Congrats, you’ve just bought your first ebike! Now you’ve probably got some questions about battery life and how to care for your motor. Not all batteries are the same, there are plenty to select from that vary in watts, size, weight and what they’re made of. The one thing that is consistent between every battery is that they will eventually die and need to be replaced.
Your electric bikes battery life is calculated by charge cycles, the more times you charge your bike the quicker your battery life gets used up. Bigger batteries tend to go further on a single charge and will stick around for longer. A bigger battery with higher watts will also come at a higher cost, the battery is the most expensive component of your e-bike and should be taken proper care of to increase its longevity. On average your ebike should last around 3-5 years before it starts to lose its efficiency. There are some steps that can be taken to get the most out of a single charge and extend the overall lifetime of your e-bike.
RANGE OF MY BATTERY
It is difficult to pin point the expected range of your e-bike in a single charge as the distance will vary depending on your bike and how you ride. As a general idea a standard ebike will travel between 30km-50km on a single charge before needing to be recharged, whereas higher end ebikes can travel up to about 100km. Factors that can impact your ebike range is the riding surface, rider weight, cargo weight, weather, incline and battery age. The e-bikes assistance level will also contribute to how quickly or slowly you burn through your battery, level 1 assistance (low assistance) will use less battery compared to level 5 (max assistance). It is recommended to get a battery with a larger capacity than what you might typically need in order to cover yourself from any unprecedented factors that may leave you without power mid ride. Overall, your entire battery life will live through 1000-1500 charges and between 50,000-57,000km before needing a replacement.
HOW CAN I EXTEND THE RANGE OF MY E-BIKE?
It is possible and relatively easy to extend the range of your ebike with a few adjustments. In order to extend the range of your ebike on a single charge, you can do the following:
- Reduce your carrying load, extra weight will weigh your bike down.
- Keep your cadence above 50 RPMs this will keep your bike riding with greater efficiency.
- Minimise stopping, starting and braking as this uses the most power.
- Make sure you have tyres that are ideal for your terrain and ensure that they are appropriately inflated.
- Stick to smooth and flat terrain, hills will require more power.
TYPES OF BATTERIES
Electric bike batteries are identified by what they're made of and their capacity. Battery capacity is measured in Amp Hours (AH), most ebikes come between 3AH to 4AH. The types of ebike battery's you can find available are:
Lead Batteries- You can find this type of battery in first-generation ebikes, they can expect to last around 300 cycles and are a cheaper option.
Nickel Batteries- This battery can hold up to 500 cycles. They tend to be more expensive and produce a greater amount of pollution.
Lithium-ion Batteries- This type of battery is popular and common for ebikes today, they can hold up to 1500 cycles.
Most batteries are made with lithium-ion as the high energy density means that they can store a lot of power while still remaining lightweight. A lithium-ion battery will provide the most power compared to its alternatives, they are also the safer option with modern technology integrated into its production. Although lithium-ion is the most expensive option, it will save you money in the long run as it gives more cycles meaning it won't need to be replaced as quickly as lead or nickel batteries.
WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF MY BATTERY?
There are a few measures that can be taken to extend the range of your ebike, including:
- Minimising the load on your bike
- Storing your bike in an area with a temperature between 0°C and 20°C
- Parking in the shade or undercover when possible
- Keeping your battery at 30% - 60% charge status when not in use
- Avoid draining your battery all the way down to 0%
WHY IS MY ELECTRIC BIKE CUTTING OUT?
Not sure why your e-bike keeps cutting out? There could be a few reasons this is happening; good thing is the most common reasons are an easy fix. Here are some of the common causes linked to battery cut outs:
Cold weather: Keeping your ebike outside and in cold temperatures can affect the bike's ability to discharge energy. When possible, store your e-bike inside or in a garage.
Corrosion: If you’ve had your ebike for quite some time or haven't properly maintained it, then you could find corrosion on the frame and parts. If you find corrosion, you will have to replace the pin connector or wiring.
Heavy load: A heavy load can cause your battery pack to fail and shut off your motor in order to prevent your pack from overheating. Reduce your carrying capacity to avoid this.
Vibrations and stress: naturally the motor causes vibrations while you ride which can cause stress on the bike leading it to wear out and cut off.
Otherwise, if you’ve had your ebike for a couple of years and ride frequently then unfortunately your battery may be coming to the end of it’s life.
CONCLUSION
Your ebikes battery life is determined by the number of charge cycles. How you care and maintain your ebike is important as well. It is recommended to consider what battery power you will need to accommodate your riding needs in order to make the most out of your battery's lifetime. With proper care and by following these tips you can extend your battery life up to 5 years.
