As the owner of an eBike, you may already know the battery is the heart of your ride. Without a good battery, your eBike won’t get very far, and replacing one can be costly. So taking care of your eBike battery is extremely important to keep it in good working order and to ensure it lasts for the longest time. Let’s get into what you have to do to take good care of your eBike battery.

Understanding Your eBike Battery

Before we dive into how to take care of your eBike battery, it’s important to understand what battery even is. Most eBikes have lithium-ion batteries because they’re lightweight, durable, and hold charge well. Li-ion batteries are made up of many small cells collected in one battery, and they naturally lose the capacity to hold charge over time — just like your mobile phone battery declines after repeated years of use.

This is why taking good care of the battery is crucial. How you charge, store, and use the battery will determine how long the battery lasts and how well the battery is utilized.

How to Charge the Battery Properly

One of the biggest determinants of battery health is how you charge it. It’s tempting to just stick it in the charger whenever and let it sit overnight, but sometimes that’s not the best idea. Do your best to prevent your battery going down to zero. For lithium ion batteries, you want to charge them when they’re down to 20-30% for best results. 

Charge the battery early to keep the cells in balance and healthy. And remove the charger when the battery is fully charged. Plugging the battery into the charger for hours after the battery is charged creates unnecessary heat, which damages the battery in the long run. 

Riding Your eBike Responsibly

The way you ride and how you use your eBike matters for battery life too. If you’re riding your bike continuously in top gear or climbing uphill without giving the battery a break, the battery will drain faster. Utilize pedal assistance mode instead of all-out power where you can — that reduces strain on the battery.

It’s also good to steer clear of extreme temperatures while riding. Cold weather can temporarily reduce your battery’s range because the chemical reactions inside slow down. If it’s cold, store the battery indoors when you’re not riding and keep the battery warm until you’re ready to roll out.

Battery Safety and Fire Hazards

Although eBike batteries are generally safe, they do carry some possibility of overheating and even catching fire in ostensibly rare situations- for instance, when they are damaged, charged, or stored the wrong way. Luckily, home insurance covers eBike fires in most cases. So you can check with your insurance provider for that. 

To minimize the risk as much as possible, you should use only the charger provided in the battery packaging, never charge the battery without close observation, and keep away from combustible objects. If you experience some puffiness, strange odors, overheating in the battery, stop the use of the battery right away and seek experts.

Storing the Battery Correctly

In the event you are not going to use your eBike for some time — say, the winter months or when going on a long trip — how you store your battery can have a huge impact on its life. Do not keep it fully charged nor unused for an extended period. The ideal level is normally 40-60% charge. It keeps the battery in the best condition when unused. Also, keep the battery in a cold, dry place away from the sun and moisture.

If your battery has been sitting unused for a few months, it’s a good idea to check on it and maybe give it a partial charge every now and then. This will increase its life and help you save money in the long run. 

When It’s Time to Replace the Battery

No battery is going to last forever. Once you’ve gotten the battery through several hundred complete charge cycles (usually a couple of years depending on usage), you can start to notice your eBike doesn’t have the range you once had. That’s the sign you might need to think about swapping out the battery. 

Some of the tell-tale signs your battery is in its final run are highly restricted range, increase in recharging times, or the battery not recharging. Once you do decide to replace it, take some time to pick out one designed to operate specifically for your model eBike for best performance.

Final Considerations

Keeping your eBike battery in good condition is not hard, but it does require a bit of attention. Charge smartly, don't expose the battery to extreme temperatures, and store your battery properly when not using. By doing these simple things, you can get the most out of your battery and keep your eBike rolling strong for years.