How long does an ebike battery last?
Most of the major brands for eBike batteries including Bosch, Yamaha, and Impulse estimate 800 - 1,000 charging cycles for a battery and warranty about two years of continuous use.
One charge cycle is counted as charging the battery from 0% to 100% - whether you charge it to 100% in one hit or several increments.
For example, if you use 50% of the battery’s capacity, then recharge to 100%, you can use 50% again before completing a full charge cycle.
Charging to 100% puts the battery under extra stress. Putting your battery on charge all night, every night it actually wears it out faster. It’s better to charge it to 80% and let it deplete to 10% - 15% before recharging to 80% again. Most batteries take around 2 hours to reach 80% so set yourself a timer to remind you when to take it off charge.
If you can avoid it, don’t let the battery run down to 0% either. This depletes the battery’s lifespan too. Does an ebike battery go dead if you don't charge it? Yes an ebike will eventually go dead if you don't ride it or charge itl if you are not planning to ride for a while? Charge the battery to 50% - 70% before storing it. If you’re storing the battery for 6 months or more check the charge every 2 - 3 months to make sure it’s still within that optimal range.
Battery power slowly depletes even when you’re not using it and lithium batteries usually lose between 3% to 5% charges each month. As we mentioned earlier, you want to avoid depleting the battery to 0%.
Temperature can have a big impact on the health of your battery - we’ll cover this more in a moment. We recommend storing your eBike battery in a dry area with a temperature between 8°C and 20°C. If you’re storing the bike in a shed or garage outside, bring the battery indoors.
Does heat damage your ebike battery?
Yes, excessive heat will kill your battery. Lithium batteries like to stay cool and overheating is a common cause of shortened battery life. When the battery gets hot, it can bubble, expand and cause internal damages that prevent it from working correctly. Your ebike battery capacity is also negatively impacted when the temperature starts dropping close to 0°C.
The lithium batteries found in electric bikes naturally heat up as they work and in the Australian climate, you’ll probably deal with the issue of overheating rather than freezing. To keep heat in check, avoid parking your eBike in the sun on hot days and don’t store the battery in your car.
Don’t open the battery case up. Don’t try tampering with the battery by opening it up yourself. While batteries cases can be opened, lithium batteries contain an extremely flammable powder - not something you want to be messing around with. You risk short-circuiting the battery, burning your fingers, or sparking a fire.
If the battery begins to hiss, bulge or leak contact the manufacturer or an ebike maintenance professional.
Transporting your bike on a bike rack? Take the battery off. Play it safe when transporting your bike with a car. Take the battery off the bike and keep it somewhere dry and safe inside the car. We suggest wrapping it in a towel and securing it so it doesn’t get bumped around while you drive. Batteries can be damaged after being dropped or knocked around.
Post-ride battery care checklist
Spending a few minutes to take care of your battery after each ride is an easy way to keep it in tip-top condition.
- Remove it before cleaning. It’s a good idea to give your eBike a quick clean after each ride. Make sure you remove the battery before doing so or cover with a cloth or film, if necessary.
- To clean the battery and mount connections - the points where the battery connects to the bike - just wipe it over with a damp cloth.
- Top up the charge (but not all the way!)
- Charge your battery after each ride but avoid charging it to 100% where possible and don’t let your battery deplete to 0% either.
- Store it at the right temperature
- Put your battery in a dry spot at room temperature until your next ride.
Need assistance with eBike servicing or a battery change?
At Crooze we have certified and experienced eBike technicians on hand to offer you specialist support! Call (07) 3517 0996, email help@crooze.com.au or reach us on Facebook.