Should I charge my ebike?
Should I charge my ebike after every ride?
Top tips to maximise battery life
Should I charge my ebike after every ride? or should I wait until the battery goes completely flat? The battery on your ebike is one of the most expensive components so these are valid questions often asked to make sure you maximize its life- span and don’t get into bad habits when charging.
Should I charge my ebike after every ride?
The Short answer is …it depends. Most ebike manufacturer’s can safely guarantee 1000 x charges of the battery over its lifespan before performance will deplete but how do you know that you are charging the battery correctly to achieve this?
Many experts recommend charging the battery when levels reach between 30 and 60% which I would tend to agree with, however in the real world depending on what distances you are intending to travel this may not be possible to avoid battery anxiety.
On the flip- side if you are only using 5 – 10% each time on your rides then I would not advise to charge each time and let the battery use more of its capacity before plugging in.
Can I leave my ebike charging overnight?
I understand firsthand the temptation to charge your ebike overnight due to average charge times being between 4-6 hours however this is not a wise thing to do, mainly because overcharging of the battery will reduce its life span over time, but also this could be a fire hazard.
Yes, I am aware that some chargers especially on the newer models actually switch off once fully charged which is a great safety feature, but personally I don’t like leaving things charging overnight just in case the battery has been damaged ( by dropping on the floor) or compromised in any way which could cause a spark.
Most reputable ebike brands supply the correct charger for the battery supplied with the bike and are perfectly safe, however on some cheaper less well-known bikes ( ‘Frankenstein’ bikes I call them) or even DIY versions I would be more wary of overheating issues.
This is because chargers supplied may just be ‘compatible’ and have not been vigorously tested to the meet required standards that you would expect from a top-tier or well-known brand.
Always use the charger supplied with your ebike and NEVER use anything else, even if the connection points are the same. This is because battery voltage outputs could be different resulting in a potential fire hazard.
Please also ensure the charger is placed on a flat, hard surface and not covered with anything as this can be another fire hazard.
Can you overcharge your ebike battery?
Over Charging of your battery over time will reduce battery performance and significantly reduce battery life.
We are talking about continually leaving the battery on charge for significantly long periods after it has fully charged, unless your charger has an auto cut off which happens when the charge reaches 100% it is recommended that you unplug the charger as soon as the battery is completely charged.
Another form of overcharging as explained earlier in this post is when you only use 5 – 10% after each ride and charging back up to full can have a negative effect on lifespan.
What is the standard lifespan of an ebike battery?
The standard lifespan of an ebike battery is typically between 3 and 5 years or 1000 charges. Sometime this is longer if you have looked after your ebike battery properly and follow the advice in this article on a regular basis.
How do I Store My Ebike Battery?
When you are not using your ebike for any prolonged periods of time then I would recommend the following in order to keep your ebike battery healthy and maintain battery performance and range over time.
Always remove the battery from the bike and store in a dry place in Temperatures between 60 – 70 degrees F. Leaving the battery on the bike over time could cause build up on the connectors or corrosion so always remove and store separately.
Never Store the battery when it is completely flat (0%) or when it is fully charged (100%). When you are storing for any prolonged periods of time then I would recommend charge levels being at between 60 – 80%. I understand it can be a pain, but its well worth checking every 2 months or so to see if the battery levels are within this range or if it needs a couple of hours on the charger before going back into storage.
Top tips to maximize battery range and lifespan?
Weather – You can’t control the weather, but extremely hot or cold temperatures will affect battery range when riding. Remove your battery after each ride where possible so it is not exposed to these temperatures longer than necessary.
Storage – Experts recommend that if you are storing your battery for long periods of time between riding that the levels are between 70 – 90% rather than fully charged to maximize lifespan.
Store in a dry place with a room temperature of between 60- 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Always remove battery from the bike to prevent corrosion and build up on the connectors.
Its good practice to allow your battery to fully deplete and charge from 0% to fully charged at least every 3-4 months.
Conclusion- Should I charge my ebike after every ride?
I hope this answers the question Should I charge my ebike after every ride? as well as some other helpful tips to ensure you maximize battery range and capacity.
When you follow the above advice correctly these tips will ensure many years of enjoyment safe in the knowledge that your battery health is in a good state.
Above all else, please make sure you follow the manufacturer charging guidelines and never swap or use a different charger just because it may look compatible.
If you and your family have several ebikes of different specs it way be a good idea to label the chargers just to be sure.
Happy to hear from anyone who can provide any other useful tips or has had issues with their batteries from a charging perspective- drop me a message below
In the meantime ride safe!
