How to: caring for your battery
A few simple steps to help you look after your e-bike battery
You can follow a few simple tips and tricks to ensure your battery reaches its expected 500 to 1000 charging cycles - depending on the manufacturer.
Charging your battery
Many users still believe that a battery should be completely discharged before recharging. However, this is not true for today's popular lithium-ion batteries. Complete discharge is not only unnecessary, but rather detrimental to the life of a battery.
On the contrary, to protect against capacity loss, batteries should ideally never be run empty and also never fully charged. Ideally your batteries charge should not fall below 30%. You can connect your battery to the power supply after each tour to recharge it, regardless of whether the capacity is at 80%, 50% or 30%. However, it is best to wait until the battery has adjusted to room temperature. Do not leave the battery permanently connected to the power supply, but unplug it as soon as it's charged.
Charging is best done in a dry environment and please avoid charging them next to flammable materials. Temperatures below 10°C and above 40°C should not be exceeded.
Please always use original chargers and avoid replicas as well as cheap alternatives.
On the road
During your ride the battery should be protected from extreme temperatures. When taking a break, it is best to place your e-bike in the shade and protect it from direct sunlight and high heat. Alternatively remove the battery and place it out of direct sunlight.
During cold temperatures, try mounting your battery just before your ride and use neoprene sleeves to protect against cold and moisture.
Cleaning and care
As you know, water and electricity do not get along well. Therefore, you should refrain from cleaning your e-bike with a power washer to protect electrical components. Remove the battery before cleaning your bike and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Occasionally, clean and lightly grease the connector poles.
Transportation
No special precautions are needed when transporting your bike by car or train. If you use an external bike rack, it's best to remove the battery and display and store them in the boot. This protects your battery from rain and cold and prevents displays from potentially getting lost. To protect exposed contacts cover them with suitable caps.
Storage
If you are planning on not using your e-bike for an extended period of time, for example in winter, you should store it where possible at room temperature. The battery should never be stored in environments above 45°C (113°F) or below -10°C (14°F), and should never be exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations. Please also make sure that your battery is protected from moisture during storage as this can cause corrosion on connector contacts. The battery charge should be between 30% and 60%, and you should check the battery level every four weeks.
Inspection und Service
Do not tamper with your battery! If you'd like to know the current health status of your battery, please contact us. We can do a battery check, do updates and give you tips on caring for your e-bike.
Defective batteries and disposal
Never try to open your battery. Take your defective battery to a dealer and let them do the investigation. Please note that defective batteries must not be sent by mail and must NOT be disposed of in household waste.
If you have any questions about the inspection of your battery, just call us at +49 (0)8033 9789020 or +43 (0)5372 63547. Of course you can also send us an email to info@e-bikes4you.com.