Lee Hill
Are you facing problems with your electric bike? Do your bike batteries drain quickly or completely die under load? If all your answers start with a yes, then you should not skip this article.
Batteries are the lifeline of electric bikes. Their proper functioning is essential for your bike to run smoothly. This article will help you understand the proper technique for charging your e-bike batteries. When you are enjoying a ride next time, you won’t have to stop due to battery drainage.
How To Charge Electric Bike Batteries?
An e-bike comes with a battery pack that contains the battery inside. It also comes with a bay on the bike. It is where you can slot the charger to connect the battery to the bike. All types of batteries are easily removable for indoor charging.
Charging the bike battery works the same way as charging your mobile phone or laptop. Each bike is provided with a charger and a battery, fully charged in 4 to 6 hours. In addition to this, the batteries can be charged on or off the bikes.
The electric bike battery does not have to be completely discharged before recharging. A Lithium-ion battery has no memory and therefore can be charged at any time. It is perfectly fine to recharge the battery after a short ride.
It is done so that the battery is fully charged before the next ride. Charging your electric bike battery is no rocket science, but there are some methods and key factors that you can apply to help you get it right most of the time.
What is the Best Method for Charging an E-bike Battery?
Your electric bike battery typically costs about a third of the value of the entire bicycle. That is why it is essential to find a good quality one and take really good care of it.
You should charge an e-bike battery slowly if you are concerned about its life. The smaller the pack, the slower they like to be charged. If you are concerned about the battery life and want your bike batteries to last long, don’t buy a high Amp charger.
You need to stick with a low Amp charger. Or you can go with an advanced smart charger. It can charge slow or fast with the turn of a knob according to your need. It’s always good to charge your electric bike batteries slow unless you are in a rush.
Lithium batteries or other rechargeable batteries should never be left discharged. It is a good practice to recharge as soon as possible after the battery goes down.
You can charge it between each ride; that way, your electric bike is always ready for your next outing.
Some essential factors to keep in mind for charging your electric bike battery:
- Never charge at temperatures below 0 °C.
- Turn off the switch before charging.
- The battery can conveniently be charged on the bike or can be taken out.
- Always make sure the battery and charger are on a dry and clean surface. Keep them away from heat, humidity, and flammable materials.
- Keep the battery, and the charger uncovered while charging.
- Always use the charger given with the bike by the manufacturer.
- Even if not used, recharge your battery at least once a month.
How Long Will An Electric Bike Battery Last?
This is a subjective question. Generally, you can get between 25 and 70 miles of travel on a single charge of an electric bike. If you’re traveling on full power, expect less. You need to manage your battery life well, and you could get more.
Most batteries allow a minimum of 500 full charging cycles. Some batteries even go up to 1200 full cycles. A pedal-assist electric bike can be ridden by using a pedal or on batteries.
It will depend on the battery and how you ride the bike. However, you can expect the battery to last for 10,000 to 30,000 miles, which is a pretty long distance for a bike.
The total cost of replacing an electric battery can range between $500 and $800, depending on the battery pack’s size.
The type of battery determines an electric bike’s battery life. The most commonly used batteries are:
- Lead batteries: Expected around 300 cycles
- Lithium batteries: These may hold up to 1000 charge cycles
- Nickel batteries: These can be charged for around 500 cycles
When Is The Good Time To Charge The Battery?
You are not required to charge your battery after every ride. These are not like those old lead-acid packs. If you forget to charge them, you will lessen the life of your pack. These new lithium batteries only need to be charged when required.
Always charge your batteries when they are not too cold or too hot. You might not be able to feel it by touching it, but it does get warm after a long ride. You should leave it for 30 minutes or so till it is back to room temperature.
Charge your batteries so that it is not left plugged in even after it is charged for hours. So, if you commute in the morning, either charge your bike battery to 80% the night before or that early morning. You can double your battery’s cycle life if it is charged only 80% of its full capacity.
Where To Charge Your Electric Bike?
Electric bike batteries are charged using a mains outlet. Hence, you can recharge the battery anywhere. All you will need is to have access to an outlet.
The most common and simple method for charging an electric bike on-the-go is to bring along a charger and find a common wall outlet to plug-in. All the other options are less common. Some of them include purposely built electric bike charging stations, solar panel charging, and using a car to charge your battery.
You may think it would be better to have the largest battery possible for more capacity and less need for on-the-go charging. But, with more capacity come more weight and a much higher cost.
Batteries already comprise a large part of the price of most electric bikes. If your typical daily use doesn’t need an extra-large battery, then the cost and extra weight will not be worth it.
All lithium batteries come with a potential fire risk. They should be charged in a safe place. Outside is preferable or in the middle of a garage floor. Do not attempt to charge a battery you think might be damaged.
Never charge a lithium battery unmonitored inside a closed space like a house or any building. These two things must be kept in mind while using e-bike batteries. Always buy them from a trustworthy vendor, and charge them with care and extreme caution.
Final Thoughts
While out on the road, you will never like your e-bike battery to drain mid-way. Hence to ensure its longevity take care of the battery like the way you care for your bike. Charge it when necessary and abide by the methods and rules mentioned above. If you consider these things, you will never regret owning an e-bike.
