Everything you need to know about e-bike batteries [from a battery engineer]
Would you be the person taking the stairs or the escalator?
I’ll be honest. barring the one-off day that I’m feeling particularly sprightly, I would just hop on the escalator with those 30 people on the right. And I’m willing to guess that most of you would too.
What we can gauge from this picture is that most people would rather do as little work as possible to get from point A to point B. This is especially true when it comes to commuting on a bike. The picture above is analogous to the difference between a regular bike and an e-bike.
Even if we address all the concerns when it comes to biking in a city (like safe biking infrastructure), we can’t expect to change fundamental human behavior. when given the option between less work or more work to achieve the same outcome, people will more likely choose to do less work.
Since getting my e-bike, I can comfortably bike from my home in Somerville to the Seaport district in Boston. a roughly 5-mile trip. in just about 20-minutes. All of a sudden, biking 5-miles is a piece of cake. I also don’t have to spend time sitting in traffic, waiting for public transit, or worry about showing up to a meeting looking like I swam across the Charles river to get there.
The beauty of an e-bike is that it makes cycling an inclusive mode of transportation because it doesn’t discriminate by age or physical ability.
When it comes to purchasing an e-bike though, there are a plethora of options for both the bike and battery. So how do you decide which one is best for your needs? As a battery engineer who has built hundreds of batteries and logged way too many hours soldering battery packs, here are my thoughts on the most commonly asked questions when it comes to e-bike batteries.
If you’re new to battery terminology, you might want to start here: Battery terms that every e-bike owner should know.
In this post, we’ll cover the following questions:
What is the best e-bike battery?
This is one of the hardest questions to answer. There are so many variables that go into what makes a good battery and what’s best for you, may not be the best for me. Even then, a good battery can perform poorly if it’s not cared for properly.
Battery packs are made up of individual battery “cells”. Cells are classified into cylindrical cells (like your AA and AAA) and prismatic cells (like the one in your phone). Each class of battery is manufactured in a variety of form-factors (in the battery world we use this term to mean size). The most commonly used form-factor of cells in an e-bike battery pack is the 18650.
A battery pack is only as good as it’s weakest cell.
When it comes to batteries, in my experience, there is a strong correlation between price and quality. I don’t follow this rule when it comes to most things like for example, box wine (I’m just saying, there are plenty of really good box wine options these days!). When it comes to batteries though, you really don’t want to be compromising on quality because you’ll eventually end up having to pay the price.
Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing an e-bike:
Cell Manufacturers: Panasonic, LG, and Samsung have a good reputation in the battery industry for their high quality cells, so paying a premium for these cells is certainly worth it. If the e-bike you’re trying to buy doesn’t have or provide cell manufacturer information, they’re likely not going to be a reliable source anyway.
Cell Chemistry: Lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries are the best option for e-bikes. Although lead-acid batteries are significantly cheaper, they’re three times as heavy as their li-ion equivalents.
Li-ion has several variants of cell chemistry. The most popular ones for e-bikes are Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC), Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO), and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). The metrics to look for when selecting a cell chemistry are:
- Specific Energy: has an impact on the range of your battery.
- Specific Power: how the battery handles high load scenarios like going up
- a hill.
- Safety: does the chemistry have a history of high in-field failures.
There are trade-offs when choosing one chemistry over another, but as we’ve shown in the image below, NMC and LFP are both great options that both offer the best value in terms of performance, price, and safety.
Picking the right battery chemistry has to do with figuring out what matters most to you. Do you want a battery that has a longer range (higher specific energy) but doesn’t have as much power? Or do you want a battery that has a more power (higher specific power) but may not last as long?
In my opinion, the best e-bike batteries are likely going to be made from cells manufactured by Panasonic, LG, or Samsung with either LFP or NMC cell chemistry.
What is the range of an e-bike battery?
The range of a battery pack depends on the amount of energy packed inside of it and is measured in Watt-Hours (Wh). Watt?
Watt-hours are calculated by multiplying the battery capacity, in Amp-hours, by the battery Voltage, in Volts.
Let’s assume that, on average, 1-mile requires about 25Wh of energy. So a 14Ah, 36V battery should get you about 25-miles per charge.
Keep in mind that the weight of the rider, outside temperature conditions, and the amount of pedaling will make a significant difference in range.
A word of caution: the range that e-bike manufacturers provide should be taken with a grain of salt. That number is generated from tests that are run in perfectly tailored lab conditions. Do you charge any of your electronics in an incubation chamber set at 28° C with a lab-grade charger that applies the perfect current while charging? Yeah, I don’t either. And so, We should assume that the manufacture-specified range is delivered only if the battery is charged and discharged under ideal conditions i.e. not real world conditions.
For a more realistic estimate, shave off 15% of the manufacturer specified range and assume this padded number to be your real range.
If you’re looking for a longer range, choose a battery that has higher capacity (Ah). If you’re looking for more power, choose a battery that has higher voltage (V). Learn more why voltage and capacity matter.
What is the lifespan of an e-bike battery?
There are several factors that affect the lifetime of a battery such as:
- environmental conditions: temperature during charging discharging
- charging rate: how fast or slow your battery is charged
- charging voltage: what voltage the battery is charged to
- depth of discharge (DoD): what voltage the battery is discharged to
The list above isn’t exhaustive but, in general, batteries decay as a function of time in the charged state. Period.
Day 1: You get your new e-bike and charge it up to 100% and go on a bike ride. When you come home, you charge the bike back up to 100% and you’re excited to ride it again soon.
Day 2. 364: Life get’s in the way and you still haven’t been out on your bike since that first ride.
Day 365: One year later, it’s the perfect day for a bike ride and you finally have some time on your hands. You head to your basement, unlock your bike, and excitedly turn it on. 80% charge. What? You clearly remember charging your bike to 100% last year before moving it to the basement!
The truth is, we can’t beat thermodynamics. I’ll say it again: batteries decay as a function of time in the charged state.
Now, because you left your battery at 100% for a whole year in a basement with no temperature control, you inadvertently caused your battery to lose a certain amount of irreversible capacity. Your range will be ~20% lower and you’ll likely have to replace your battery sooner than you expected. The table below shows you how much recoverable capacity exists in a battery after storing it at different temperatures and different charge states for 1-year.
This is why a lot of electronics come with batteries that are only partially charged. to help slow down this decay. That being said, it’s hard to track how long e-bikes and their batteries have been sitting in warehouses before being delivered to your door so you could get a battery that has been decaying for a year or two.
Manufacturers also tend to overrate their batteries and will make claims about certain batteries having a lifetime of at least 1,000 cycles. Show.me.the.data.
The lifetime of a lithium-ion battery is described as the number of cycles until the capacity (Ah) drops below 80% of it’s initial capacity. In general, this is roughly 250-400 cycles (depending on battery chemistry and other factors) which amounts to roughly 1.5 to 2 years if you charge discharge daily and care for your battery properly.
How to charge your e-bike battery to make it last longer
- The thing that will kill your battery faster than anything else is leaving it charged at elevated temperatures. If it’s 80 degrees outside and you have your e-bike fully charged, move it indoors where it’s cooler and try to drain the battery as soon as possible.
- Charge your battery at room temperature as often as possible.
- When sourcing an e-bike battery charger, the slower the charge rate the better. For example, if you have a 2-Amp charger, and your battery is a 14 Ah battery pack, you are charging at 14 Ah / 2-Amps = 7-hours. This is a nice, slow charge which will certainly improve the longevity of your battery pack. Avoid charging at rates that are faster than 2-hours for a full charge.
There’s a lot that goes into choosing the best battery for you e-bike, and there certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. But if I were buying an e-bike battery today, here’s what I’d do: LFP or NMC, slow charge, avoid storing or charging in hotter temperatures, and leave the battery at around 30% charge if you don’t plan on using it for a while.
Have questions? We’d love to help. You can get in touch using the contact form or find us on @somerville_ev
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Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide
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A good e-bike battery should last for hundreds of cycles. With average use, this means several years. Eventually, electric bike batteries need to be replaced as their life cycle comes to an end.
You can tell when a battery is nearing the end of its life when it does not provide you with much range. Some high-quality batteries that come on the top e-bikes such as a Bosch battery have a battery management system (BMS) integrated into the battery that actually tells you the current capacity and also how many charge cycles it has gone through.
But no matter what type of battery you have you’ll sooner or later be asking yourself the all-important question: how can I replace my e-bike battery?
Down below Electric Bike Report dives into this question and more in greater detail.
Are E-bike Batteries Interchangeable?
In general, the answer is no – you should only replace a battery with one that comes from the same manufacturer and is of exactly the same spec.
The reason is that the original e-bike or kit manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure that the battery pack, charger, and e-bike all work safely together, and using a ‘non-original’ replacement pack potentially introduces all sorts of uncontrolled risks.
It’s a little more complicated than this in some situations. For example, some Bosch batteries of different capacities are explicitly made to be interchangeable and there will be many instances where an original supplier and/or manufacturer of the e-bike cannot be traced or has gone out of business – in such cases we look at your options below.
As an important side note: you should always, if possible, use a charger that comes from the original manufacturer too. The one that comes with your battery should sync up well and not overload the battery. Pairing your battery with a different charger adds in risk of malfunction during charging.
Let’s first look at the basics of getting a replacement battery for your e-bike, then we will look at some of the major manufacturers of e-bike batteries and some of the main e-bike manufacturers to see which common battery types are still replaceable. Let’s consider the options for replacement in terms of desirability.
Where Should I Go to Get a Replacement E-Bike Battery?
On this last point it may help to note that there are a couple of manufacturing standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes. Although it’s not a legal requirement, it may be that one of the standards is actually marked on the battery itself.
The standards are BS EN 50604‑1 and UN38.3, the latter required for lithium-ion battery transport by air, sea or land. Just because these standards are not marked on a battery doesn’t mean it does not comply with them – but it is a reassuring sign if a battery does bear one or both of these marks.
Note that using a replacement battery that does not come from the original manufacturer (whether a dealer is involved or not) may void the warranty of your electric bike or kit. Check with the e-bike or kit company to understand what their policy is regarding the use of aftermarket replacement batteries.
Replacement Batteries from Original Manufacturers
Bosch E-Bike Batteries
Only Bosch manufactured batteries will be used on any new Bosch e-bike – this has always been the case and so it makes advice on interchangeability a little more straightforward than with the likes of Shimano and Brose who have both allowed the use of third party batteries with their mid-drive motor systems.
There have been four basic designs made by Bosch over the years (good online overview here):
- Rack mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Down tube mounted batteries: PowerPack in 300, 400, and 500 Wh versions, current versions of which are all interchangeable with each other.
- Frame integrated batteries: PowerTubes in 400, 500, and 625Wh versions, with the 400 and 500 units being interchangeable with each other. The 625Wh may be retrofittable but it needs a compatible frame with a big enough space to house it (400 and 500 units are the same physical dimensions but 625 is bigger). 500 and 625 Wh units are used on the Dual Battery system to give a capacity up to 1250Wh.
- Frame Integrated ‘Smart’ Option batteries: This is a new 750Wh option for 2022 and will be only compatible with 2022 e-bikes that feature the Bosch ‘Smart’ system and will not be compatible with other Bosch e-bikes that are ‘non-Smart’. Similarly, other types of PowerTube batteries (400, 500, and 625Wh versions) will not be compatible with e-bikes featuring Bosch’s ‘Smart’ system.
Some third-party batteries compatible with Bosch systems are available as detailed in the section below.
There are some suppliers of batteries that will fit older models, in some cases dating back to 2011 when the Bosch e-bikes first entered the market, for example, The Holland Bike Shop in Europe sells some batteries compatible with much older Bosch-powered models.
Shimano E-Bike Batteries
Shimano produces its own brand batteries for use on their systems, but you may also find new e-bikes powered by Shimano motor systems with batteries manufactured by their licensed partners Darfon and SMP. These third party batteries are not interchangeable with any Shimano batteries.
Shimano’s current range includes rack-mounted, downtube-mounted and frame-integrated batteries from 418Wh to 630Wh. You can see a brief overview with detailed links to each battery on offer here.
It’s important to note that each battery model has a limited number of specific battery mounts it will work with, so it is important to replace an old battery with one that is compatible with the mount on your e-bike. You can check out detailed compatibility info here and here.
Shimano says that ‘the oldest current battery we have is the BT-E6000 and the corresponding battery mount BM-E6000. These are compatible with all five of our current drive units (DU-EP8/E8000/E7000/E6100/E5000), but not earlier systems. For reference, DU-E8000 is the oldest in that list – it was introduced in 2016.’
Brose E-Bike Batteries
The only battery listed on Brose’s own website is a 630Wh frame-integrated option.
However, Brose systems are widely used by other manufacturers who also spec own-brand or third-party batteries. These include the likes of the widely respected battery manufacturer BMZ and well-known brands like Scott and BULLS.
For example, Specialized’s ‘full power’ range use Brose-based mid drives and a range of their own brand frame-integrated batteries. Although information on interchangeability is scarce, a Specialized FAQ page, in response to the question ‘Can I increase range by using the 604Wh aftermarket battery in any Turbo Vado/Como?’ says yes, all Vado batteries are cross-compatible as long as you are running the latest firmware (by implication so are Como and Turbo full power batteries are cross-compatible too).
The above appears only to address compatibility on current Specialized models and battery availability for older models appears a bit more complex with lots of debate online over the matter.
The fact that the latest Specialized e-bike batteries contain a Bluetooth chip to communicate with the latest Mission Control App certainly suggest both backward compatibility and availability of third party batteries will be very limited. Current e-bike batteries available from Specialized can be found here.
Yamaha E-Bike Batteries
Yamaha has integrated, rack-mounted and frame-mounted options ranging between 400Wh and 600Wh but information on backward compatibility is rather hard to find. Their systems appear on Haibike models and in the US on their own brand models too.
Giant use Yamaha motor systems but apparently have their own brand of battery – the EnergyPak range. The standard EnergyPak comes in rack-mounted and frame-integrated options whilst the Smart Compact variant allows for faster charging.
Finally, there is the Giant EnergyPak Plus, for use with the Smart Compact – a range extender style battery that fits onto the frame and effectively increases the capacity of the main Plus battery.
Giant’s Service web page states that there are EnergyPaks with 300, 360, 400, 500 and 625Wh capacities and also states ‘Giant EnergyPaks are interchangeable’.
Fazua E-Bike Batteries
This lightweight German-made system uses a frame-integrated 250Wh design and there have been two types of battery, Battery 250 and Battery 250X, the latter having the ability to be switched on and off remotely.
The latest Fazua Evation 250X battery is compatible with all Fazua electric bikes from 2019-22.
GRIN and Cytronex E-bike Kit Batteries
Canada’s GRIN is a true expert in producing a wide variety of e-bike kits. Whilst they do several designs of batteries, one of their best options from a replaceability point of view is their own brand LiGo batteries.
LiGo batteries are very unusual in being modular so that you can easily connect together as many as you like to increase or decrease battery capacity at will. They are particularly suitable for lightweight and folding bikes (I use them on a GRIN Brompton kit) and also for those who want to air travel with e-bikes as the individual battery units are only 98Wh and so are generally allowed on passenger aircraft (disconnect them from each other for travel and reconnect them on landing to make a useful e-bike battery).
The design has been around for several years and is backward compatible.
The UK’s Cytronex produces both European and US spec lightweight kits which use a unique own-design of ‘bottle battery’.
Cytronex says all their lithium bottles are compatible forwards and backward from the first version in 2017. They have different firmware for the new Bluetooth variant but both this and the non-Bluetooth version allow you to use the new 2-way – 5 level Boost Button or the previous one-way 3 level button.
In fact, if you have old and new kits on two bikes you can switch the bottle between both and it will recognize the two different button types automatically.
E-bike Manufacturers Own Brand Batteries
There are hundreds of e-bike manufacturers in the more budget space so it’s way beyond the scope of this guide to cover the options for each one; rather we’ll take a look at a couple of the market leaders.
Rad Power Bikes E-Bike Batteries
Rad Power Bikes first started producing e-bikes for the North American market in 2015 and now claims to be the US market leader. Their website lists several replacement batteries and their current lineup of bikes uses one of two battery designs.
There is the External Battery Pack (with the option for the smaller pack specific to the RadMission) which is compatible with all 2018 and newer model ebikes except the RadRover 6 Plus and RadCity 5 Plus, which use the Semi-Integrated Battery Pack.
Rad Power Bikes does offer legacy options for bikes older than that 2018 ‘cutoff’ and although some of these legacy batteries are currently out of stock Rad says they have plans to restock them.
The battery packs are consistent across their main sales areas of Canada, US and Europe.
The Rad Power website has a great filter system so you can track down the compatibility of what batteries are in stock against all current and previous models, right back to the original 2015 RadRover. All e-bike manufacturers’ websites should provide this service!
Pedego E-Bike Batteries
A longstanding US manufacturer with a clear set of battery specs for current models here. However, there doesn’t appear to be any info about legacy batteries or backward compatibility.
Interestingly, and it seems uniquely amongst the mainstream manufacturers, Pedego have recently introduced a serviceable battery (pictured above) – designed to be easily maintained at the local Pedego store. It features a rear light, brake light and indicators to boot.
Batteries for Out-Dated Motor Systems
There are a number of older motor and battery systems that are either not used or little used these days but there are still some suppliers out there who may be able to help out and if you are in this position a bit of internet research might just turn something up. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples.
BionX E-Bike Batteries
BionX operated between 1998 and 2018 and were once one of the leading e-bike system manufacturers in North America, with the likes of Trek and Kalkhoff using their systems.
There are still limited stocks of spare parts available here and there, including batteries, for example on this Ohm webpage.
Heinzmann E-Bike Batteries
German company Heinzmann had a great reputation for quality and produced the now obsolete Classic system and the newer Direct Power system. At various times both were available as kits or fitted to off-the-peg e-bikes.
In the UK Electric Vehicle Solutions are the main stockist of complete Direct Power kits and of spare parts for the Classic system.
What About Non-removable Frame Integrated Batteries?
A relatively small number of e-bike batteries are incorporated into the frame and not designed to be removed by the rider – they must be charged on the bike. Whilst perhaps inconvenient for some, the system has the benefit of a sleeker and simpler design and keeps the battery cells well-protected.
The Ebikemotion X35 system is one example of the most common lightweight systems out there to feature a frame-enclosed battery.
When it comes to replacing these batteries, to be clear, our official advice is that this is a job for the dealer, or expert shops to do only.
DIY in this area can get tricky in a hurry. Looking into service options to replace batteries in an integrated system is something to consider before purchasing the bike.
Third-Party Replacement E-Bike Batteries
For some older batteries – or even some current ones – there may be manufacturers other than the so-called OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) who made the original batteries. These third-party companies are not recognized by the original e-bike manufacturers so if possible it is always best to go back to your dealer or the manufacturer directly to source an original battery.
However, third-party batteries may be a solution where no original batteries appear to be available.
There are a growing number of companies that provide third-party batteries and here we take a look at a couple of the bigger operations.
Please note that on e-bikes that are still in their warranty period, replacing the battery with one from a third-party manufacturer will most likely void the warranty.
FTH Power has a good amount of experience in the electronics business and has diagnostics and assembly capabilities. They look to have good stocks of popular far eastern battery brands such as Reention (used by the likes of Juiced and Surface 604) and Hailong. They also have this handy battery/model finder to see if they have batteries for your particular model of e-bike.
Third-party battery provision (and recelling services) appear to be bigger business in mainland northern Europe than in the U.S. It makes sense, this is where e-bikes have been around much longer and where the average value of e-bikes is higher. The need to keep older bikes going longer is greater. For example, Heskon is a major supplier of replacement batteries to dealers and Fiets Accu Revisie is the part of Heskon that sells direct to customers.
The UK’s Electric Transport Shop network offers battery diagnosis (refundable against a replacement battery or recell if required). The ETS says they also have stocks of Battery Management System chips that can be used on certain packs, usually on older e-bikes.
The ETS also says ‘There are so many shapes of e-bike batteries now that we cannot guarantee that we have cell packs to fit them all and it is usually cheaper to buy a factory-built replacement than to hand-build a replacement pack in the UK so we usually recommend buying a battery from the original supplier if the diagnosis proves that’s what is needed. If their supplier is no longer available to supply a replacement pack in this instance we will help people find a suitable replacement or as a last resort we will offer to wire in an alternative pack which may be in a different position on the bike.’
What Should I Do With My Old E-bike Battery?
If at all possible the ideal solution is to take it back to the dealer you bought it from who will send it on for recycling.
In the US the industry is in the midst of setting up its own recycling scheme. It was organized by People for Bikes and will be directly coordinated under the auspices of Call2Recycle. There will be a network of battery drop-off locations from the nation’s roughly 3,000 independent bike shops. Manufacturers and retailers can sign up here.
The batteries will be sent on to ‘processing partners’, four of which are domestic and two of which are foreign—one in South Korea and one in Belgium.
The consortium brands are funding the recycling service, which will be free to riders; of course, consumers will still have to pay for replacement batteries. There are also plans for a consumer-direct mail-in recycling option in the summer – EBR will keep you posted on its development.
There are already such ready-made recycling networks in mainland Europe and the UK is just beginning to establish such a network.
This guide to replacement electric bike batteries hopefully covered the basics of what is out there for you. It’s certainly just the tip of the iceberg though. If there is anything else that wasn’t covered here, let us know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below and we’ll update this guide with the info our readers are looking for!
Which One is Better 36v or 48v Ebike Battery? Know Before Purchasing…
Batteries are regarded as one of the greatest innovations ever made. Even you would find it difficult to envision a world without batteries. One of the best applications of batteries is on electric bikes.
There are many different types of ebike batteries in the market such as 36v, 48v, 52v, and so on. But right now the most popular ebike batteries are the 36-volts and 48-volts.
Most people get confused between these two batteries (36v vs 48v ebike battery) while purchasing a new ebike or converting their normal bike to electric. And look for the answer to the main question i.e., which is better 36v or 48v ebike battery?
You will get the answer after reading this article till the end as we have discussed the major differences between 36v and 48v batteries as well as some most frequently asked questions that you may have later.
Fundamentals of Electric Bike Battery Terminologies
Let’s start with the meaning, What is an electric bike battery and how does it work?
To put it simply, an e-bike battery is made up of far smaller battery cells but the arrangement of these is in such a way that results in maximizing the power.
The batteries are designed in a way that they produce electricity through chemical reactions which happen in them. Most e-bike batteries are made up of lithium ions.
The range of these e-bike batteries can be compared to that of a car’s mileage. If you want to get a perfect e-bike, You must know some basic terminologies of a battery such as volts, ampere-hours, watts, and range.
Let’s understand them in detail:
Battery volts
As simply said, voltage refers to the quantity of electrical potential that your battery has. Therefore, in general, higher voltage leads to better power production. Therefore, it is advised to utilize a higher voltage battery for greater speed and range.
As less energy is required to create the same amount of power for the bike as one with a lower voltage, the same can be considered more efficient. A battery with 36 volts has low electrical potential as compared to a 48-volt battery.
Ampere hours
SI unit of electric current is “Amperes”. Ampere hours measure how much energy is required to create current for an hour. An e-bike battery typically uses 10 Amp hours to 20 Ah. In essence, the better range is determined by the amp hours.
Watts
The word “watt” refers to the power unit. The bike’s watt rating is an effective way to determine how much power the motor is capable of handling. When ascending a steep incline, an e-bike may exceed its wattage capacity.
By multiplying volts by amps (volts x Ah), you can easily calculate watts. Watt-hours display the watts that the e-bike battery can produce for one hour, similar to how ampere hours do.
Range
The range of an e-bike is the greatest distance you can ride before your battery runs out on a single charge. Larger batteries provide e-bikes a greater range meaning that, a 48v battery gives more range than a 36v battery.
Difference Between 36v and 48v Ebike Battery
The simple distinction between a 36V e-bike battery and a 48V e-bike battery is that both the batteries have got different voltages and this difference in the voltage of batteries would refer to the difference in the production of power supplied.
It is obvious that a 36V e-bike battery would give out less power than a 48V e-bike battery. Above, we discussed the important terminologies that you should be acquainted with in order to make a decision.
So what’s better: a 48V e-bike or a 36V e-bike? We will list the differences and the pros and cons of both with the foundation of the above-mentioned terminologies.
Factors to consider while selecting a 36v vs 48v ebike battery:
Battery volts
A 36V e-bike battery produces a current of up to 15 amperes. Whereas, a 48V e-bike battery produces a current in the range of 10 to 40 amperes which is higher than a 36v battery. So, a 48V e-bike battery allows a better speed than a 36V e-bike battery.
Even though it sounds like achieving the same speed with a 36V e-bike is not possible, that is not true, apparently, an extra amount of exertion would be required to achieve that with it. But, this can exhaust and overload the battery.
Also, the battery heats up too fast because more heat is produced by a 36V motor than by a 48V one and this will affect the battery life and efficiency.
Ampere hours
The ampere-hours produced by a 36V battery is around 10-15 amp-hours. Whereas, a 48V battery has around 10-40 amp-hours. The maximum amps on a 36V system will be 10% less than those on a 48V system.
The maximum number of amps that may be drawn from a battery is known as a peak amp. and on a 36V system, it is around 5% less than on a 48V system.
The continuous amp rating, which determines the size of wire you should use to wire your e-bike, is the most crucial amp rating. A 36V system has constant amps that are roughly 5% less than a 48V system.
Watts
Based on the information about the watts and ampere-hours provided the watts produced by the 36V e-bike battery range somewhere from 360- 540. In a similar pattern, a 48V e-bike battery produces around 480-1920 watts.
When there is a comparison of range between the two a 48V e-bike battery produces about 25% more range than a 36V e-bike battery. The power difference between the two lies at 10-15%.
Range
A 48v battery has more Ah and watts than a 36v battery. As a result, an ebike with a 48v battery offers a greater range as compared with a 36v ebike on a single charge.
So if you want a greater range with more speed, go with 48 volts ebike battery. And if you are purchasing or converting your ebike for the daily commute, going with a 36v battery would be a wise decision as it would save you money.
Also, The maximum speed a 36v battery offers is around 20 mph. whereas a 48 volts system is capable of 28 mph top speeds.
So, these were the major differences between 48v and 36v ebike batteries that you must consider while purchasing or replacing an ebike battery.
v Vs 48v Ebike Battery: How Do They Compare in Terms of Performance and Price?
Weight
When it comes to weight, there are two factors i.e., the rider’s weight and the battery’s weight.
If the rider’s weight is heavy (above 200 pounds or 100 kg), a heavy battery (48v battery) would be required to supply greater power to the motor. And if the rider’s weight is normal i.e., less than 200 pounds or 100kg, a 36v battery would be enough for commuting on flat roads only.
Whereas, a 48v ebike battery is heavier than a 36-volt battery but this extra weight is negligible because a 48v battery provides more power, speed, and range than a 36v battery. Also, It is capable enough for climbing uphills. So choose wisely!
Compatibility with surfaces
You would get two types of surfaces while riding ebikes i.e., flat roads and mountainous (hilly) surfaces.
If you live in a city and want an electric bike for daily errands, commuting, or just for traveling then an ebike with a 36v battery would be enough for you and give a range of around 30-40 miles on a single charge.
However, If you live in a hilly area where you face mountainous terrains to ride, you would need a heavy battery on your ebike that fulfills your need with a maximum power supply i.e., a 48v battery. This battery is most suited for off-road riding since it is constructed to withstand pressure.
We think you wouldn’t be let down by even a 36V e-bike. But, It can be used a few times only because It would cause the 36v battery to drain more quickly over time and might potentially endanger the bike’s lifetime efficiency due to the strain.
As a result, The battery would run out faster than it would on a 48V e-bike, which would be the sole drawback in this situation. Therefore, It is advised to get a 48V e-bike battery when riding on rough terrain, because it is more practical and wiser.
Also, you wouldn’t need to do as much maintenance as you would with a 36V e-bike, the bike would require less of you.
Purpose of riding an electric bike
Knowing the reason for riding an ebike makes things a lot simpler as It is one of the best methods to evaluate the features and options that come with the ebike and allows for the best customization.
So try to answer the following questions:
If your purpose is to commute in the city or enjoy the cycling experience without hurting your legs much. Then, an ebike with a 36v battery is enough for this as it offers outstanding speed, power, and range without costing you much.
However, If you want to accelerate quickly and have a longer riding range and do some delivery work then a 48V e-bike battery would be perfect for you, or maybe a higher voltage one depending on the slope and the amount of weight you are carrying if you want to ride your e-bike on uneven surfaces.
So, making a plan for oneself to compare and contrast the usage and purpose of the purchase makes the process simpler since it would be a wise purchase.
The Controller
One of the crucial components of an e-bike is the controller. E-bike’s speed is controlled or maintained by it. Keep in mind that the e-controller bike’s rating is a crucial consideration. It would release less electricity if the controller for your e-bicycle had fewer watts than the battery.
It wouldn’t assist you to even raise the battery voltage. As a result of a greater and quicker current flow when the controller has a higher voltage, the battery will overheat and sustain irreparable damage.
Consequently, The controller rating should be as close to the battery ratings while buying an ebike battery (you must take this in mind).
Cost
There is a difference in the quality that each of the two e-bikes offers despite the fact that they are both built of essentially the same material. You would pay more for a 48V electric bike than a 36V electric bike.
A 48V e-bike would cost more by at least 15%, according to this estimate. A 15% difference can be really significant when you consider that an electric bike might cost you hundreds of dollars.
The 36V electric bike is cheaper than the 48V electric bike, which is the key factor. But you have the freedom to choose if a 48V e-bike is what you can afford.
Which is Better 36v or 48v Ebike Battery: Conclusion
As you have seen, there are a number of variations between the 36V and 48V e-bikes. Sadly, there is no obvious victor. Whether you select a 36V or 48V e-bike battery will depend on your needs and your budget.
But after reading the above information, you will be aware of the major distinctions between 48v and 36v electric bike batteries and which one you ought to choose.
So to conclude this article on 36v vs 48v ebike battery our simple and subjective answer is:
Both batteries are good in their own place, they are widely used on the majority of electric bikes. But when it comes to choosing one between them, it depends upon the person utilizing the bike and the reason for the purchase is the determining factor.
If your budget permits it, choose the 48V battery if you’re interested in an electric bike that offers you superior speed and range. Otherwise, choose the 36v e-bike.
FAQs: 36v vs 48v Electric Bike Battery
Can I use a 36v battery with a 48v motor ebike?
Yes, you can. But the speed of the motor will reduce because the 36v battery will provide lesser current and power to the motor as compared to a 48v battery. Also, a 36v battery has fewer amp-hours so the range will reduce and the battery may get heat because it would have some extra load from the motor.
Can I replace a 36v battery with a 48v battery?
Yes! You can replace a 36v battery with a 48v one. But you need to regulate the controller to 36v otherwise the motor will run hot and catch fire because a 48v battery provides higher voltage and amp-hour as compared to a 36v battery.
Will a higher voltage battery make my ebike faster?
Yes! The speed of an ebike motor is also dependent on the battery’s voltage. It means higher battery volts make an ebike faster as compared to a battery with low volts. Generally, the top speed of an ebike with a 36v battery is around 15mph Whereas, a 48v ebikes have a top speed of around 25mhp.
What is the main difference between 36v and 48v electric bikes?
Higher battery voltage provides more electric power. As you can see there is a difference of 12 volts between these two batteries. It simply means a 36v battery has less power (around 15 amps) whereas, a 48v ebike battery has more current 9 (around 10-40 amps).
Is a 48-volt battery better than a 36 volt?
Both the batteries are good. But it depends on the type of ebike and where you are going to ride on. Generally, Ebikes with 36v battery is perfect for city riding, and normal commuting as it is less expensive and lightweight too. However, ebikes with 48v batteries are good for rough terrain, cargo loading, and long rides.
Can I use a 48v battery on a 36v ebike motor?
Yes! You can use a 48v battery on a 36v motor. For this combination, the controller of the ebike should also be compatible with a 48v battery.
Electric Bike News Updates:
Bittoo Gupta
I am the founder and editor of The Bike Fetcher, a passionate E-Biker. My passion for E-bikes led me to build this blog site where I share electric bike news updates, my e-biking experience, e-biking tips, e-bike battery tips and help people to get the best e-bike. Feel free to contact me on my social accounts or through the contact form.
X-Treme 24V/36V Electric Bike Battery For TrailMaker, TrailClimber, XB-300Li XB-305Li. 24v in stock, 36v pre-order only 36v pre-order only but price guaranteed
FOR THE 24V BATTERY SEE BELOW
Replacement Aluminum color 24V 10ah Lithium LiFePo4 Lithium battery pack for the X-Treme TrailMaker, TrailClimber, XB-300Li XB-305Li Electric Mountain Bicycle. This battery comes only in the aluminum color
PLEASE NOTE: This Version 3 Battery is the only battery now available. Please see below for difference in the Versions and additional parts you may need.
Version 3: These batteries were used on models Trail Maker, Trail Climber, XB-300Li and XB-305Li manufactured in late 2013 and later. The Version 3 Battery has a key switch on the top of the battery for the on/off switch. There is a locking mechanism on the bottom of the battery to secure the battery to your bike.
Version 2: These batteries were used on models XB-300Li and XB-305Li that were built between 2010 and mid-2013. These batteries have a button on top of the battery for the on/off switch. These batteries are LiPo4 Lithium cells. If you have a version 2 battery and would like to purchase a new battery, you will need to purchase the Version 3 Battery Charger (part #24VMTN-250-1). Version 2 and Version 3 Battery Packs use the same LiPo4 Lithium Batteries, however the silver battery case is slightly DIFFERENT therefore DIFFERENT chargers are also needed.
Version 1: If your XB-300Li and XB-305Li were built in 2009 or earlier, your bicycle came equipped with a LiMn Lithium Battery pack. These battery packs are no longer manufactured and you should upgrade to the LiPo4 Lithium battery pack. LiPo4 is the latest technology, it’s very stable, not susceptible to temperature swings, and just a much better product over the LiMn type in our opinion the cost is the same. The cost is the same for the batteries, however you will need to purchase a new LiPo4 compatible battery charger part number 24VMTN-250-1 which is also sold on this site. If in doubt, call us to order.
FOR THE 36V BATTERY SEE BELOW
Replacement LiPo4 36 Volt 10.4 AH Lithium Battery for the X-Treme TrailMaker TrailClimber Elite Max Electric Mountain Bicycles. Available in Aluminum.
These batteries can only be used on the 36 Volt TrailMaker Elite Max TrailClimber Elite Max. You cannot upgrade a 24 Volt Bicycle to the higher volt battery pack.
Estimated shipping and delivery is 5-10 days business days if the product is in stock.
X-Treme products come with a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. The X-Treme frame comes with a lifetime warranty. You can view the X-Treme warranty by clicking here.
X-Treme has a 15-days return warranty. You can view the return details by clicking here.
Click here to view X-Treme’s full line electric bike collection
Click here to view our Electric Bike Buyer’s Guide.
Shipping Policy
UrbanBikesDirect.com goal is to fulfil your order within 3 hours of your purchase. By Achieving this we have the quickest shipping times in the industry.
Our goal is to keep the ordering process as simple as possible. Shipping times vary from 1-3 business days if in stock and delivery time varies between 3-10 business days if your product is in stock.
All ebikes are shipped domestically.
Select Electric Skateboards can have extended lead times if they are located overseas and not in stock in the US.
Please read through this instructional guide so you can understand how the process works and what you should expect to happen once you place your order with us.
Tracking an Order
UrbanBikesDirect.com will send you automated tracking updates once we receive the tracking number for your order. You can also track your order by clicking here.
- You will receive an order confirmation email as soon as you place your order. This means that we have authorized your credit card for the purchase and are preparing your order for shipment.
- As soon as we receive your order, we automatically reach out to our warehouse to confirm that it is in stock and available for immediate shipment.
- If your item is on backorder or unavailable, we will reach out to you via email.
- If your item(s) are available for immediate shipment, we will process the charges and submit the order for shipment.
- If your order is stock and your credit card is approved by our fraud guarantee department, the bike ordered will ship within 1-2 business days from the date of your order.
- We will send you the tracking information within 24 hours to the email address you provided when checking out.
- We ship daily via UPS Ground, Fed Ex Ground, and Freight to the lower 48 states. Most all orders will ship the same day as ordered if the order is submitted before 1pm PST (some exceptions apply, some part freight orders may not ship until the following day).
- Some parts orders and freight shipments are subject to ship the following business day if the order is placed close to the 1pm cut off time.
- Shipping costs are included with any unit going ground to the lower 48 states. AK HI ship by AIR at additional cost.
- We do not offer Cash On Delivery.
- A phone number is required by the freight company so a delivery appointment can be made.
- Failure to provide this at the time of order may cause a delay in delivery as freight items will not be delivered without an appointment.
- A delay in delivery may also cause additional storage fees to accrue that will need paid prior to delivery.
- Customs, Duties, and Taxes: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. The recipient of an international shipment may be subject to customs brokerage fees, import duties, and taxes after the shipment reaches the destination country. Additional charges are the responsibility of the recipient because we have no control over these government-imposed charges and cannot determine what they may be. Customs policies vary greatly among countries. Therefore, we cannot, and will not, offer advice about taxes in your country. We report the amount of the sale on the Customs form. Please do not ask us to claim less than the actual purchase amount. It is the customers responsibility to know the legality of the electric bike ordered in their country. Do not order items that are illegal to import into your country. Laws are different in every country and we cannot keep up with them all. It is your responsibility to check with your Customs office to see if your country permits the shipment of our electric bikes to your country.
- As the buyer, it is your responsibility to find out that information before you order. Please contact your local customs office for information.
- To avoid a delay in receiving your order from customs, consider the following:
- Provide us with a phone number where you can be reached by customs when your bike arrives. This phone number will be listed on the commercial invoice so customs can reach you to clear your order.
- Please do not refuse a shipment or ignore requests from carriers regarding duty and/or tax liability charges. Be aware that most carriers will hold a shipment for 5 days after arrival in your country before they return it to the sender.
- We do not refund original shipping charges for goods that are refused for delivery at customs.
- We will deduct all additional fees resulting from refused international shipments from your refund.
- If we are charged for YOUR taxes and duties on the shipment or incur any penalty or lawsuit related to your order or shipment, we will post the charge to your credit card.
- If the package is seized by Customs for any reason and we do not receive the package back, we will NOT issue you a refund since, obviously, local laws and regulations determine the fate of the package. If we do receive the package back after being seized, you are still responsible for the shipping charges and any other fees plus penalties incurred.
- We ship via UPS and Fedex for most electric bikes, USPS for small parts and accessories, and freight for large bikes.
- If you don’t receive tracking information from us within six business days of your order confirmation, feel free to follow up with us at support@urbanbikesdirect.com
- Please inspect the packaging of your items when they arrive.
- If there are any bike damaged upon arrival, you can file a warranty claim to get replacement parts for anything that’s damaged.
- If your item(s) do arrive damaged, please send photos to support@urbanbikesdirect.com and we will process an insurance claim on your behalf.
Cancellations Refunds:
- All orders canceled are subject to an administration fee equal to 15% of the total order amount, whether or not your order has shipped. This is a fee that covers administrative and personnel fees.
- If your item is on backorder and you accept the backorder, we will hold your payment until the bike ships. If you decide to cancel before a backorder arrives and is processed for shipping, we will not charge a fee.
- If you order has shipped, you (the buyer) will be responsible for actual return shipping charges. Refunds will only be issued to the original credit card that you use when placing your order.
- From time to time, a bike may run out of stock at our warehouse and the website wasn’t updated when you placed your order. In that case, we will send you an email right after you place your order notifying you of the backorder, what the expected time for arrival is, and what substitutes are available in case you are interested in getting a bike sooner.
- The expected arrival time may change due to unforeseen circumstances like a shipment getting held up at the port upon arrival or the factory missing a certain part needed to complete the manufacturing process.
- If the arrival time changes on your order, you can let us know whether you would like to keep the order, substitute for a different electric bike, or cancel the order altogether.
- Once back orders arrive, we will notify you by email with your estimated ship date and you will receive an email with tracking information within 1-3 business days.
This section will give you the essential information about what to expect with the delivery of your item. If you purchased one of our large and heavy items your item will ship freight LTL will be delivered via a lift gate truck.
Important Freight LTL Shipment
How to Handle Damages, Exceptions or Discrepancies at time of Product Delivery (Carton packaging appears to have some damage such as ripped, holes, large dents, open carton, or items are missing):
- Carton damage requires visual inspection of contents of the unit.
- UrbanBikesDirect recommends IMMEDIATE inspection, with driver present, to verify damage. If contents are damaged, indicate damage on carrier’s paperwork and notify UrbanBikesDirect immediately.
- IMPORTANT: If contents cannot be inspected immediately, notation on carrier’s paperwork must state: “Carton damage, subject to inspection” and list type of damage.
- Contents must be inspected within 48 hours of arrival and actual damage reported to the carrier
Carton packaging has excessive damage with the exposed electric bike:
- Refuse shipment
- Sign carrier paperwork: “Carton damaged and refused”
- Notify Urbanbikesdirect.com immediately.
If you have any further questions about the ordering and shipping process, feel free to contact us by email at support@urbanbikesdirect.com