Lee Hill
Does your electric bike battery fail to hold the charge and might need a replacement? Would you like to change your e-bike batteries on your own but have never done it before? Our e-bike battery replacement guide will help you through the process.
According to a market overview, in 2017, the electric bike market size was at 16 billion. It suggests that between 2018-2025, the market will grow at a CAGR of 4.9% and may reach 24 billion by the end of 2025.
Buying an electric bike is the start of a long association for every owner. Taking proper care of the electric bike battery is essential. Like every other part, an electric bike battery can only last so long.
With long-term use, batteries lose their efficiency. Changing a battery doesn’t require much skill, but even a simple task like this can seem daunting without proper knowledge.
It would be beneficial to refer to an e-bike battery replacement guide. This article provides a detailed guide to help you through the process.
E-Bike Battery Replacement Guide: A Deep Study
When Should you Replace Your E-bike Battery?
Deciding whether or not your electric bike batteries need replacement can be confusing. You can take it to the nearest repair shop so that they can perform a series of tests to make sure that your e-bike batteries are working correctly or not.
Several signs point to deteriorating battery life, such as loss of mileage, slow charging, external damage to the battery, etc. If your electric bike battery is having any of these problems, it needs a battery replacement. Let’s discuss these indicators one by one.
Lower Mileage
One of the most apparent signs of a faulty battery is reduced mile range than before on a single full charge. Everything has a lifetime. No matter how good care you provide, your electric bike battery would need a change after the completion of its lifetime.
Fails to hold a charge
If your electric bike battery fails to hold a charge or doesn’t charge at all, there is a high chance that you would need a replacement. Suppose an electric bike battery is completely discharged and left without charging for some days.
There is a possibility that your electric bike battery may be dead. You can take it to a bike shop and ask them to check it, but if your e-bike battery is completely dead, there is not much they can do.
External Damage
Traveling on rough terrain can lead to external damage to your e-bike batteries. Falling of the electric bike can also result in some physical damage to the battery case or shorted cables. In case there is physical damage to your electric bike battery, you should replace it as soon as possible.
Other Signs To Look For
There are several other ways to determine if your e-bike battery needs a replacement or not. If the battery seems swollen to you, then traveling with it can cause serious harm to you and your electric bike.
Look out for overheating, as it might be due to a short circuit. A foul smell from the battery often means something is wrong with it.
Essential Parameters To Look For In A Replacement Battery for E-Bike
Type
Battery type is the first important factor to consider while choosing a replacement battery for an e-bike. There are mainly three types of batteries used in electric bikes- Lead Acid, Nickel Cadmium, and Lithium-Ion batteries.
The lead-acid batteries are cheap and have a lower life. The nickel-cadmium battery is slightly costly than lead-acid and also has a better life.
The most popular and commonly used electric bike battery is the lithium-ion battery. It is expensive but offers a long-lasting life of more than 1000 charge cycles.
Size And Capacity
The size of an electric bike refers to the width and length of the battery. It would be best to measure your old electric bike battery and search for one that matches the measurement.
The battery capacity is responsible for the maximum range it offers. Amp-hours or Ah indicates the battery capacity. Try to buy a battery with at least the same power as your old one.
Charge Cycle
As mentioned above, the charge cycle is the way to determine battery life. Since batteries are the most costly part of an electric bike, you would want a battery that lasts long. Try to find a bike battery with large charge cycles.
Quality And Manufacturer
With the market is flooding with electric bikes, several new companies are venturing into the manufacturing of e-bike parts.
Some companies offer budget-friendly battery options, but they may or may not be reliable or safe. It is advised for your safety to buy a replacement battery for an e-bike from the same manufacturer as your electric bike.
How To Choose Electric Bike Batteries?
While choosing an electric bike battery mostly depends upon your budget and the type of battery you need, you should buy the replacement battery for an e-bike from the same manufacturer as your electric bike. Buying from the same brand as your electric bike means installing the battery will be easy, and you would get a better performing battery.
Procedure To Change E-Bike Batteries
Electric bikes vary in design. Therefore, there is no particular way to replace batteries on all electric bikes.
However, we provide a general process of e-bike battery replacement of removal and replacement of batteries that work on most electric bike models.
- First, you need to remove the battery from the frame of the electric bike. Most of the time, a key removes the battery from the electric bike. However, you can always unfasten the bolts and remove the battery kit.
- Remove all the wires that connect the battery to the motor.
- Once removed safely, reverse the process to install the new battery and secure it into place on the electric bike frame.
- Make sure to connect all the plugs for proper functioning.
- Lock the battery securely with the bolts, and you are all done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an electric bike battery last?
Charge cycles define the life of an electric bike. A full charge cycle means charging the battery from 0 to 100%. Most electric bike batteries can last up to several hundred charges. It varies in different battery types and from company to company.
On an ideal, your electric bike battery should last about 3 to 5 years. After that, the efficiency of the battery decreases. Proper care of a bike battery can increase its life. A lithium-ion battery has 1000 or more charge cycles. Nickel batteries can provide up to 500 cycles, with the lead battery being the lowest at around 300 charge cycles.
How do I know when to change my bike batteries?
While there are several indicators for a faulty battery, having a shorter range than before is the most obvious. Whenever you feel like your electric bike is not offering the same mileage as before, it is best to have your electric bike battery checked. Some other important signs that point to a less performing battery are overheating foul smell and failure to hold a charge.
The short-range and dead battery is not that big of a concern, but if the battery is overheating or having a horrible smell. It is risky to continue using that battery. It is advised to every electric bike owner to change the-bike batteries around every 3-4 years. With the help of our e-bike battery replacement guide, you can change your e-bike batteries on your own.
Can I put a bigger battery on my electric bike?
Yes, you can put a bigger battery on your electric bike, but how much beneficial it would depend on your electric bike and your electric bike battery’s specification.
By putting in a bigger battery, you want to increase the battery life and capacity it offers. It is not the battery’s size that matters, but the volt and ampere it provides is responsible for the maximum distance an electric bike can travel.
How to care for electric bike batteries?
Proper care of electric bike batteries can result in longer life and better performance. With costing about one-third to half the entire e-bike’s value, taking adequate care of the electric bike battery is extremely important. Ensure that it doesn’t fall off the-bike; that can lead to a lot of damage.
One of the most critical factors that most people get wrong is charging an electric bike battery. Proper charging can enhance battery life significantly.
Conclusion
Being a machinery part, no matter how much good care you provide to your e-bike battery. Sooner or later, your e-bike batteries need replacement. Instead of wasting money on bike shops to replace batteries, it would be best to do it yourself. The process of battery replacement is easy enough, and with an e-bike battery replacement guide, things are much more straightforward.
