The Dangers of E-Bike Batteries
As electric bikes become increasingly popular, there is an important question that must be addressed: what risks come with using e-bike batteries?
With all the recent news stories and reports of lithium-ion e-bike batteries catching fire or even exploding, it’s time to understand the real dangers and safety precautions we should take.
In this blog post, we will explore the potential risks associated with e-bikes and provide some tips for mitigating those risks. If you own or are thinking about purchasing an electric bike, read on to learn what you need to know about battery safety.
The pandemic saw a sudden and drastic increase in e-bike sales, but this newfound popularity has brought with it a host of problems. the most concerning being exploding batteries that have caused deadly fires. This is especially evident in New York City, where an e-bike battery sparked a fire at a Bronx grocery store on Sunday (March 5th, 2023) that injured seven people.
It’s the latest in a string of fires started by the lithium-ion batteries in electric bikes and scooters. They’ve caused at least 30 fires, 40 injuries, and two deaths in NYC this year as of Feb. 27, according to the New York Fire Department.
- Last year, they ignited 216 fires—double the amount of the year before—resulting in 147 injuries and six deaths.
The issue is due to the chemical nature of the lithium-ion cells inside the battery. If not adequately cooled or managed, they can overheat and quickly reach high temperatures which can cause them to explode and release hazardous material such as caustic smoke or burning plastics.
Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries can spread quickly and be difficult to extinguish
Lithium-ion battery fires can spread quickly and be extremely challenging to extinguish. In a matter of seconds, a fire caused by lithium-ion batteries can consume an entire room. Our research has found that the typical timeframe for such a fire to engulf a room is about 15 seconds.
Furthermore, the toxic fumes created from such fires can be hazardous to breathe in, making the fires extremely difficult for firefighters to extinguish. Therefore, consumers must be aware of the risks associated with e-bike batteries to remain safe.
Risk of injury or death if left unattended while charging
E-bike batteries carry a large risk of causing serious injury or even death if left unable to be monitored while charging. With an e-bike battery full of energy, overheating could result in a catastrophic reaction, often with devastating consequences.
Such batteries must be observed while they are being charged and should never be left unattended. Besides these dangers, additional instability can arise from mishandling and mechanical failure, requiring that risks be continuously assessed and acted upon with the utmost caution.
Difficulty in knowing when a battery has become faulty or is going to catch fire unexpectedly
While e-bikes have revolutionized urban transportation, the danger associated with their batteries is largely unknown. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for riders to know when a battery has become faulty or if it’s at risk of catching fire unexpectedly.
That’s why understanding precautions and safety protocols are so important. Even if you don’t feel that your battery poses a major threat, regular checkups and maintenance should be done regularly to ensure optimal performance and reduce the chance of an unforeseen issue arising down the line.
Taking these extra steps might just save you from a potentially dangerous explosion while also ensuring you get the most out of your e-bike, performance-wise.
Vulnerability of groups such as children, people with disabilities, and the elderly
By no means are lithium-ion battery-powered electric bikes a danger only to cyclists, but this vulnerability reaches far beyond.
Those most affected include people in vulnerable groups like children and the elderly where knowledge of the risk may be limited; similarly, those with disabilities that prevent them from being able to quickly dismount from an e-bike if an explosion were to occur can also be adversely affected.
One should never underestimate the potential destruction that could be caused during an e-bike battery explosion due to a lack of knowledge about the issue, so it’s important for everyone regardless of age or physical ability to remain informed and vigilant.
Source: cityandstateny.com
Inaccurate labels on e-bikes may lead consumers to believe they are safe
As the popularity of e-bikes continues to climb, consumers need to be aware that some models are falsely identified as safe. The inaccurate labels may give the impression that the batteries powering these electric bicycles will not explode or catch fire, but unfortunately, this is not always the case.
While safety warnings and regulations from manufacturers should explain the risks associated with using e-bike batteries, counterfeit products can often be difficult to differentiate from genuine ones.
This means that what unsuspecting buyers may think is a perfectly safe device could unexpectedly cause harm if their trust in the labeling is misplaced.
What can we do to solve the problem?
Bills to be approved that set new safety standards for electric micromobility vehicles instead of an outright ban
In response to the problem, some cities and states have proposed banning electric micromobility vehicles (most commonly e-bikes and e-scooters) altogether. But instead of an outright ban, bills have been proposed that set new safety standards for these vehicles.
These bills aim to address safety concerns while still allowing people to use electric bikes and scooters as a mode of transportation. The new standards include certification processes and other safety regulations that manufacturers must adhere to to ensure the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in these vehicles.
One of the main reasons why this legislation was necessary is due to the increase in reported incidents caused by the mishandling of lithium-ion batteries. These incidents include explosions, fires, and other accidents that can cause serious injuries or even death (as mentioned earlier).
By setting new safety standards, manufacturers will be required to produce electric bikes and scooters with safer lithium-ion batteries that are less likely to malfunction.
The positive impact this legislation should have on reducing the number of injuries, deaths, and damages caused by faulty li-on batteries cannot be overstated. By ensuring that manufacturers produce safer vehicles with more reliable batteries, people can feel confident using electric bikes and scooters without fear of injury or damage.
However, it’s not just up to manufacturers to ensure the safe use of electric bikes and scooters with li-on batteries.
Consumers also need to take steps in order to ensure proper storage and use of these vehicles. This includes storing them in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight or heat sources, using only chargers provided by the manufacturer, not overcharging them, avoiding extreme temperatures while charging or riding them, as well as regularly checking for any signs of damage or wear-and-tear on the battery.
In conclusion, bills approved that set new safety standards for electric bikes and scooters are a positive step forward for both safety and sustainability. They allow people to continue using these convenient modes of transportation while ensuring their safety on the road.
Manufacturers will be held accountable for producing safer vehicles with more reliable lithium-ion batteries while consumers can take steps towards ensuring proper storage and use of these vehicles.
Together we can make sure our e-bikes are both fun AND safe!
Electric bikes will change your life
Haven’t ridden in a while? The smooth, powerful boost helps you get out for exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and feel that kid-like freedom you only get while riding a bike.
Fly up hills and tough terrain
Whether you’re on pavement or dirt, the extra power helps you make short work of any climb, leaving you with more energy to enjoy the ride.
Say goodbye to your car
Take on longer commutes, carry more groceries, and pedal across town quickly. All while getting exercise, enjoying fresh air, and avoiding traffic jams!
Discover more possibilities
Go ahead. Take the hard route home or explore that road or trail you’ve never ridden before. E-bikes amplify your ability to go farther and faster than ever before.
Electric bike anatomy
1 Electric bike motors
All of our e-bikes are designed with mid-drive pedal-assist motors that are located in the same area as your pedals. They feel natural while pedaling, are easy to shift on hills, and provide a boost of smooth, consistent power with every pedal stroke you take.
2 Electric bike displays
E-bike displays (also known as controllers) are what you use to see and control your e-bike’s settings. You can change your level of assist, see your speed and distance, and check out how much battery power you have left. Our e-bike displays are super intuitive to use, and are conveniently mounted right at your fingertips.
3 Electric bike batteries
E-bike batteries are the biggest contributing factor to how far your e-bike can go. The higher watt hour (Wh) your battery is, the more power capacity it has. Batteries can be mounted in lots of different places, but those mounted on the downtube or integrated into the downtube itself provide the best center of gravity for better balance.
How pedal assist motors work
Electric bikes work by using an electric motor and battery to help you power your bike. On pedal assist e-bikes, you can control the amount of power the drive system provides and the assist only kicks in when you pedal. The motor amplifies the power behind each of your pedal strokes, providing a natural riding feeling that makes it seem like your legs are supercharged!
Some manufactures make e-bikes that use a twist throttle to engage that drive system. With these bikes, you don’t have to be pedaling for the motor to be engaged. This can be dangerous, since it’s easy to get out of control if you’re not paying attention. We only make pedal assist e-bikes, because they feel the most like a regular bike and help riders feel more in command of their ride.
Pedal assist motor
Depending on the model, your e-bike’s electric motor has a power output between 250 and 350 watts, and assists up to 20 or 28 mph. And you can go faster than that without feeling much resistance from the motor.
Integrated battery
You can charge your battery on or off the bike using a charging cable that functions just like your laptop’s. Plus, our Removable Integrated Battery (RIB) system makes it easy to take your battery with you for on-the-go charging.
Easy to use display
All of our displays show you critical ride info like range, assist mode, speed, and battery level. Select displays take things to a step further by integrating with your phone for on-bike access to music, apps, turn-by-turn directions, and more.
How do electric bikes work?
Electric bikes work by using an electric motor and battery to help you power your bike. The battery powers the motor, and you control the amount of power the system outputs using the controller. There are two main methods by which power is transferred from the drive system to your bike, and those are pedal assist and throttle control.
Pedal assist electric bikes On pedal assist electric bikes, you control the amount of assist the system gives you and the assist only kicks in when you pedal. The motor amplifies the power behind each of your pedal strokes, providing a natural riding feeling that makes it seem like your legs are supercharged!
Electric bikes with throttles These bikes let you use a twist throttle to engage the drive system. When the bike is in this mode you don’t have to be pedaling to be powered by the electric motor. Throttle bikes can be dangerous, as it’s easy to get out of control if you’re not paying attention. E-bikes with throttles are only allowed in certain areas, so be sure to check your local regulations before purchasing one.
How fast are electric bikes?
Electric bike speed is dependent on the capability and construction of the motor, and maximum electric bike speeds are regulated by law. Most e-bikes in the US will assist up to 20 mph. You can go faster than that, like when you’re zipping down a hill, but the motor will stop assisting once you reach 20 mph. At speeds lower than 20 mph, your speed is dependent on what gear you’re in, how much you’re pedaling, and what level of assist you choose. Different levels of assist will help you move faster by providing more power. For example, turbo mode provides the highest level of assist, and would help you go your fastest.
Fast electric bikes Speed electric bikes or speed pedelecs have special motors that assist up to 28 mph in the US. These bikes are favored by commuters and avid riders who want to go a long distance in a short amount of time. This kind of e-bike is only allowed in certain areas.
What are electric bike classes?
Electric bikes are divided into three main types or classes based on what sort of motor they have, whether or not they have a throttle, and how fast they go. It’s important to know which classes of e-bikes are legal in the areas where you’ll ride.
Class 1 electric bikes (low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle) A bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
Class 2 electric bikes (low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle) A bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
Class 3 electric bikes (speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle) A bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 28 mph.
Trek makes only Class 1 and Class 3 electric bikes (no throttle) as they provide the most natural ride feel, promote exercise, and help to keep you in control while you’re riding. See local electric bike laws regulations
How far can e-bikes go?
Electric bike range is dependent on several factors and can be very complicated to calculate. Some factors you can control, and some you can’t. Controllable factors include the size of your battery, the efficiency of your motor, the level of motor assist you select, and how much weight you’re carrying. Uncontrollable factors include wind, weather, temperature, and terrain.
How batteries affect range The bigger your battery, the more capacity you have to go farther or go faster. Battery power is measured in watt hours (Wh), the higher the Wh the bigger the battery capacity.
How motor efficiency affects range The efficiency of your e-bike’s electric motor impacts how much of your battery’s energy it uses. A high-quality, efficient motor will draw less energy from your battery, while an inefficient motor will draw more energy and reduce your overall range.
How level of pedal assist affects range What assist mode you select directly affects your range. For example, eco mode provides the least amount of assist, and draws the least amount of power from the battery. Turbo mode provides the most assist, and draws the most power from your battery. Therefore your range in eco mode is longer than in turbo mode since turbo will drain the battery more quickly.
Long range electric bikes Long range e-bikes are e-bikes designed for long-distance rides and trips. They typically have large capacity batteries, such as 500Wh or 625Wh, and efficient motors that help you maximize your range. Some electric bike companies offer the ability to add on a second battery so you can double your range.
The general range estimate for an e-bike varies from 20-100 miles on a single charge. Yes, it’s really wide! That’s because there are so many factors that can determine your range. We recommend using Bosch’s range finder tool to help you figure out a more accurate range estimate for your e-bike.
What kinds of electric bikes are there?
There’s an e-bike for almost any type of riding you want to do, including mountain biking, road riding, touring, commuting, city riding, and more.
How to Charge an E-Bike for Maximum Battery Life
From safe charging to the longest possible lifespan, here’s everything you need to know about your electric bike’s power source.
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If you bought a bike in the last couple years, chances are good it’s an e-bike. Electric bicycles are the fastest-growing type of bike in the U.S. today; in 2021 they surpassed road bikes as the third biggest category of bikes overall and in 2022 e-bike sales were over 800 million. E-bikes still outsell electric cars, and for good reason. The lightweight electric motor on an e-bike gives a powerful boost to all kinds of riding, especially utility cycling like commuting and errands. (Plus, there is a nice tax incentive for some e-bike riders.)
At the heart of that system is a powerful lithium-based battery. Taking proper care of that battery and knowing how to properly charge it is key to safely getting the best range and long-term battery life. Here’s what you need to know about charging your e-bike battery.
Safe charging basics
You should charge your battery inside, on the proper charger, and with the motor system powered off, says Kunal Kapoor, senior manager for quality and compliance at Bosch, a leading supplier of e-bike motor systems. While e-bike motors, batteries, and wiring are weather-resistant, “chargers aren’t intended for outdoor use,” he notes.
Using the proper charger is primarily a safety issue. With a modern lithium battery, Kapoor continues, when the battery signals it’s ready to accept a charge, “the battery monitoring system in the charger makes sure that the temperatures inside the battery are optimum to receive the charge,” and shuts off if needed. An off-brand charger—even rated to the same output—doesn’t have all the features of that battery management system, so current can flow to the battery even if temperatures rise, which is a fire risk.
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The risk of battery fires is low, but Kapoor recommends people not leave batteries unattended while charging. You can leave the battery on the bike to charge or take it off, as long as it’s not sitting on or near flammable stuff (like the spare gas can in the garage, for example). If you’re looking at lower-priced e-bikes with house-brand or unbranded motor and battery systems, make sure the battery and charger carry a UL 2849 certification stamp from Underwriters Laboratories. This is the industry-wide standard for safe electric systems and battery charging for e-bikes. Some bike shops won’t work on e-bikes with motor and battery systems that lack this stamp, citing fire risk when left overnight in the store.
How to optimize battery range and lifespan
Let’s start with some definitions. Range is essentially runtime: how long a battery will last on a single charge, expressed in miles of riding. Range, even on the same bike, will vary; a flat commute to the office with just a light backpack will see better range than a fully loaded uphill ride home from Costco. Most e-bikes today get between 25-75 miles of range, depending on these factors.
Lifespan is how many times a battery can be discharged and recharged before it starts to lose significant capacity. When capacity starts to dip, you won’t notice less power while riding, but you will see range start to shrink. A common lifespan benchmark for e-bike batteries is 500 “full” discharge/re-charge cycles (if you use half the battery capacity and recharge, that’s half a cycle), which works out to about three to five years of normal use before capacity begins to drop noticeably.
Even though battery range and lifespan aren’t the same thing, they are linked, and actions that reduce range will also, over time, shorten lifespan. A big culprit, Kapoor says, is running the motor hard, like leaving it in Boost or Turbo mode all the time, which means a ride of a given distance relies progressively more on motor power than at lower assist levels. You’ll run the battery through charging cycles more quickly, which will shorten its life.
A less-obvious factor that strains motors and batteries is pedal cadence. Most e-bike motors are optimized for efficiency around a 70-90 rpm pedaling cadence. You can lower efficiency by pedaling too fast (Bosch motors, for instance, max out at 100-120 rpm depending on the system). common is sub-optimal efficiency from pedaling too slowly in a large gear. This is the same as “lugging the engine” in a car; whether gas or electric, the motor works harder. “Choose your gears wisely,” says Kapoor, to stay in that 70-90 rpm sweet spot.
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Mistakes that kill your battery
When you buy a new e-bike, you should charge the battery to full before riding it because it’s likely been inactive for a while. But lithium batteries do not have “memory;” that is, they do not need to be fully discharged and fully recharged every time to hold their full capacity. In fact, it’s best if you don’t run a battery to zero, says Kapoor. “If you let the battery deplete completely, that may permanently damage it,” he says, and it will never recharge to its full original capacity.
If you’ll go a few weeks or more without riding the bike, store it (or at least the battery) in a dry, room-temperature space with the battery between 30-60 percent of full charge, says Kapoor. That’s the most stable level for long-term storage, and will lower the chance of a deep discharge that would damage your battery. Don’t leave your battery plugged in to the charger for long periods. It’s not necessary, and can create a short discharge/recharge cycle that will eventually reduce capacity. If you go long periods without riding the bike, check the battery charge monthly and partly recharge when it drops below 30 percent.
Lithium batteries are less affected by cold weather than other types of battery and you shouldn’t see reduced range while riding unless the temperatures are truly arctic. But researchers at the Department of Energy recently found storing lithium batteries below freezing for longer periods can damage part of the battery’s cathode, which will reduce its capacity. Lithium batteries also won’t charge effectively in cold temperatures. If you store your bike outside or in an unheated space and live in an area with sub-freezing temps, says Kapoor, bring the battery inside when not in use.
Also, keep your battery protected from extreme heat, like sitting next to a sunny window or a hot car. Excess heat can raise battery temperature enough to damage its components; in an extreme situation, it can contribute to what’s called thermal runaway, where a battery enters an unstable, uncontrollable self-heating state that can result in fire.
You don’t need to recharge after every ride. Topping off your battery sounds Smart, but over time it will reduce capacity more quickly. If you get 50 miles of range from a charge and ride 10 miles a day, you only need to recharge every three to four days.
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When it’s time to replace
Even if you take great care of a battery, over time it will lose capacity. You’ll notice this on your bike’s range estimate on the controller unit. Capacity is a primary indicator of the health of a battery, so if you notice your range dropping to 70 percent or less of what it was when your bike was new, that’s a sign to start planning a replacement. If your battery is less than two years old and is well under original capacity, it might be a warranty claim (terms vary by manufacturer).
If it’s not a warranty issue, the decision on when to replace is personal preference, says Kapoor. “If you got 50 miles (of range) out of the battery originally and let’s say now you get 40, I wouldn’t classify it as ‘end of life’ if you can live with that 40-mile range,” he says. A battery with reduced capacity should still be safe, Kapoor adds.
Always purchase a name-brand replacement for your battery. Just as batteries and chargers should be paired, batteries and motors are designed to work together. And, says Kapoor, never try to repair a damaged battery or let someone else do it. Despite guides that claim you can, this is not just corporate greed or legal butt-covering by manufacturers. While e-bike batteries are almost always made from standard 18650 cells that are widely used in various products (even electric cars), those cells have a variety of different chemistries, capacities, and amperages, and that’s before we even get into connecting a string of them and repackaging the battery in the housing. The slightest mistake in any of that increases fire risk. If you need a new battery, just buy one.
Dealers that sell your brand of bike can order you a direct replacement for that bike or motor brand. Costs vary depending on battery size and brand, but plan on spending 400-800 for a new unit.
A dealer can also recycle your old one. A new program from Call 2 Recycle offers free e-bike battery recycling (paid for by bike and motor brands) through partner shops in almost every major city and many smaller ones. No participating dealers near you? Request an easy DIY shipping kit online.
Why recycle? Even a spent battery contains raw materials that can be re-made into fresh ones, at moderately less energy cost and less environmental damage than producing from virgin materials. Spent lithium batteries also have a fire risk in landfills and can leach toxic metals and other chemicals into the soil and air.
In case of fire
Though rare, battery fires do happen. If your battery gets hot to the touch while charging, unplug the charger from the wall immediately. If you can, put the battery in a metal container like a bucket (better yet, one filled with sand) away from anything flammable.
But if it’s not safe to handle, call 911 right away and tell the dispatcher that you have a lithium battery fire, which requires different firefighting methods than conventional fires. Don’t pour water on a battery fire; water and lithium react to produce hydrogen, which is highly flammable. A standard fire extinguisher may help, but in the event of a fire, special tools may be needed.
Trek e bike battery
The battery for your electric bike is typically worth about a third of the value of the entire bicycle, so it’s important to find a good quality one and take care of it.
In the case of Pedego Canada, we offer a 5 Year Prorated Battery Warranty with all our electric bikes, which is one of the best in the business. Why we’re so confident in our batteries is the quality of the cells within them. If you take nothing else away from this post, remember this: do not buy an electric bike with anything less than a five year battery warranty and do your best to purchase a battery by one of the “big three” name-brand cells: Samsung, Panasonic or LG. Cheap electric bicycles like the kind you find at Costco do not have the quality of manufacturing or warranty that will ensure you can enjoy the bike for years. It’s our recommendation that you spend a bit more money up front to save you from headaches (or worse – the garbage dump or even a fire!) later.
No matter what electric bike you buy nowadays, chances are it runs on a lithium-based battery. Believe it or not lithium batteries have been around since 1912 but it’s only been in the last 15 years that they caught on and became economical in consumer applications. There are “lithium-ion” batteries and “lithium polymer” (aka “lithium-ion polymer”) batteries and the difference between them is the type of electrolyte used. Other than that, there isn’t a significant variance: Li-Polymer allows for a slight increase in energy density but is 10-30% more expensive and so manufacturers have yet to decide upon one over the other.
There is also a range of lithium chemistries available in different batteries and manufacturers might claim some are more robust than others but the single most important factor affecting the life of a battery is how well it is looked after. You should typically expect a battery to last between 3 and 5 years if it is well maintained. (A lithium-ion battery will slowly lose its capacity over time, even if it’s not used.) Below are three things you can do to ensure you get the longest usage out of your electric bike battery.
#1. Keep The Battery Cool
Environmental conditions are an important factor affecting lithium-ion batteries. For example, leaving one in your car in the hot sun will guarantee you lessen the life of your battery. In fact, that would be the worst situation: keeping a fully charged battery at elevated temperatures. It’s a good rule of thumb to store your bike out of the direct sunlight for long periods and when not in use, keep your battery in a cool place, preferably below 20°C (68°F). The chart below, provided by Battery University, shows the impacts of temperature upon recoverable capacity of a battery.
#2. Store A Battery Partially Charged – But Not Too Low!
You’ll also notice in the above chart that storing a fully-charged battery has an impact on the recoverable capacity. Even more important, storing a fully depleted battery may be disastrous because, as we mentioned above, a lithium-ion battery will slowly discharge over time even when you’re not using it. If the voltage drops below a certain point this may cause irreparable cell damage, depending on the time it’s left sitting. Ideally, when storing the battery for a long period, ensure it has a charge between about 80% and 40% of a full charge. Some chargers have a lower ‘storage’ voltage setting, so just switch to this before charging it for storage. An easy alternative is to take the bike for a ride after you’ve charged it fully and before storing.
Also, don’t leave your battery on the charger for long periods of time, as storing it at or close to 100% will reduce the life of the battery. You can also check your battery every couple of months over winter. If you notice that the battery indicator has dropped too low, you can give it a quick charge to bring it back to the ideal storage voltage (this is unlikely to be needed if the battery was at 40% or above). If you don’t have a battery indicator, it’s probably a good idea to charge the battery for half an hour every few months. Again, try not to put the battery away fully charged (but it won’t be the end of the world if this happens.)
#3. Don’t Regularly Fully Discharge Your Battery
It’s amazing that we still see tech sites advising regular full discharge of your battery, even when this has been proven as detrimental. The chart below, again provided by Battery University, proves that regularly discharging lithium-ion batteries to 0% is harmful and partial discharges with regular top-ups are recommended to extend the recharge-cycle lifespan of the batteries. The occasional full discharge on that extra long ride is no problem! It’s ok to top up lithium-ion batteries regularly and, as the chart below shows, it’s best to operate them in the top half of their discharge cycle; lithium-ion batteries don’t have a ‘memory effect’ that some other battery chemistries have. If you are doing short rides on a regular basis, it is slightly better to charge it every few rides rather than every ride (to avoid long periods at or close to 100% charge, as discussed above).
As an extra note for the winter season, make sure your battery is above freezing before charging, otherwise you could harm the cells. It is no problem to ride the bike in below-freezing conditions (it doesn’t harm the battery), just make sure you let the battery warm up before charging. When you are riding in very cold weather, you will notice a drop in power and range; this is normal and expected. You can help avoid this by bringing the battery inside whenever you aren’t riding to keep the temperature of the battery up. That way you will get that extra bit of power!
Correct maintenance and storage of your battery as detailed above will significantly increase its lifespan. A well-maintained lithium-ion battery will last between three to five years, whereas a poorly maintained battery can be badly damaged over just one season or sooner. For more detailed, scientific information on batteries and how to care for them, check out the excellent online resource at Battery University, where the above charts came from.