Watt-hours (Wh)

Watt-hours (Wh) measure energy. The US Energy Information Administration defines one watt-hour as one watt of power used for one hour. Battery labels use Wh to describe nominal stored energy, which helps you compare capacity across packs.

What does 500 Wh mean?

A hypothetical 500 Wh energy supply could deliver a steady 100 W for 5 hours in an ideal calculation: 500 ÷ 100 = 5. A scooter’s available battery energy and changing power draw make actual runtime different. A label’s nominal energy isn’t a guarantee of usable energy at the motor or distance on the road.

To estimate range, divide usable Wh by consumption in Wh per mile or Wh per kilometer. For example, 400 usable Wh divided by an assumed 20 Wh/mile gives 20 miles (32.2 km). Those are example inputs, not a battery test.

How are watts different?

Watts (W) describe the rate of energy use. Watt-hours describe an amount of energy. A 500 W motor rating and a 500 Wh battery label answer different questions; matching numbers don’t promise an hour of riding because motor draw changes.

For an electricity bill, divide Wh by 1,000 to get kilowatt-hours. Charging losses mean energy bought at the wall can exceed the energy added to a battery. Our electric scooter cost per mile guide shows how to keep those quantities separate in a charging estimate.

Definition and calculations checked November 1, 2026. Enter your pack’s Wh in the Battery Charging Cost Calculator to estimate the next charge.