hi, today we’re talking about maintaining your e-bike battery’s health. There’s good news and bad news when it comes to battery care. The bad news is that e-bike batteries are made of lithium-ion cells, which naturally degrade over time. But the good news? There are some simple tips and tricks to help slow that degradation, allowing you to ride further, longer, and faster. Let’s go over these tips, and stay till the end because we’ll look at what happens when battery damage goes too far—it’s terrifying.
How Important Is Battery Care?
If you don’t take care of your e-bike battery properly, you’ll notice the effects over time, especially in two main ways:
- Loss of Capacity: Less capacity means less range, so you won’t be able to go as far on a single charge.
- Loss of Power: Less power impacts hill-climbing ability, speed, and overall performance.
Since range and power are two of the main reasons people buy e-bikes, keeping your battery healthy is crucial.
Tips for Charging Your E-Bike Battery
- Shallow Cycle Charging: Lithium-ion cells don’t suffer from memory issues, so you don’t need to drain your battery to zero before recharging. In fact, deep cycling can reduce battery longevity. Instead, top off the charge as needed for a longer-lasting battery.
- Remove Battery to Charge: Although there’s a charging port on the bike for quick top-ups, it’s best to remove the battery from the bike for full charging sessions.
- Plug Charger into Wall First: When charging, always plug the charger into the wall first and then into the battery.
- Avoid Fast Chargers: While it may be tempting to use a beefier charger for faster charging, this can be detrimental. Fast charging can harm the battery over time, so stick with the charger provided with your e-bike.
- Avoid Extended Charging: Charging for too long, even though batteries have safeguards, can degrade the battery with frequent overcharging. Stick to the recommended 4-6 hour charge time.
Temperature and Battery Health
- Cold Temperatures: Leaving your e-bike or battery in freezing temperatures can seriously damage it. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your battery. Bring it inside.
- Hot Temperatures: Batteries don’t like heat either. If you’re taking a break during a hot summer ride, park in the shade or take the battery inside if possible.
Long-Term Storage Tips
If you won’t be using your e-bike for a while, it’s important to store the battery correctly:
- Store Partially Charged: Batteries shouldn’t be stored fully charged or fully discharged. Aim for around 50% charge for longer-term storage.
- Check Every 3 Months: For winter storage or other long breaks, check the battery every 3 months to ensure it’s at the right charge level.
- Keep It Dry: Moisture is your battery’s enemy. Store it in a cool, dry place to prevent corrosion, which can cause irreversible damage.
The Risks of Neglecting Battery Care: Thermal Runaway
When batteries are severely damaged, they can go into a condition called thermal runaway. This situation causes extremely hot flames, toxic smoke, and in rare cases, shrapnel. While these events are incredibly rare, they can happen due to overcharging, improper care, or using an incorrect charger. Taking care of your battery significantly reduces the risk of such incidents.
By following these simple steps, you can extend the life of your e-bike battery, maintain its power, and reduce risks.
