The precautions for using an electric vehicle are actually the key points of using its four major parts, and their condition directly determines the durability of the vehicle. With proper riding techniques the service life can be greatly extended, and apart from normal battery replacement an electric vehicle generally will not break down within five years. The four major parts are the battery, motor, controller and charger. They must be properly matched to avoid unnecessary losses from incompatibility that shorten the life of the vehicle.

I. Electric Vehicle Battery

1. Charging: do not charge for too long in daily use. In winter keep it within 10 hours; in summer, when the temperature is high, within 6-8 hours is best. If the vehicle is unused for a long time, give it a full recharge about every two months to prevent the battery from being left discharged, which causes irreversible sulfation and kills the battery. After about one and a half to two years of use it is best to top up the battery with refill fluid to extend its life. This should be done at a professional after-sales or repair shop; never do it yourself.

2. Riding: give some pedal assistance in daily riding. On uphill sections especially, push first and then use electric power, to avoid battery damage caused by a momentary surge of current.

II. Electric Vehicle Motor

The motor converts the electrical energy of the battery into mechanical energy to turn the wheels of the vehicle. Pay attention to its upkeep in daily use:

1. Do not ride with the brake engaged. Riding with the brake on heats the motor and demagnetizes the magnets, leaving the vehicle weak and shortening the driving range.

2. Repair motor noise in time and check the bearings, so that steel balls do not roll out and cut the coils, which would scrap the motor.

3. Avoid riding through water as much as possible. The sealing of a motor is not as good as we imagine: water gets in easily but hardly gets out; prolonged retention rusts the magnets and damages the bearings, increasing power consumption, heating the motor and reducing the range. For the differential motor of an electric tricycle, the gear oil should be replaced every six months.

III. Electric Vehicle Controller

The controller regulates motor speed and is the core of the electric system of the vehicle, handling energy management and signal processing. It provides functions such as power cut-off on braking, under-voltage protection, under-voltage recovery threshold setting and over-current protection. Keep the controller as dry as possible to prevent water ingress. It is made of small components, and a short circuit caused by water will burn it out. Also check that the connectors are firmly seated to avoid arcing from loose contact, which could cause a fire. When installing the controller, it is best to tin-weld the motor power wires and the main power line. Finally, make sure the brake power cut-off works so that the controller runs normally and with ease.

IV. Electric Vehicle Charger

Some details of charger use are easily overlooked. When charging, first connect the plug on the vehicle and then connect the 220V power supply. When finishing, first unplug the 220V supply and then disconnect the vehicle plug. Battery packs differ in size and chargers differ in power. The charger must match the battery: a big charger charging a small battery easily damages it, a small charger cannot fully charge a big battery, and chargers with mismatched polarity can get damaged. Best practice is a dedicated charger for a dedicated vehicle.

The four major parts each play a different role. As the owner of the vehicle, take good care of them so they serve you to the fullest. Only well maintained can they run well. Let the charger protect the battery, the battery fit the controller, and the controller guard the motor, and enjoy the speed and passion of your electric vehicle!