Lithium-ion batteries are high-performance devices that can store and use energy in large amounts. The reliability with which electric bikes, electric cars, phones, and laptops work today has been possible due to lithium-ion batteries' high-performance capabilities.
Because of these batteries, fossil-fuel-free transportation has become a reality. But the lithium-ion batteries are expensive. A replacement for your ebike battery may cost in the region of $600.
Moreover, the health of the battery also has an impact on its performance. That means your vehicle may not give you the range or the speed if the battery is not in good condition.
That's why you should take care of your Li-ion battery and make sure that it lasts longer and performs at its best to keep your electric bicycle going.
The technology of lithium-ion batteries is becoming more and more advanced, and the prices are also falling. That's good news, and in the future, we may have li-ion batteries that do not require all the care and consideration we have to take today.
If proper care is taken, your lithium-ion ebike battery can last a long time. However, maintaining an electric bicycle battery is not a difficult task at all, but you need to know exactly how to take care of your lithium-ion battery.
In this article, we will delve deeper into what will keep your e-bike battery in good health.
Let's Be Clear About the eBike Battery Charge Level
The life span of your lithium-ion battery is measured by cycle life. Typically, your battery will have a cycle life of 500 or 1000. This means your battery is capable of lasting 500 or 1000 times when charged from 0% to 100% charge level. Whether it is 0% or 100%, both extremes will bring the battery to excessive stress levels. This is not good for the health of your battery.
So you must not allow your ebike battery to be depleted to 0% or anywhere close to this number. Similarly, you should avoid charging your battery to 100% or a level close to it.
What is the Life Expectancy of the Lithium Battery for eBikes?
A battery with a 500 cycle life will typically last for a little less than two years, and the one with a 1000 cycle life will last for a little less than three years. For batteries with these two cycle-life specifications, the manufacturer would typically provide a warranty for 2 and 3 years, respectively.
Now, depending on how you treat your battery, it can last longer or even less than its life expectancy. Since the replacement of a lithium-ion battery is expensive, it's always a better idea to increase its performance and life expectancy.
How much should you charge at a time?
Now, let's see how the electric bicycle battery's charge levels and your usage relate to each other.
Suppose you need a 25% charge level for your bike to complete an errand. So charge it up to only 25%. This way, you can charge it four times to reach a 100% charge level. It's once you get a 100% charge level that it is counted as one cycle life.
Suppose you need a 25% charge level to do your job while your charge is 100%. The moment you charge it up to 100%, it is counted as one cycle life. But in your case, you will be using only 25% of the charge level. The rest of the charge or stored energy will dissipate or self-discharge.
So, efficient charging would require you to charge your lithium battery in light of how much energy you will use.
But never lose sight of the fact that you should not let the battery charge level deplete to less than 20% or charge it more than 85% unless you are instantly going to use all the power for a longer or heavy-duty ride. If you are going to use the bike immediately after charging, and if you will use the vehicle for the full run, you can charge the battery up to 100%.
Once in a while, charging your lithium battery up to 100% is, in fact, good for the health of the battery.
Even if you are likely to use the 100% charge level, charge your lithium battery to 100% in 2-3 sessions with intermittent breaks if you have the time and facility to do so.
A battery charger is less expensive than a battery. So, you can keep a charger in your office and charge the battery after you have reached the office instead of charging it to its full capacity in the morning or keeping a replacement battery handy.
Keep the following tips in mind:
- When charging the battery, use an e-bike battery charger that does the job at a steady rate rather than a speed charger that rapidly charges your battery.
- The first 50% of charging will not stress the battery; it is the remaining 50% that causes stress to the battery. The charging of the latter 50% should be eased, done in sessions.
- You may charge the battery while it is still on the bike. However, it's a good idea to remove the battery after regular intervals to clean it.
- You should use the opportunity to check the connections and remove all unwanted and foreign stuff such as dust, water, and gunk. They can cause corrosion and result in a poor connection.
Save your battery from high temperatures
- If you plan on storing your battery, the ideal charge level in such a case would be 40% to 70%, depending on how long the storage period is going to be. Check the battery's charge level at regular intervals and when the charge level dips below 20%, give it a fresh charge to bring the charge level back to 40% to 70%.
- Store the battery in a dry and cool place. The temperature should not exceed 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures more or less than this level are considered extreme temperature for your lithium battery and are not good for the chemistry of your battery.
- You should not leave the battery in your car as the temperature inside the locked vehicle exposed to the sun can exceed the levels that are considered safe for your battery. If you can't take the battery with you inside the premises, leave it locked with your bike. It will be much more secure and safer than inside the car.
- If you plan to transport your bike on a car rack, you mustn't forget to remove the battery. During a longer ride, there is a possibility of the battery falling off from its slot in the ebike. A bad fall can damage the soldered connections of your battery. This is not good for your expensive lithium battery.
Drive your vehicle with care
Your e-bike uses the battery the way you ride the bike. If you often use the boost mode or throttle, it puts additional stress on the battery. Though we all like to ride our vehicles at higher speeds, somebody who is more mindful of their ebike battery health will be able to ensure a longer life span for their battery.
eBike Battery Safety Checklist
- Give your battery 80% to 90% charge for the best cycle life.
- Buy the largest possible battery for your bike so that you can achieve both range and high cycle life.
- Don't expose your battery to high temperatures. Store it at 40% to 70% charge levels
- Do not charge the battery in very cold or very hot temperatures.
- Don't expose your battery to very high temperatures
- Whether you use the battery or not, it will self-discharge on its own
- Keep your electric bike battery dry and clean.
- Even though your battery is completely covered and sealed and there is no danger from water, you should not keep it exposed to rain or moisture. Its connections may degrade due to oxidation and corrosion.
- If you store your lithium battery in cold conditions, it will retain its charge.
- Never open your ebike battery. Opening it can be very dangerous. It can cause an explosion.
- Always take it to the designated place recommended by the battery's manufacturer to get it checked or repaired. Never try to do it yourself.
Final words
Maintaining an ebike battery is of critical importance. It enhances the life of lithium-ion ebike batteries and makes them perform optimally and without a glitch. But if you fail to take good care of your ebike battery, you should be willing to fork out upwards of $500 for an ebike battery replacement sooner than you anticipated.
Poorly maintained batteries do not perform well. This means the acceleration and speed may not be what you expect from your bike. But once you can understand and internalize the best practices to do with a lithium-ion battery, you will be able to take care of these batteries in various devices and gadgets you use in your daily life, such as smartphones and laptops.
Taking care of your best ebike battery is not difficult. The key is in knowing what to do. To that end, this guide should equip you with all the necessary information. By following the tips offered, you will improve the ebike battery life and the way it performs.