How To Take Care of Your Electric Bike Battery

How To Take Care of Your Electric Bike Battery

If you’re new to the world of eBikes, you may not realize that there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to battery maintenance. Electric bicycles rely on lithium-ion batteries to power their motors. Though these batteries are efficient and long-lasting, they also begin to degrade as soon as they leave the lot. Without proper care, you can expect your battery to last 1-2 years before you eat the $600+ cost of a replacement. However, with these tips, you can extend the life of your electric bike battery to 4 or 5 years and help it hold a charge for longer periods of time:

Don’t Drain the Battery

If you can, try not to let your eBike battery discharge down below 30%. Doing so will put a strain on the battery and decrease its lifespan. If you regularly let your battery zero out, it’s going to have a hard time holding a charge in the future.

Unplug Before It’s Fully Charged

When you charge a lithium-ion battery to maximum voltage, it will start to degrade. You should only charge your electric bike battery to full capacity once every few weeks, simply to balance the cells. For all other times, charge it to around 80%. You can buy an outlet timer that cuts the charge after a certain point. Otherwise, set a timer to remind yourself to manually unplug it.

Protect the Battery From Extreme Temperatures

Hot temperatures will drain the battery and cold ones will break down the electrolyte component. Buy a protective battery sleeve to use while riding. This will help it maintain its charge. When you return home, allow the eBike battery to rest indoors for 30 minutes to bring it to room temperature. It needs to be temperate before it can effectively charge.

Make Sure It’s Correctly Mounted

You’ll likely need to remove your electric bicycle battery to charge it, store it, or transport it. Take this time to check the connections for corrosion and dust. When you reattach it, make sure it’s properly mounted and that any screws are securely tightened. Otherwise, the battery could easily fall off. This could cause an accident or permanent damage to the battery.

Don’t Attempt To Repair a Battery at Home

If you’ve been in an accident, exposed your battery to extreme temperatures, or are having issues with your battery’s function, do not attempt to repair it yourself. Tampering with a battery could damage it further and also expose you to highly flammable lithium powder. If you suspect an issue with your eBike battery, take it to your eBike dealer for further examination.

Store the Battery Properly

If you won’t be using your bike for a while, you’ll need to store it correctly in order to preserve it. Remove the battery from the eBike and make sure it’s charged somewhere between 60-80%. Even while it’s stored, the battery drains. Make sure to recharge the battery every month to maintain this range.

Place your electric bike battery in a protective sleeve and store it somewhere safe and temperate, preferably indoors. Do not store your battery in a garage or car trunk for extended periods of time. Exposing your battery to extreme temperatures will degrade it.

Consult Electric Bikes LA For All Your eBike Maintenance Questions

New to electric bicycles? Welcome to the family! Whether you’re a rookie or veteran rider, Electric Bikes LA is here for all your eBike needs. Visit our shop to speak with our experienced Bike Advisors and even give an electric bike a test ride. We will match you to the eBike of your dreams and offer guidance to keep it running for years.

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