC power grid should have sufficient electric strength.

7. Electric Self-Balancing Scooter Inspection - Mechanical Safety Inspection

- Enclosure Protection Rating

The enclosure protection rating of the electric self-balancing scooter should be no less than IP34 or the protection rating declared by the manufacturer, whichever is stricter.

- Static Strength

After static strength testing as specified, no part of the electric self-balancing scooter should show visible cracks or breaks, and the scooter should function normally.

- Dynamic Strength

After dynamic strength testing as specified, no part of the electric self-balancing scooter should show visible cracks or breaks, and the scooter should function normally.