Since e-bikes are a big investment, their maintenance is key. An electric bike’s battery care is essential to its overall maintenance. If you are wondering whether you should charge your e-bike after every ride to maintain its battery, keep reading to find out!
Should I Charge My E-bike After Every Ride?
The short answer to the question “Should I charge my e-bike’s battery after every ride”? is “no, not always.” Before recharging, you should wait for the battery to fall to 40 or 30%.
If you’re taking your e-bike for a quick ride with its fully charged battery, you might not have to recharge it when you return.
However, for longer rides where the battery falls to 30%, a recharge of between 80 to 85% would be necessary. We recommend a full recharge if you plan to cover a longer distance the following day.
Following this practice will extend your e-bike’s battery life and ensure you get the most out of it. It will also prevent the need for a costly replacement. You should also avoid letting your e-bike’s battery drain to zero percent to protect its lifespan.
How Frequently Do You Need to Charge Your E-Bike’s Battery?
Now that you know it is not essential to charge your e-bike’s battery after every use, the next question arises, “how often should you”?
If you have just bought a new e-bike, we recommend charging it fully before use. The first charge should be at least 12 hours long.
We recommend using an automatic off-switch with the charger that stops the electricity supply once the vehicle is fully charged.
After the first long charge, you must charge your e-bike depending on its use. However, it is still essential to charge it regularly to prevent the battery from drying.
For example, if you don’t use your car for an extended period, its battery could die. The same thing could happen to your e-bike. Therefore, it is essential to keep the battery active to preserve its lifespan.
Electric bikes typically have lithium batteries with up to 1,500 charge cycles. In contrast, nickel batteries have up to 1,000 charge cycles, and there are 500 charging cycles in lead-acid batteries.
Lead-acid batteries are the cheapest and require frequent replacement. Once you are done with 500 charging cycles, you must replace the battery.
However, by keeping the battery from falling to zero and charging it as soon as it reaches 30%, you can get the maximum number of charging cycles out of your e-bike.
Continue doing this until you have completed 40 cycles. Then, allow the e-bike’s battery to fall to 10% before giving it a full charge.
When a battery reaches its maximum range, the electric bicycle’s battery gets discharged.
While some electric bicycles only have an assist-pedal mode, others have a throttle option that allows the user to move the vehicle forward without pedaling.
Hence, using the throttle or pedal will determine your desired range. The degree of motor assistance you receive is crucial, even if you don’t use the throttle.
Is It Possible to Overcharge Your Electric Bikes Battery?
Yes, overcharging your electric bike’s battery is possible and is detrimental to its lifespan. Overcharging often occurs when you leave the battery on charge for an extended period.
Therefore, once the battery has reached its maximum capacity, you should immediately remove the power source. The best way to remember is by setting a timer on your phone.
Batteries enter a discharge or recharge cycle when you leave them plugged into chargers for several days.
The charging process ends when the battery is fully charged. When it falls to 95%, the charge starts draining. The charger then engages and recharges the battery to 100%.
So, if you leave the battery charging for too long, this cycle repeats itself, affecting its lifespan. Therefore, it is essential to cut off the power supply to the battery.
Overcharging can also result in the battery expanding and, in rare cases, exploding due to the heat.
Therefore, we recommend using a timer plug with the charger, which automatically turns off after the set number of hours.
While charging, you should also keep the room temperature in mind. Charging the battery in extreme weather conditions can also affect its life.
The ideal temperature for charging your electric bike is between 60º and 70º Fahrenheit.
Tips to Charge Your Electric Bike’s Battery to Maintain its Lifespan
Here are some general rules to follow while charging your e-bike to extend its life span and achieve more charging cycles:
- Charge the battery before it falls below 30%, and don’t let it fully discharge.
- Don’t charge the battery outside when it is extremely cold. Instead, bring it inside where the temperature is warmer. Allow it to come to room temperature, and then charge it.
- Use a timer plug or set a timer on your phone to avoid overcharging your battery.
- Let the battery charge until it reaches 80 to 85%, especially if you need to ride it soon. If you plan to take it for a long ride, a 100% recharge is recommended.
- Store your electric bike’s battery in a cool and dry place. The ideal temperature for storage is between 59 to 77 degrees F.
- Before charging, ensure the battery is safe from kids, pets, heat sources, and flammable materials.
- Don’t cover the electric bike’s battery while it is charging.
- Only use the original manufacturer’s charger for charging. Using other chargers can adversely affect battery life. Moreover, there is also a risk of permanent damage.
- Regularly charge the battery even if you are not using your e-bike—for example, during winter.
- Keep your battery clean by regularly wiping it down with a dry microfiber cloth. Ensure the cloth is completely dry to protect the battery from humidity.
- Dry out your battery with a clean and dry cloth after each ride to avoid moisture from seeping inside, which could damage the battery.
- If your battery is brand new, fully charge it before use. A 100% recharge for a new battery could take up to 12 hours.
- Remove the battery while transporting your electric bike to keep it safe.
- The battery is not water-proof, so you must never submerge it in water. Although your bike can withstand the rain, its battery cannot. If water penetrates the battery, it will stop working.
How Long Do Electric Bike Batteries Generally Last?
The average lifespan of an e-bike’s battery is between 700 and 1,000 charging cycles. However, the time frame can vary depending on how well you care for the battery.
A high-quality battery should last 3 to 5 years with regular use. You can check the battery’s number of charging cycles by reading the owner’s manual.
We recommend a battery replacement once the charging cycle period has ended. Once the specified charging cycles have ended, the battery’s performance falls drastically.
Another thing to remember about a battery’s life is that it wears out even if you are not using it frequently. When idle, it gradually releases the energy accumulated, known as “self-discharging.”
The chemical reactions inside the battery can result in permanent damage if it is wholly drained for an extended period.
Final Word
It is not recommended to drain the battery of your electric bicycle fully. Doing so will reduce its charging cycles.
You should avoid charging your battery after a ride, as it can reduce its charging cycles and affect its lifespan.
When the battery falls to 30%, it is recommended to recharge it. When 60% of the charge is left, you charge it again.
You should switch between these two values every time you recharge your bike’s battery. Follow the 30%-60% alternating guideline as precisely as you can to maintain battery life.
Electric bikes frequently use lithium-ion batteries, which you must frequently charge to maintain lifespan.
The cost of an e-Bike battery is typically about one-third of the bike’s price, and without one, the bike is practically useless. So, try keeping the battery in prime condition to avoid rebuying.
Like everything else, regular maintenance and care will help prolong its longevity. Also, it guarantees that you can ride longer before the battery has to be changed.
Thus, by following a few simple guidelines, you can enjoy a long ride on your e-bike more often. Although care and maintenance are essential, you should also have a backup battery.
Having a spare battery is most important for frequent riders who go on long rides. Knowing you have a plan B will also give you peace of mind.
E-bike batteries are a big investment, and it is up to you to protect them. We hope this article has answered all your questions regarding charging your electric bike’s battery.
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