Maintenance tips for your electric bicycle battery

The batteries of electric bikes have a certain life cycle that you must take into account. Therefore, in this post we want to give you some tips when planning maintenance for the battery of your electric bike. Let’s get started!

6 maintenance tips for your electric bicycle battery

The electric bicycle is an increasingly common means of transportation in large cities. This is a sustainable mobility model that is growing in our country. In fact, an AMBE studyin collaboration with Cofidis, shows record figures over the course of 2020. More than 1.5 million bicycles were sold that year, an increase of nearly 25% over 2019.

However, if you want to keep your electric bike in top shape, you need to take care of one of its most important elements, the battery. These recommendations will be of great help to you.

Change the battery when you exceed the recommended cycles.

Did you know that battery life is measured in cycles? This is the time that elapses from the time you load it until it is unloaded again. Generally, a battery lasts around 600 cycles, although some models can reach 1000 cycles. As they are consumed, the battery’s capacity to store energy decreases. It may even drop by as much as 70 to 80 % compared to a brand new one.

To avoid this problem, it is recommended that you change the battery periodically. If you are buying a new electric bike, ask about the number of cycles and how you can calculate them. Once it nears the end of its useful life, talk to the manufacturer about finding a new model.

Do not charge your electric bicycle battery to 100% every time.

One of the tips that manufacturers usually indicate is not to reach 100% constantly. In the vast majority of batteries you will notice that the charging speed up to 80% is much faster. The remaining 20% loads much more slowly in order to protect the various internal elements. This is when the ion cells of the batteries are further stressed and degraded.

In this regard, many experts advise not to fully charge the battery (unless you are going on a long trip) and not to exceed 90% in the daily cycles.

Do not overcharge the battery

As with other electronic devices, it is essential that you take the utmost care of your battery. What does this mean? That you don’t have to wait until it is completely discharged to charge it. It is preferable to do this when there is about 20 to 30 % left. Over-tightening will reduce its life.

Another tip you can follow is to recharge your bike when it is at 50%. This is because most modern lithium batteries do not have the so-called memory effect. In this way, its medium- and long-term storage capacity will not be affected.

And don’t forget to unplug the charger once the battery reaches 100% capacity. Leaving it will also contribute to reducing its useful life. Additionally, another of the best tips you can do is to perform a full charge cycle every one to two months. Although it should not be the norm, it does help to calibrate your electric bike from time to time.

Do not expose to high temperatures

The sun is one of the main enemies of your urban electric bicycle battery. Keep this in mind, especially if you live in an area where it is very hot for much of the year.

Although the batteries have greatly improved their performance, they still present some problems when they reach over 30 degrees. In addition, if they are subjected to very high temperatures, small explosions may occur due to excessive expansion of their materials.

Therefore, try to leave it in an enclosed or roofed area. If this is not possible, look for a place with little sunlight.

Leave it above half load if you are not going to use it for a while.

Maybe you have your urban electric bike parked until winter passes and temperatures rise again. If so, it is very important that you take some precautions to avoid any battery mishaps. Apart from avoiding cold or too humid places, many of the manufacturers warn that it should be left at least above 50 % of its load capacity.

However, we recommend that you charge it a little more (at least 60%). This way, you will be completely sure that you will be able to use it again whenever you want without any problem.

Always use the appropriate charger

Undoubtedly, this is another factor that you should not lose sight of. In many occasions, we use cheaper chargers or some we have at home. Although the battery will charge, it will most likely lose life cycles. Therefore, it is essential to use one that is suitable for your battery.

It is best to use the original one you got with the purchase of your electric bike. If you no longer have it or it has broken down, use one of the same brand that is capable of doing so. This is the only way to maximize battery life.

Currently, you can find a large number of models of electric bicycles. Think about your lifestyle and you are sure to find the bike that best suits your needs and interests. Also, don’t forget that there are many components and accessories you can purchase to complement your handlebar experience.

If you follow these tips, you will get better maintenance for your electric bike battery. At Biciclásica we are the number one portal for classic bicycle sales in Europe. Visit our website and find the model you are looking for.