Your electric bike battery is probably the most important and expensive component on your bike. It is important you look after and take care of it. We often get people asking about battery care – here is a quick summary of some key ebike battery FAQs.
What choices of battery are there?
The bigger the battery capacity, the bigger your fuel tank, the further it will take you. We supply bikes with batteries from 250Wh to 750Wh.
What is my battery range?
It is difficult to give a precise answer as many factors affect the range of an ebike battery. The modes you are using, the terrain, the road surface, air temperature, rider weight, tyre tread & pressure. If your bike has a range
function on the display this will go up and down as you ride but will give you some indication based on the parameters the bike uses to calculate it.
You can view a Bosch Range Calculator HERE.
How long does it take to charge my battery?
A full charge can take around 6-8 hours depending on it’s capacity. Faster chargers can speed your charge time up. If you top up your battery after every ride, a charge can take less than an hour.
How often should I charge my battery?
As often as possible is best practice at room temperature, if you are not using your bike and battery for a few days then keep the battery around 60% charge, you may have to top up after a few weeks, don’t let your battery completely drain.
Should I charge my battery overnight?
We would recommend that you don’t keep your battery on charge when it is full, this could possibly lead to overheating, so try and charge during the day when you can unplug when it’s reached 100% capacity.
Are batteries affected by air temperature?
Always charge your battery at room temperature. The chemistry of Li-ion batteries don’t like being charged or stored at extreme hot or cold temperatures. If you do use your bike in very cold or very warm conditions the range will be less than at normal temperatures. Always remember to let the battery return to room temperature before charging if you have been riding in the cold, this may take an hour or so. If you have been riding in the heat and the sun also let your battery return to room temperature before charging.
How many charge cycles can I expect from my battery?
A charge cycle is a full discharge and recharge or equivalent. 300-500 is a conservative expectation but if you keep your battery consistently topped up but undercharged, say 70-80% that can double or triple it to 1200-1500. In fact Bosch themselves state that the battery should be good for around 8-9 years or 1000 full charge cycles. After 1000 cycles the battery will still work, but any battery will age over time so it will start to lose capacity and therefore not power your electric bike so far.
Do I need to keep your electric bike battery clean and dry?
E-bikes are designed to be ridden in the rain but never immerse a battery in water (riding through a deep river). If your bike is very wet then contacts on the battery should be dried to avoid oxidation and corrosion. It is good practice to check the contacts every few months and clean if necessary.
How long will my battery last?
Batteries have a shelf life and will degrade over time based on a host of factors but you should comfortably get over 6-7 years ‘normal’ use and possibly up to 8-9 years. Your overall battery capacity will diminish at a rate dependent on how much it is used and looked after.
Further Reading for Ebike Battery FAQs
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Are batteries interchangeable between bikes?
Only if they are like for like on the same Ebike system. Some systems do allow larger or smaller capacity batteries to be interchanged but the style of battery (integrated or external) must be the same.
Should I remove my ebike battery when transporting my bike?
It is advised you always remove the battery from your bike if transporting your bike.
How big is a battery?
Most electric bikes now have integrated batteries which are hidden in the frame, from a distance most people won’t realise you are riding an electric bike! Bosch batteries weigh about 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) and are among the lightest on the market.
What is the warranty on my battery?
Two years on Bosch and Yamaha systems.
Can a battery be recovered if dead?
Possibly. If the battery has gone into a sleep mode it may be recoverable, press and hold down the power button on the battery for 10 seconds and try recharging again.
Can my battery be repaired?
The short answer is no. If you damage your battery, for example by dropping it, it is advised you don’t use it. It may look alright but there could be internal damage which could lead to overheating. If you open your battery the warranty is void and opening a battery can be very dangerous so never try and repair at home.
How much does a battery cost to replace?
A typical Ebike battery will cost between £450 & £800 depending on type and capacity. Look after them.
If my battery begins to smoke what should I do?
Isolate it outside as quickly as possible, you can try to damper it with a suitable fire extinguisher if you feel confident in doing so but call 999 if you feel the situation is dangerous.
If you have any other ebike battery FAQs, our customer service team are happy to help.
