Electric Bikes – Care Caring for an Electric Bike Battery
1. Keep your lithium battery charged
Lithium batteries are usually best kept fully charged, even after short journeys or just a couple of miles. Completely discharging lithium batteries regularly will greatly reduce its ability to hold a charge and so diminishing its capacity. If you do have a flat battery fully re-charge as soon as possible.
2. Keep your electric bike battery dry and clean
There is not much danger from a wet battery and some are designed for with riding in the rain, though generally it is not advised to do so. The battery contacts should be dried to avoid oxidation and corrosion which would reduce the ability of the battery to power the bike. Check the contacts monthly and clean if necessary. Use emery cloth if there is any corrosion.
3. Keep your lithium batteries cool
The lithium powder inside the battery cells decreases its electrical resistance as it warms up. In warmer conditions your battery will discharge more quickly and so need charging more often.
On cold days your bike will travel less further due to this same property of lithium powder – its resistance increases with colder conditions. On warmer days you will travel further.
Lithium batteries are best stored in cold conditions where its internal resistance is greatest and will remain fully charged for longer. Similarly, lithium camera batteries are often recommended by manufacturers to be stored in the fridge to prolong life. Not easy with e-bike batteries! Store your e-bike battery in as cold a place as poss.
4. Plan for long-term storage of your electric bike
If you will not be using your battery for a few months then take some precautions: The rate at which a lithium battery self-discharges is highest when fully charged and lowest when almost flat. Over a long time your battery will loose capacity least by being partly discharged. However almost flattening a battery is a bad thing to do.
A compromise that reduces the loss of capacity over time, yet still preserves the battery, is to store it at about 80% charge. You can estimate this by riding your e-bike for about 20% of the normal full-charge time or distance.
5. Never open an electric bicycle battery
There is no point in opening your e-bike’s battery to examine and repair. Opening a lithium battery is very dangerous!
Lithium powder is extremely flammable and will combust on contact with oxygen, explosion imminent!
If you suspect your battery is faulty or has lost its capacity return it for testing and then possible repair.
