Introduction: Electric Bike (Ebike) Range Calculator
One of the most common questions we get is how to calculate the geographic range of an electric bike. Basically,
- How far will my ebike go before it runs out of battery power?
- What is the range of my ebike?
- How far can I go per charge?
There are many factors that affect an electric bike’s range, including the type of bike you’re riding, as well as the battery capacity, terrain, and the level of pedaling effort you as the rider put in.
If you have a Bosch motor system, then you should probably use the Bosch ebike distance calculator. But for all other ebikes, our Range Calculator is the most sophisticated online today.
The truth is that most ebikes come with a Bafang motor system or its equivalent, since they are the largest ebike motor manufacturer in the world, and have an exceptional reputation. Our ebike range calculator has been designed based on the performance of the Bafang electric bike system.
For a more precise estimate of electric bike range, we have developed a detailed ebike range calculator which has 16 Separate Inputs and Over 100 Variants. Try it now, and start keeping track of your actual range to help us refine the system. If you want to learn all the details about how far electric bikes can go, and how to get the most range from your ebike battery, skip the calculator and continue reading the rest of this article.
Average speed for the duration of your ride, including regular pedaling and use of pedal assist and throttle.
Amount of pedal power you supply to reach the average speed. 0 = Throttle Only, 9 = Eco Mode.
- 0 Throttle Only
- 2 Turbo Mode
- 4 Sport Mode
- 6 Tour Mode
- 9 Eco Mode
Total weigh including bike, battery, rider, and any cargo you are carrying on the bike or in a trailer.
- 100 lbs
- 125 lbs
- 150 lbs
- 175 lbs
- 200 lbs
- 225 lbs
- 250 lbs
- 300 lbs
- 325 lbs
On average, how many times do you make one full rotation per minute when pedaling?
- 10 rpm
- 20 rpm
- 30 rpm
- 40 rpm
- 50 rpm
- 60 rpm
- 70 rpm
- 80 rpm
- 90 rpm
- 100 rpm
- 110 rpm
- 120 rpm
Where is the motor located on your electric bike?
NOMINAL MOTOR OUTPUT (Watts)
What is the nominal motor output rating of your ebike? For dual drives, enter the combined total wattage.
What is the voltage of your electric bike system?
BATTERY CAPACITY (Amp-Hours)
What is the capacity of your ebike battery, as measured in Amp-Hours (Ah)?
- 8.0 Ah
- 10.4 Ah
- 11.6 Ah
- 14.0 Ah
- 16.0 Ah
- 20.0 Ah
- 25.0 Ah
What style of electric bike are you riding?
Select the tire tread that most closely resembles that of the tires on your electric bike.
NUMBER OF MECHANICAL GEARS
Select the mechanical gear system on your ebike.
- SINGLE SPEED
- 3-SPEED
- 5-SPEED
- 7-SPEED
- 9-SPEED
- 10-SPEED
- 14-SPEED
- 15-SPEED
- 21-SPEED
- 27-SPEED
Select the mechanical gear system on your ebike.
Select the terrain that best describes the average terrain for your ride.
Select which best describes the suface conditions you will encounter most on your ride.
- SMOOTH ASPHALT
- UNIFORM GRAVEL
- ROUGH GRAVEL / ROCKY
- HEAVILY RUTTED
- SAND OR SNOW
Which best describes the weather conditions you will encounter during your ride?
How often stop completely, and start from a standing position? Level 1 = Rarely, Level 5 = Frequently
- NO STOPS
- A FEW STOPS
- SOME STOPS
- LOTS OF STOPS
- CITY TRAFFIC
Ebike Battery Myth Busting
First, a little electric bike battery myth busting is in order. Every ebike manufacturer should provide detailed specifications for the battery and every other component on the models they bring to market. Many will also provide estimated ranges, but rarely indicate how these range estimates were derived. That is why we built this calculator, so that you could get a fairly precise range based on your ebike specifications and riding conditions.
Estimated ranges provided by ebike brands aren’t based on rigorous testing
Next, let’s dismiss another obvious falsehood. All ebikes can be ridden like conventional bikes, simply by pedaling and using the standard gears. If the electric vehicle you’re looking at does not have operable pedals, it’s not an electric bike.
If you ride your ebike with the electronics turned off, there is no loss of battery charge. And if you ride your ebike without turning on electronics, there is no drag or resistance from the turned-off ebike motor.
There is no drag or resistance from the turned-off motor
That being said, ebikes do tend to be heavier than standard bikes, due to the added weight of the motor, battery and controller. But there are also lightweight ebikes that fold up and are highly portable.
The lithium-ion battery is the fuel tank for your ebike, not unlike the batteries that power your cell phone and laptop computer. In the olden days a few years ago, some legacy ebike brands would use sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries on their ebikes.
You can still find these types of batteries in cars and on mobility scooters. But with improvements in battery technology, the denser and more energy efficient lithium-ion battery has been adopted as the standard for all ebikes. These batteries will vary in their chemistry, as well as their operating voltage and capacity. Do not get a bike that does not have a lithium battery pack. Find out more about electric bike batteries at our Ebike Battery FAQ.
Like the lithium batteries powering your personal electronic devices, ebike batteries will not last forever. After about 1,000 charge cycles, you will notice that the battery is not holding a full charge. For the average rider, it takes about 2-4 years to charge and discharge an ebike battery 1,000 times. These timeframes could be greatly reduced if you expose your electric bike battery to extremes in heat or cold. So it’s best not to leave your battery in the trunk of a hot car, or in a garage that might reach freezing temperatures overnight.
When you finally need to get a new battery for your ebike, have no fear. Usually replacement or spare batteries are available from the original manufacturer, but even if they are not, there are reputable 3rd party battery companies that can provide a high-quality replacement. Our go-to favorite company for this is the Ebike Marketplace in Las Vegas.
Non-Electrical Factors that Affect Electric Bike Range
There are many variables that affect ebike range, including the bike design of bike, rider weight and riding style, terrain, weather, surface moisture, tire inflation.
Bike Design Maintenance. Electric bikes, like conventional bikes, come in many flavors. You have fat tire mountain ebikes, small folding ebikes, and laid back cruiser style ebikes. There are several key factors in bike design that affect range.
First, the weight of the bike is a major factor, but also the width of the tires. Fat tires, for example, have more surface area in contact with the ground, and more traction (friction) compared to a road bike with narrower tires. This adds resistance which can deplete energy reserves more quickly.
Second, it’s important to note that a poorly tuned or maintained ebike will have a shorter range than a properly maintained vehicle. Low tire inflation, poorly aligned gears and brakes, and high wind resistance due to a lack of aerodynamic design will all contribute to reducing the range of an ebike.
Payload. The weight of the passenger and any cargo will also have a dramatic effect on ebike range. All things being equal, a 225-pound rider with a fully-loaded trailer will place a much higher demand on the battery than a 125-pound teenager with a fanny pack. The distribution of the payload on the bike will also affect range, especially if a bike is unbalanced due to heavy loads placed on the rear rack.
Weather Terrain. Headwinds and wet roads each will reduce the potential range of an ebike. Likewise, how hilly your ride is, and if you go off-road on gravelly trails will impact how far you can travel on a single charge.
Electrical Factors that Affect Ebike Range
All electric bikes have 3 essential components that set them apart from conventional bikes. These are the motor, the controller and the battery. Each of these electrical components plays a critical role in the performance of an electrical bike, and if any of them are not working properly, it can adversely affect your ebike performance range.
If you struggle with the concept of electrons running through wires to power a motor, you’re not alone. Check out the Water Pipe Analogy graphic below.
We use watt-hours to measure the energy capacity of a battery pack, and this will help you figure out how long you can ride your ebike before fully discharging the battery. But before we get into watt-hours (symbolized Wh), let’s first review what a watt itself is.
A watt (W) is a unit of power, and power is the rate at which energy is produced or consumed. Think of watts as a measure of electrical flow. Does an electrical device need a big flow or a small flow to work? For example, a 100W light bulb uses energy at a higher rate than a 60W bulb; this means that the 100W light bulb needs a bigger “flow” to work. Likewise, the rate at which your solar energy system “flows” power into your home is measured in watts.
A watt-hour (Wh) is a unit of energy equivalent to one watt (1W) of power expended for one hour (1h) of time. A watt-hour is a way to measure the amount of work performed or generated. Household appliances and other electrical devices perform “work” and that requires energy in the form of electricity. Utilities typically charge you for electrical energy by the kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is equal to 1,000 watt-hours.
An ebike battery is measured by its voltage (V) and amp-hour (Ah) rating. To calculate the Wh of an ebike battery pack, we simply multiply its V and Ah to get the Wh.
- A battery rated at 36 V and 10.4 Ah will have a 417.6 Wh capacity (36 x 10.4 = 374.4), like on the Eunorau UHVO All-Terrain Ebike
- A battery rated at 48 V and 21 Ah will have a 1,008 Wh capacity (48 x 21 = 1,008), like on the Bakcou Mule.
To learn more about ebike batteries beyond simply their range potential, check out our Ebike Battery FAQ. And if you want another expert’s opinion about ebike range, check out Micah Toll at Electrek.
Determining Electric Bike Battery Ranges
Without a doubt, the number one question we get asked about our Bakcou eBikes is “How far can I ride on a single charge?”, and to be completely honest, there isn’t a simple answer. The range of your Bakcou eBike, or any eBike for that matter, varies from rider to rider. When you see eBikes advertised as having a certain range, those ranges are usually inaccurate and sometimes quite exaggerated. It’s extremely difficult to estimate the range of your eBike because so many factors depend on the individual rider and the riding conditions.
Some of the factors that influence the range of your Bakcou eBike include the rider weight, the level of pedal assist the rider is using, how much the rider is using the throttle, the terrain, the speed, weather conditions, and towing weight, just to name a few.
How Do I Determine My Electric Bike Range?
Before we start, it’s important to note that motor power only impacts how fast you can pull off and how well you can get up hills. Motor power doesn’t impact how far you can go. The battery capacity is the most important variable in determining the electric bike range.
At Bakcou, we measure our battery capacity in Amp-hours (Ah). To calculate your eBike range, you will want to calculate the Watt hours (Wh) capacity of your battery. The formula to calculate Watt-hours is Watt-hours=Amp-hours X volts.
- Bike A has a 24V. 20Ah battery: 24V x 20Ah = 480Wh
- Bike B has a 48V. 10Ah battery: 48V x 10Ah = 480Wh
- Bike C has a 24V. 6Ah battery: 24V x 6Ah = 144Wh
Bikes A B have the same amount of energy, and with equal motors and riders they would perform very similarly. Bike B with the higher voltage will accelerate faster and climb better but at the expense of some of that energy. On the flip side, Bike C will not take you nearly as far.
So, Which is Better?
If you’re looking for an eBike that accelerates fast, climbs well, and can travel long distances on a single charge,the best option is to purchase a battery that has high voltage AND high amp-hours. A battery with high voltage and low amp-hours will shorten the distance you can travel on a single charge.
At Bakcou, our eBike batteries are all 48V and available in a few different amp-hour options. We’re proud to offer the BIGGEST eBike battery on the market in our 25ah/1200wh battery. This gives you great acceleration and climbing power and the high value amp-hour options give you the ability to go further.
Finally, it’s important to also take the type of motor you are buying into consideration when you are looking at eBike ranges. There are good arguments to be made that mid-drive motors get a better range than the hub-drive motor counterparts because they work synergistically with the gears. At Bakcou, the Storm, Storm Jäger, Mule, and Scout are all available with a mid-drive motor.
We hope you find this information useful as you research and weigh your options for purchasing an electric bike. At Bakcou, in addition to having best-in-class customer service and eBikes built to handle their demands, we pride ourselves on offering the biggest electric bike battery available on the market for Lithium-ion batteries.
If you have any questions regarding eBikes, eBike batteries, or Bakcou eBikes and scooters in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be more than happy to help!
8 Комментарии и мнения владельцев
I research on-line for several month plus our local bike shops for information on eBikes to understand as best I could, what was important in selecting a eBike, the companies, the responses from customer ratings for 5 stars to 1 star. I found the Bakcou very highly rated, I liked the design of the frame. the color options others did not offer. I hunt in pastures in Texas for deer and hogs (mostly hogs) so I wanted the best camouflage finish for the terrain I hunt in… Bakcou had it. I will say this, the packaging of the bike and the trailer was awesome. The box was double thickens, small parts were bubble wrapped, parts were like the front wheel, handle bar were wire tied to the frame, foam wrapped, everything was protected and arrived perfect. They answered many a questions during our calls and emails and always replied to contact them again anytime with any questions. The only problem was between me and FedEx, I was going on a 2 week vacation and the bike arrived the day before I left. Per FedEx, the other 4 parts would arrive two day after I left. My fault for putting on vacation mode. After working with 3 Agents, they held the parts… Again, fault for, one ordering it before our vacation and not placing it on Vacation Mode and I’ll leave it at that. My Thanks to Bakcou’s Customer Servicer, BJ Brown Woodbury, MN
Everything about e-bike batteries
The battery is one of the most important components of any e-bike, as well as the most expensive. The battery is the deciding factor in how long the bike can be used without recharging, how long it will work, how much it weighs etc. In general, when you choose an electric bike, the battery is the component that you must pay the most attention to.
What types of e-bike batteries are there and how do they differ?
Selecting a good battery directly determines its efficiency and the distance you can travel on a single charge. Even with the same size and weight, different batteries can work quite differently depending on the type and structure. All batteries have characteristics including capacity, voltage, size, weight, charging time and total battery life.
Voltage
most e-bike kits are rated for a specific voltage range. A typical 36V e-bike needs a battery that delivers power between 30V and 42V. A 36V pack at 42V is 100% charged and holds as much energy as it can; at 30V it should shut down and stop giving power before causing permanent damage. on the BMS (Battery Monitoring System) in a bit. The common number ’36V’ is the average operating voltage, sometimes called nominal voltage. Voltage is measured in volts (V) which is used to describe how fast electrons move. voltage = more speed!
Capacity
is the amount of energy that can be stored in the battery. It is the main characteristic of any battery. The unit of measurement is the ampere-hour (Ah). This value is a measure of the fixed number of amps a battery can sustain for 1 hour (C rate). Double the amps for half an hour. Or cut the amps in half for two hours, etc.
A battery has a certain number of discharge-charge cycles, after which the capacity starts to fall proportionately. If the battery is discharged by, say, 10% and recharged, it is considered that one cycle has been spent.
The actual battery life is determined by the number of cycles and it depends on the operating conditions of the battery. The longer the battery is discharged, the fewer possible cycles can be expected from it.
Lead (gel) batteries
This is the oldest variant, which is used less and less every year. There are many reasons for this, the main reason being low capacity. Gel batteries weigh a lot, and the battery makes the construction of the bike very heavy. In addition, it charges slowly: it takes 8-10 hours to charge fully. This battery also has a short life, only 150-200 cycles.
Li-ion battery (Li-ion)
The most popular and optimal type of battery for an e-bike today. A lithium battery has the best combination of total weight and capacity. The specific capacity of lithium-ion batteries is the highest of all existing types and this is their main advantage. Lithium-ion batteries do not have the ‘memory’ effect.
The disadvantages of this type include sensitivity to temperature conditions and an inability to charge quickly. The lithium-ion battery is also sensitive to overheating and requires control of the discharge mode. Ageing and loss of capacity occur over time. The number of cycles is about 400, which is two and a half times more than the lead-acid battery.
Lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles must be specifically designed due to the presence of a battery management system (BMS) within the pack. This piece of circuitry must be set appropriately to control the amount of current draw required by the motor and to limit excessive discharge capacity.The BMS is also important for balancing cell charge between the individual cells within the battery to maintain battery life over time.
Li-Po
This type of battery is popular mainly among cell phone manufacturers because it’s incapable of operating an e-bike and does not withstand impacts and vibrations during the ride.
It is designed for use in electric cars where such vibrations are impossible. It is used very often in aircraft models where weight is important.
This is the most dangerous battery in terms of ignition! Under unfavourable circumstances (short circuits, failure of the BMS, accident) there is a high risk of ignition.
LiFePo4
This is a relatively new but already popular type of battery. The advantages of this battery include frost resistance (it works in temperatures as low as.30 degrees Celsius without loss of capacity) and its ability to charge quickly. This type of battery has the largest number of full cycles, which is about 1,000. It is less susceptible to ageing than the usual Li-ion. It is also devoid of the memory effect. The disadvantages of LiFePo4 batteries include low specific capacity and high cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
First, pay attention to the battery’s on/off system. Famous manufacturers use the ‘sleep mode’ in their batteries. You activate the battery mainly by pressing a button or turning on the e-bike on the control display. Once you turn off the e-bike, the battery will ‘sleep’ on its own after a few hours. so the power from the BMS system will turn off also. If you are riding on, you need to press the button again to activate the battery.
Storing the battery during the winter is very easy. Basically, it is enough to charge the battery 50% and store it in a cool place. It is better to store the battery outside the e-bike to prevent unwanted activation.
No, that’s okay, all types of batteries heat up during charging. So do the chargers.
The memory effect happens when a battery is recharged before being completely discharged. The battery ‘remembers’ the last remaining capacity before the next charge. Therefore, when you charge the batteries before they are fully discharged, the battery usage time will decrease. The batteries used by most of our products (Li-Ion, Li-Pol) have no or a very slight memory effect.
If the battery is not used after it has been fully charged, it will gradually lose energy. The self-discharge value for Li-ion and Li-Po batteries is very low and fluctuates by a maximum of about 5% per month at room temperature. It is useful to check the battery once a month, and if its capacity has fallen below 50%, charge it to about 70%.The suggestion that deep discharge prolongs battery life is total nonsense!
Greatebike.eu recommends a few tips for extending the life of your e-bike battery.
Tip 1 – Try not to discharge the battery below 20%.
Deep discharge makes the battery too difficult to use and reduces its capacity in future. A lithium battery starts to oxidise, which has a negative effect on capacity as well as battery life. In the case of switching off (e.g. in winter), it is recommended that the battery be fully charged at least once every 90 days.
Tip 2 – Do not charge the battery immediately after riding.
The battery should cool down before charging. If we start charging a heated battery, it will not be able to cool down at all, and degradation will be much faster.
Tip 3 – Do not fully charge the battery if it is not necessary.
When charging the battery above 80% of its capacity (around 40V), the internal resistance of the battery increases, the battery heats up more and this significantly accelerates the degradation process.
Tip 4 – Avoid extreme temperatures.
High temperatures and frost affect performance and shorten battery life. Never store the battery outside where it will be exposed to temperatures below 0ºC. Similarly, we recommend not storing the battery at temperatures above 30ºC. Furthermore, avoid long parking under direct sunlight.
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The Complete Guide to E-Bike Batteries: Care, Maintenance, and Storage
At the risk of being obvious: an e-bike without a battery is just a bike. But that said, not just any battery will do.
An e-bike battery is responsible for how much power can be delivered to your motor, translating into how much assistance your e-bike gives you on rides. It’s also among the most expensive single components of a bike, with high-quality replacements typically costing several hundred dollars. Because of this, learning about e-bike batteries is critical to getting the most out of your e-bike experience — and the most bang for your buck.
Here’s what we’re about to go over:
How Does An Electric Bicycle Battery Work?
The battery stores all the electrical energy that will eventually be sent to your motor. E-Bike motors don’t have any energy of their own, so the battery is what makes the whole electrical system possible.
E-bike batteries have to be powerful enough to support the motor throughout a typical ride. While you do need to charge your battery regularly, a quality e-bike battery shouldn’t interrupt your commute or sightseeing tour by powering down before your ride is over.
Magnum E-Bike batteries are made of a series of advanced lithium-ion cells. Each cell is like a mini battery; they join together with the other cells to create a battery powerful and long-lasting enough to take you where you need to go.
Volts, Amp-Hours, and Watt-Hours: What Do They Mean?
Voltage refers to the potential power of a battery. For example, a 48V battery is more powerful than a 36V one. Technically speaking, voltage measures the pressure that allows electrons to flow. Similar to water pressure from a hose, the higher the pressure, the more powerful it is.
On an e-bike, the voltage of the battery and motor have to be compatible. Using a battery with a lower voltage than the motor can handle is a waste of potential motor power. Conversely, using a battery with more voltage than the motor can use may cause damage to the motor.
For similar reasons, your battery’s charger needs to be rated at the same voltage as the battery.
If voltage is like water pressure in a hose, amperage is the amount of water flowing. Amp-hours (Ah) refers to how much energy a battery can provide in one hour. So the more amp-hours there are, the longer a battery can keep the motor running. E-Bike batteries typically have between 8Ah and 15Ah.
To combine these two metrics into one simple number, batteries are often rated using a single metric called watt-hours (Wh). Watt-hours are calculated by multiplying voltage by amp hours. For example, a 48V 15Ah battery would have 720Wh (4815 = 720).
It follows that a 36V 20Ah battery would also have 720Wh — but the similarities between those two batteries could end there. To get all the details of what makes a battery the right choice for your e-bike, you need to look deeper.
Qualities Of The Best E-Bike Batteries
There are many e-bike battery makers out there! So what’s the difference between a high-quality battery that will help you ride farther and a cheap battery that just doesn’t perform?
Optimal Materials
Not long ago, most batteries were made from heavy, inefficient, and unsustainable materials like lead-acid or nickel-cadmium. At Magnum, we use the latest lithium nickel cobalt manganese (Li-ncm) battery technology.
Battery Management System (BMS)
The battery management system in each Magnum E-Bike battery controls the individual performance of each battery cell. BMS makes sure that each smaller cell drains, charges, and works the same as others. Without an effective BMS, e-bike batteries would be inconsistent, failing to deliver predictable power to the motor.
Like any hardware, batteries become worn over time. BMS helps extend battery lifespan by avoiding the main causes of battery deterioration: overcharging and excessive depletion. Cells that overcharge get fried and lose performance. Similarly, when batteries drain too much energy and can’t properly recover it, they start to fail. BMS regulates charging and energy deployment across every individual cell, helping the overall battery to perform better and for longer.
Battery Cycle Lives And Long-Range Performance
The number of times you can charge and deplete (discharge) the battery completely before it starts to lose capacity is called its cycle life. It’s normal for batteries to lose performance over time, but higher-quality and better-made batteries have larger capacity and longer range, resulting in increased cycle lives.
Higher-quality batteries typically have a larger capacity and longer range compared to cheaper models. But it’s difficult to produce batteries with high amp-hours and watt-hours that still fit into the slim packaging necessary for a balanced, aerodynamic e-bike.
It’s important to note that batteries continue to function even after they start to lose some efficiency. When batteries have surpassed their cycle life, you may notice your ride range decreasing, needing a charge after fewer miles.
At Magnum Bikes, the cycle life of our advanced Lithium-NCM battery is 700 cycles. Once our batteries have powered riders through 700 charges and discharges, our battery still performs at around 80% of its original level. With proper care, you can typically get 800-1000 charge cycles out of your Magnum battery — roughly two to five years, depending on how frequently and how far you ride.
Best Tips To Maintain Your E-Bike Battery
As the most expensive part to replace on your e-bike, it’s worthwhile to take the extra time and effort to keep your battery in good health. For that reason, even seemingly obvious tips bear repeating.
Follow these recommendations to get the best performance and life out of your e-bike battery.
- Charge the battery before it gets to 30% life. Batteries are at their healthiest when they stay at or above a 30% charge level. When you’re out on a ride, watch your battery’s charge level. It’s shown on your e-bike’s display monitor. When you get down to 20% or even 10% battery, you’re at risk of losing power before you get back to your charging station. Not only does that put you at risk of unassisted pedaling for a long or hilly journey back home, but it also puts unnecessary strain on the battery. Over time, this speeds up the natural process of deterioration. If you go for extended rides, it may just be a fact of life that you’ll drop into the low battery levels. Don’t sweat it — just know that your battery will last a bit longer if it stays topped off.
- Don’t charge or use the battery on the bike while it’s hot. Batteries can get hot for a number of reasons. On really warm days, the outside temperature can cause a battery to overheat. Climbing steep terrain can cause the motor to get hot — and potentially the battery, too. Another cause of a hot battery is using a charger with a higher voltage than the battery. But whatever the reason, your response to a hot battery should always be the same: let it cool down before continuing use or charging.
- Don’t charge immediately after use. Even if your battery doesn’t feel hot, let it rest when you get home after a ride. You won’t have to wait long — batteries recover from use very quickly. You can use the time to hang up your helmet, remove your shoes, and maybe even give the bike a quick clean or tune-up. In less than 5 minutes, you can charge your battery to get ready for your next ride.
- Don’t use it immediately after charging. Are you seeing a pattern? When it comes to e-bike battery care, patience is a virtue! If you’re leaving on a ride right away, unplug the charger for just a few minutes before you head out. This valuable reset gives your battery time to prepare to transfer energy to the motor on your ride.
- Unplug the battery when fully charged. When your battery has reached 80% to 100% charge, go ahead and unplug the charger. Don’t worry; your battery will hold the charge until your next ride! This is important because while you can’t actually overfill your battery with power, you can strain the battery by continuing to charge it after it’s full.
- Keep your battery at the right temperature. When you’re not riding, store the battery around room temperature: 68°F/20°C or slightly lower. Feel free to store your bike in a weatherproof garage or shed, protected from the elements — but if the temps dip much higher or lower than 68°F/20°C, take the battery indoors.
- Don’t get your battery wet. This is true of any battery, really! Your battery has a sealed, waterproof protective cover that keeps it protected from the rain while you ride. Where you need to be careful is in cleaning and storing your bike and its battery. You might look to a pressure washer to get dirt and grime off your bike quickly, but the intense jet of water can get past the seals, damaging the inside of the battery. And when you aren’t riding your e-bike, store it inside. Excessive and continuous exposure to rain and snow can compromise the waterproof housing over time.
- Travel safe. Whether you’re traveling with your e-bike on a car rack or in a bike box for shipment, be sure to remove the battery beforehand. This protects it from damage or accidental loss. Remember that you also need to protect that battery from rain and snow! So removing it before putting your bike on a car rack is the best way to keep your battery dry while you travel.
- Know what to expect for winter performance. In addition to protecting your battery from snow and excessive cold, be aware that e-bike batteries are less efficient in the cold. This means they may deliver a reduced mileage range in extremely cold temps. Try to shorten your rides, or at least ensure that you’re able to charge your battery frequently for extended rides. But don’t worry; the performance will bounce back when warmer temperatures return.
- Always use the right charger. Your e-bike comes with a charger made specifically for that model; use it! It’s critical for battery health that the charger and battery are compatible and work with the same voltages. Otherwise, at best you’ll see extended charge times — and at worst, you can fry the battery.
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Battery
Even with impeccable care, your battery will need to be replaced eventually. Once it’s surpassed its cycle life, the battery will begin to lose capacity. When this happens, a “full charge” will really only get you to about 80% of the charge level that the same battery got when it was brand new.
Having read all about your battery by now, you’ll probably recognize the signs early: reduced range or inconsistent performance. This is a normal part of your battery’s life. However, if you notice these signs early (for example, only a year or couple hundred cycles into using your battery), take your bike to a shop or call the manufacturer for more specific information.
When the time comes, make sure to replace your e-bike battery with one crafted for your specific e-bike make and model. As we mentioned earlier, this part is a significant investment, so it’s critical to make the right purchase! Consult your manual or call your manufacturer with any questions.
Take Care Of Your Battery And It’ll Take Care Of You
There isn’t a whole lot to remember for a healthy e-bike battery! Just keep an eye on your battery life when you’re riding, charge it when needed (but don’t forget to unplug when it’s done!), store it properly, and transport it safely. By following these steps to support long-lasting battery health, you’ll get the most out of your e-bike’s battery for many rides to come.
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