Common E-bike Battery Problems and How to Fix Them
There’s nothing worse than having to spend hundreds or thousands on an eBike only to have problems with its battery. Don’t get me wrong; e-bike batteries are built to last. but they’re still prone to failure if they aren’t adequately taken care of during their lifetime.
What happens if your battery fails?
Well, in this article, I’ve covered some most common eBike battery problems and how to fix them. So, if you’d like to know more. keep scrolling!
Ebike Battery Problems
When it comes to eBike troubleshooting, there are a couple of things that might be causing your battery problems, including:
- eBike battery pack swelling
- eBike battery not charging
- eBike battery not running for very long
- eBike battery pack not holding a charge
- eBike not turning on
- eBike not speeding up
Don’t worry, though. I’ll walk you through each one here!
eBike Battery Pack Swelling
If your eBike battery pack is swelling up, well, you likely have a pretty serious problem with one. or more. of the lithium-ion cells.
Some electric bike models use flat pack cells. and these are known to swell if they suffer some damage. On the other hand, the 18650 lithium-ion cells are far more resistant to swelling and, in turn, more reliable.
If you notice that your eBike’s battery pack has a bulge in it, be sure you turn off the power and carefully remove the battery from your eBike. It’s a good idea to recycle the battery; most cities have a place where you can do this.
Now, some eBike battery packs are positioned inside the bike’s frame. That makes it somewhat harder to notice if you have a swollen battery pack.
The only way to check if the battery is swollen is to drop the lower plate and take out the battery pack. Note that you’ll have to disconnect some cables before you do this.
eBike Battery Not Charging
If your battery isn’t charging, start by checking the following:
- Is the power turned on at the outlet?
- Is the charger working and outputting over 36 Volts?
- Is the battery hot?
- Is the battery charger port full of dirt?
- Has the battery been left discharged for several months?
- Has the fuse blown in either the eBike battery pack or the charger?
eBike Battery Not Running For Very Long
Lithium-ion batteries generally have a life of 700 charge cycles. They usually tend to lose full charge capacity over this mark.
That is entirely normal. and will, unfortunately, only get worse as time goes on.
Still, if you’re charging your bike every few days, you should be able to get many years out of your electric bike before you begin to notice the capacity of your battery is starting to degrade.
If you notice your eBike battery isn’t running as long as it used to, check the following:
- Is the battery pack being charged to 100%?
- Do you have a dragging of a disc brake?
- Is the terrain uphill?
- Are you assisting your battery by peddling?
- Are your eBike’s wheel bearings freely spinning?
- Do you have a short circuit in the battery, wiring, or motor?
Any of the scenarios mentioned above could lead to your battery discharging rather quickly.
eBike Battery Pack Not Holding A Charge
Lithium-ion batteries are good at holding a charge. However, like any other type of battery, they will slowly discharge over time.
If your eBike hasn’t been charged for a more extended period, it would be a good idea to give it a top-up. and see how it goes.
If you notice that you’re charging your battery, but it still discharges quickly without being used, you might have a short circuit somewhere or a faulty battery at your hands.
Here’s a quick test that can detect the problem:
Remove the battery pack from your eBike and charge it up on a bench. Once it’s fully charged, test the battery by leaving it off the bike.
If it holds a charge, the issue will be your electric bike. most likely a short circuit in the bike’s wiring or the motor. However, if it doesn’t hold the charge, your lithium-ion cell is faulty.
How Do I Know If My Bike’s Battery Is Charged?
Your battery charger will probably feature a LED light indicator that changes states depending on the bike’s battery level. It’ll go from red to green when the battery is fully charged in most cases.
However, in some chargers, the LED light will turn off completely when the battery is charged.
Either way, the point remains the same. you’ll have a way to track the progress while charging the battery.
Remember not to leave the battery pack on the charger longer than 24 hours, though.
Lithium-ion batteries don’t prefer being left on the charger. In the short term, this won’t hurt. but after a while, the battery’s capacity will go down.
You’ll also have an indicator of the battery’s current level on the battery pack itself or the speed controller. Some will use a 0-100% range, while others have a series of LED lights, depending on the model.
eBike Not Turning On
Let’s start with the obvious solution:
If your e-bike isn’t turning on, be sure to check if the main switch is in the “On” position.
Next, check the fuse for the battery pack. This fuse is usually located on the side and could blow up because of short circuits, vibrations, over-current, or old age.
If the fuse is in good condition and the battery pack is fully charged, check if the speed controller is in good condition, as well. The speed controller is the component that sends signals to turn on the battery pack.
These speed controllers could malfunction if damaged. either by dropping your bike or allowing water to get into them.
Hold the bike’s “On” button for about 10 seconds to force the speed controller to turn on. Some speed controllers are turned on by pressing the “M” button. Again, it depends on the e-bike model you have.
Be sure to check that your battery pack has at least two bars of power. An extremely low battery power level can lead to your electric bike not turning on, by the way.
Another thing to check here is that the electrical cables are correctly connected. Sometimes, the dirt roads can dislodge the cable connections; this is often the case with mountain electric bikes.
Water can find its way into these connections, too. Pull them apart and ensure the connection is tight.
eBike Not Speeding Up
There are numerous reasons why your electric bike isn’t speeding up.
often than not, the feedback magnets. positioned on the pedal crank or the rear wheel hub. for the proximity switch get dirty. Clean them with a rag, and you should be good to go.
This common eBike battery issue is often wrongly diagnosed.
Most quality electric bikes feature a switch on the back and front brakes to stop the drive motor. In some cases, these switches can get stuck. leading to their failure. Activate both brake levers a couple of times to try and free up the switch.
To check the limit switch, though, you might have to remove the whole rear or front brake lever. That’s another reason why you should avoid leaving your eBike out in the rain.
Also, while it might sound obvious, be sure to check if you’re in the proper mode. for example, pedal-assist, throttle-only, or pedal-only. I’ve sometimes found myself in the wrong mode, and I couldn’t figure out why my eBike isn’t speeding up.
There is typically a minimum speed that will activate the drive motor. That is just a safety feature. and it’s usually around 1.8 mph.
What Speed Are eBikes Limited To?
eBikes are limited to 25 km/h. or 15.5 mph. to conform to the majority of road rules around the globe. Once the motor reaches this speed limit, it will stop providing power further.
Of course, you can still pedal faster than 25 km/h, but you won’t get any assistance from the main motor.
Once the speed controller recognizes that you’re under 25 km/h, the battery management system will again supply power to the main motor. That is a standard component on most electric bikes. and, again, its role is to ensure that you conform to road rules.
Is 250Watts Enough For An eBike?
In most standard cases of use, 250W is more than enough power for you to ride your eBike on asphalt or dirt roads casually. A 250W drive motor is usually limited to 15 mph and can handle up to 240 pounds in rider weight.
If that doesn’t sound impressive, remember that you can always assist the main drive motor by pedaling.
You can always upgrade your bike with a Bafang conversion kit, though!
Conclusion
We can agree that e-bikes have come a long way since their first appearance. Granted, battery problems can occasionally happen, but most can be solved easily and quickly.
Hopefully, the tips I’ve outlined above will help you keep your eBike running fast. and for a long time. And remember:
The most significant danger to batteries of eBikes is excessive heat and low voltage. Make sure you keep your eBike battery topped up. and it will last for a very long time.
E-bike Battery Not Charging – What To Do
E-bikes are still bikes without a working battery, but they’re heavy and clunky. If your battery isn’t charging, you’ll be forced to pedal a big bike on your own, pushing your weight, the weight of the motor, and the weight of the extra-thick frame and larger tires. Let’s take a look at how you can fix this issue!
If your e-bike battery isn’t charging, it can be due to electricity not flowing to the battery, a switch on the charger, a faulty charger or charging port, or an issue with the battery itself. Many issues can be corrected, but some may require you to replace your charger or battery.
In this post, we will go into some of the more common issues that can affect your battery’s ability to charge. In many cases, following a set of basic troubleshooting tasks can save you a lot of money and restore your battery to working order, fast.
Possible Problem #1: Electricity From The Outlet
If you’ve got your bike plugged into an outlet that’s not supplying electricity, it won’t charge. Most modern battery chargers have LEDs in them that let you know that they’re plugged in properly, but it’s easy to forget to check these.
Before you do anything else, take a few seconds and verify that your wall socket is delivering normal power. Does the charger’s light turn on when it’s plugged in? When you plug in a light, vacuum cleaner, or another electrical device, does it work normally? Is the outlet on a switch?
This issue seems basic, but you might be surprised how many technical issues are caused by simple human forgetfulness. It’s definitely worth the time to verify that your outlet works with other devices before you move forward.
If your outlet is causing problems, switch to a different one and enjoy your working battery.
Possible Problem #2: Switches
Many batteries and some chargers have switches built into them that perform different things. In some cases, having one of these in the wrong position will stop your battery from charging.
The most common cause of this issue is that you’ve got a charger that was built for use in different countries. These chargers usually have a switch that allows them to toggle between US electricity and rest-of-the-world electricity. If this toggle is on the wrong mode, your charger won’t work properly.
Be sure to take a moment to check that this is accurate before you move too far into your troubleshooting process.
Some batteries also have built-in switches. Consult the manual for your battery to determine if your battery should be on or off when it’s being charged. If it’s not working in one position, it’s probably worth plugging it in for a few seconds in the other position and seeing if your charger’s status flips to ‘charging.’
Finally, check any power strips or extension cords in between the wall and your charger to make sure they are receiving electricity. Again, this seems like a very basic check, but it’s definitely one that will fix charging issues for a surprisingly large number of people.
Possible Problem #3: Bad Charging Port
Almost every e-bike has a battery that can be charged while it’s still plugged into the bike. This time-saving feature is great, but it also adds an additional point of failure. Sometimes, the wiring between your bike’s charging port and your battery develops an issue that prevents your battery from charging.
If your battery won’t charge, remove it from the bike and try charging it again. If it starts charging, there’s a good chance that your charging port is the cause of your trouble. Either charge the battery outside of the bike from now on or take your bike into a specialist shop and have them look at your charging port.
Possible Problem #4: Bad Charger
Chargers are fairly complicated bits of electronics that have internal sensors and logic gates that detect when your battery is fully charged, allowing them to shut off before they damage your battery. They also tend to get very hot when they’re in use, which can lead to problems.
In some cases, your charger might think your battery is full, even if it’s almost out of power. In other cases, the internal wiring might be damaged in a way that prevents power from flowing to your battery.
If your charger turns out to be the issue, replacing it is your best bet. It’s almost never worth the effort to repair a charger instead of just buying a new one.
There are a couple of ways to test your charger, but the simplest is to try your battery with a different charger. Try borrowing a charger from a friend, from a similar appliance (be sure to check the voltage), or take your battery and charger to a speciality shop and have them test these critical components.
If you can’t do this, you can use a multimeter to read the voltage coming out of your charger. In general, having a number that’s a bit higher than the nominal voltage of your battery suggests that things are working correctly.
If you get a number that’s in the right ballpark but low, your battery isn’t currently charged, meaning that the issue you’re having might stem from another component. If you get a number that’s very close to zero, your battery has failed, either by being fully discharged or as a result of another issue.
If you get a number that doesn’t make any sense, take a moment to check what mode you have your multimeter on. There’s a very good chance that it’s not voltage.
If your charger turns out to be the issue, replacing it is your best bet. It’s almost never worth the effort to repair a charger instead of just buying a new one.
Possible Problem #5: Fully Discharged Battery
Lithium batteries are designed to hold a small amount of power at all times. Your battery will stop working if it runs all the way down to zero power. The bad news is that it’s tough to get a battery working again after it hits this fully discharged state.
There are a number of resources on the internet that suggest that you can “jump-start” a fully discharged battery by briefly charging it with a high voltage charger (like one for a bigger battery) or through the discharge port.
Before you blindly jump into this sort of thing, remember that lithium batteries can and will light on fire if they’re used improperly. Battery fires are very dangerous and difficult to put out.
If you’re very confident that your battery is fully discharged (you drained the power and let it sit for a couple of weeks in the cold, for example), you have a voltmeter a high voltage charger you can use already, and you’re sure that you know what you’re doing, it might be worth investigating these methods.
If there’s any doubt, however, you should definitely err on the side of caution and leave this sort of thing to a professional.
Possible Problem #6: Failing Battery
Batteries are made up of banks of individual cells. These cells are managed by a small circuit board called a BMS, or battery management system. In some cases, the BMS in your battery will cause unwanted behavior or prevent it from charging altogether.
The good news is that this is the BMS’ job. It’s usually doing what the manufacturer set it up to do. The individual cells in your battery will fail at different rates, and when one of them fails, the BMS will have to prevent power from going in and out of that failing cell.
If enough of your battery’s cells experience enough problems, the BMS will stop your battery from working altogether. This is exactly what it’s designed to do, as it keeps you and your bike safe.
If enough of your battery’s cells experience enough problems, the BMS will stop your battery from working altogether. This is exactly what it’s designed to do, as it keeps you and your bike safe.
Your BMS isn’t perfect, however, and it’s not unheard of for these devices to fail even when the cells in your battery are totally fine. Your BMS might be malfunctioning in a number of ways as a result of damage from heat, faulty wiring, or an unfortunate short.
Batteries aren’t meant to be disassembled, especially by consumers. Even if you opened up your battery and tested the components with electrical equipment, replacing a component like a BMS or a bad cell is currently difficult and expensive. It’s not easy or cheap to get your hands on replacement parts.
On top of that, batteries are dangerous. Without the proper expertise and training, it’s all too easy to start an electrical fire that’s dangerous and difficult to put out. Because of that, it’s best to simply replace a failing battery or give it to a professional to fix rather than trying to fix it yourself.
Currently, most professionals currently suggest just buying a new battery instead of trying to repair things at all. If your battery isn’t charging and you’ve tested the charger and the charging port, the battery is probably the issue.
If your battery was stored at a fairly high level of power and you don’t think you fully drained it, it’s likely that a cell or the BMS is the issue. This means you should probably look at replacing your battery.
Conclusion
In summary, if your battery isn’t charging properly, it can be worth doing a small bit of troubleshooting before replacing it. Sometimes it can be an issue with the power outlet or the charger rather than the battery, but there are times when, unfortunately, it is the battery, in which case you may have to replace it.
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How to Extend the Life of Your E-Bike Battery
Today’s eco-friendly e-bikes are suitable for everything from exercise to commuting. E-bikes are easy to park, reduce your carbon footprint. and give you a great view of your surroundings. They’re fun in the city and on the trails.
As the price of lithium-ion e-batteries comes down, so does the cost of electric bikes. Technology continues to advance. Quality e-bikes are more affordable than before for people at all income levels.
Most electric bike manufacturers use long-life lithium e-bike batteries. They’re a significant improvement over previous battery types. Lithium electric bicycle batteries are compact and lightweight. That means electric bikes don’t weigh as much. The batteries operate in a variety of temperatures. This means cyclists can ride their electric bikes in more situations throughout the year.
The self-discharge rate is low, usually around 5% per month. Lithium batteries are non-toxic and can be recycled. With proper care, the cycle life can be as high as 1,000 cycles.
Make sure your bike is ready for your next adventure with the following tips for e-bike battery maintenance and care. Follow these guidelines to extend your electric bicycle battery life and running time.
Properly Charge Your E-Bike Batteries
If you fully discharge a lithium battery, it reduces its ability to hold a charge. That results in a diminished capacity. It’s best to keep a lithium battery charged. Plug it in after a ride, even if you’ve only gone a few miles. If you do empty the entire charge on a battery, you should recharge it as soon as you can.
Use the Charger Provided
Don’t mix and match chargers. Only use the charger that came with your e-bike or conversion kit. It’s possible to cause an explosion and fire by using the wrong charger.
Fully Charge Your Battery Before Your First Ride
When you get a new e-bike or conversion kit, fully charge the battery before your first ride. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual. A full charge may take four to eight hours.
Create a Safe Charging Station
As mentioned above, there’s a risk of fire with all large lithium batteries. It’s Smart to designate a safe place to charge your e-bike batteries. Outside or in the center of an empty garage floor are two good options. Make sure the location is dry.
Here are some specifics regarding e-bike battery maintenance :
- It’s worth repeating: use the charger that came with your bike battery.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby that works on battery fires in case of emergency.
- Pay attention to how long the battery is on the charger. Smart chargers sense when the charge is complete and turn off. As a backup, unplug the charger when you aren’t using it.
- If your charger isn’t a Smart charger, pay close attention to the time while it’s charging. Unplug it when the charge is complete.
- You can’t go wrong with charging the battery after each use.
- If you store the battery for several months, charge it once each month when it’s not in use.
- Turn off the e-bike after every use. If the power switch stays on and the battery hasn’t been charged in a while, it may fail. Some battery systems have auto-shutoff features to prevent over-discharging and extend the electric bicycle battery life.
Never charge a battery if you think it’s damaged. Never charge it unsupervised inside a building. Always buy your battery from a reliable vendor and charge with care.
Don’t Regularly Fully Discharge Your Battery
As mentioned earlier, you shouldn’t fully discharge your e-bike batteries on a regular basis. Discharging lithium-ion batteries to 0% is harmful. The batteries don’t have a charge memory.
Shallow discharges and recharges are better. They don’t add stress to the battery, which makes the battery last longer. Use partial discharges with regular top-ups to extend battery life. When your battery reaches 50%, top it off with a charge.
It’s okay if your battery fully discharges once in a while. But, it’s best to charge it every few rides to avoid 100% discharge.
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Read the Owner’s Manual
The best tip for effective e-bike battery maintenance is to read your owner’s manual. Don’t assume you can figure it out. There are some dangers with lithium-ion e-bike batteries. They’re flammable if used incorrectly or paired with the wrong charger.
Following the manual recommendations means your battery will last longer. Electric bicycle battery life is calculated in charge cycles. It’s based on the number of full charges (from zero to 100%) the battery can undergo before losing effectiveness.
Lithium-ion electric bike batteries hold an average charge for 30 miles. When maintained, the battery lifespan is up to 1,000 full charges from a dead to a fully charged battery. The manufacturer specifies the maximum number of charge cycles. It refers to the number of recharging cycles a battery can go through without losing efficiency.
After reaching the specified number of cycles, expect a reduction in performance. The battery won’t hold a charge as long. At this point, you can decide if a replacement battery is needed. An electric bike battery usually becomes less efficient after three to five years of regular use.
You need to understand your battery and charger. Read the owner’s manual and any warning stickers on your battery or bike. Ask the manufacturer or your local bike dealer if you have any questions.
Create the Best Environment for Your Battery
Try not to expose your e-bike batteries to high heat, sub-freezing temperatures, water, or high humidity. Avoid shock, vibration, and punctures. The better the environment, the longer your battery will perform at capacity.
Stay Away from Extreme Temperatures
Extreme hot or cold temperatures will hurt performance. Lithium batteries like cooler temperatures. If you want to extend your electric bicycle battery life. don’t let it get hot. Warm is alright, but hot to the touch is bad.
The recommended temperatures for storing your batteries are between 32℉ and 77℉. Extreme temperatures, over 104℉, should be avoided. The lithium powder inside the battery cells loses electrical resistance when it heats up. Warmer temps make the battery discharge faster. You’ll have to charge it more often.
Cooler temps are better. Your battery will last longer. That’s because the lithium powder increases resistance in colder conditions. Maybe you’ve heard recommendations to store camera batteries made of lithium in the refrigerator. Manufacturers advise this to prolong the life of the battery.
Storing an e-bike battery in the fridge is hard. Instead, keep it in as cold a place as you can. But, remember to warm the battery to room temperature before you charge it. If you charge a frozen battery, it can damage it.
Keep the Battery Dry
Store your bike in a dry location. Don’t forget to consider humidity. Humidity isn’t good for any electrical device. Check the contacts on the battery every couple of months. Make sure they are clean and dry. If you find corrosion, remove it with an emery cloth.
Long-Term Bike Battery Storage
If you won’t use your e-bike for a few months, make a plan for storing your bike and e-bike batteries in a safe manner. First, choose a fire-safe location for storage.
A lithium battery will self-discharge, or go flat, at the fastest rate when it’s fully charged. It discharges at a much lower rate when it’s almost flat. Over a long period, the battery loses the least capacity if it’s partially discharged.
Yet, you don’t want to leave the battery almost flat. That isn’t good for it either. Try to store it with a charge between 40% and 80%. This charge amount reduces the loss of capacity over time while preserving the battery.
What does this mean for storage purposes? If you have a Smart charger, charge to 80%. If not, you can estimate the charge. Ride your bike for about 20% to 60% of a full-charge distance or time. Then, store the battery in a cold place. If possible, give the battery a short charge every four to six weeks.
If it’s not convenient to check that often, you can examine the battery every three months. Check the charge level and recharge to top it off if needed.
Don’t Ever Open Your Bike Battery
There is never a reason to open your e-bike batteries. Don’t try to examine them. Don’t try to repair them.
The lithium powder in lithium-ion batteries is combustible. It will explode on contact with oxygen. You could start a fire or hurt yourself and others. Don’t do it.
If you think your battery is faulty, contact a professional. Return it so it can be tested, repaired, and replaced. It is not worth the risk to open the battery yourself.
Get E-Battery Advice from the Experts
Now you know correct e-bike battery maintenance and storage increases the lifespan of a quality battery. Proper care of a lithium-ion battery makes it last three to five years. A neglected battery can be ruined in one season or less.
Here’s one final tip for maintaining your e-battery. Always buy a quality battery from someone you trust. If you need help choosing an e-bike battery. contact us at Leeds Bikes.
We have everything from electric bike parts to conversion kits. If you’re looking for a new way to commute to work or want a healthier lifestyle, we’re here to help. Visit our website to learn more about electric bikes.