Your e-bike battery has an important job. It is your ‘fuel tank’.
The power that it helps provide is what makes riding an e-bike such a unique and pleasurable riding experience. It is also the single most expensive component on your electric bike so it pays to take good care of it. Here are some tips on how to get the best life from it.
About E-Bike Batteries
E-Bike batteries are made from lithium ion, the same substance as your phone or laptop battery. This is currently the highest density energy source available (and the lightest) and there is all sorts of amazing chemistry and electronics at work to provide you with your extra oomph.
Tips for Maximising E-Bike Battery Life
As your battery ages its capacity will reduce (and therefore your riding range).
Here are some tips on how to take good care of it to get the best life out of it.
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Do not drop your battery. This may damage the cells. If a battery case shows sign of damage or tampering a manufacturer will declare that it is not safe to use and you will need to source a replacement.
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Keep topping up the charge rather than fully depleting each time you ride. Bosch recommend an ideal charging level for a battery is between 30% and 60%.
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Store your battery somewhere dry and weatherproof, ideally above 15 degrees celsius.
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Store a battery at approx 60% full during long periods of non-use eg. If you are going away on holiday. You want to top it up for two hours every eight to twelve weeks.
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Only use the charger supplied with the bike or a replacement from the bike manufacturer. Using the incorrect charger is dangerous and could damage the battery or cause fire.
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Do not use a high-pressure hose on your ebike, especially around the battery terminals, and do not ride your ebike through deep water.
E-Bikes and Australia's Summer
Have you ever left your iphone on the dash of your car in summer? It shuts down, right. That because the cells overheat and the system turns itself off.
E-bike batteries are the same. If you leave your bike parked somewhere in direct sunlight when it is really hot then you run the risk of your bike not turning on when you go to use it.
We address why this happens in this article:
If you are looking for more handy info on looking after and using your ebike see this articles also:
- Key ride safety checks to do before you ride your ebike
- How to avoid flat tires on an electric bike
- E-Bikes and the rain: 5 do's and don'ts
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