E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular in many countries around the world. They’re cheaper to operate than traditional gas-powered vehicles, and they’re fun to ride. For example, in China, e-bike sales have grown rapidly, with over 300 million e-bikes sold in 2020 alone. This represents a significant increase from just over 5 million e-bikes sold in 2019.
Europe is also seeing strong growth in e-bike sales. In 2019, e-bike sales in Europe had reached 3 million, a 22.44% increase from 2018.
The United States is also seeing strong growth in e-bike sales. According to the Light Electric Vehicle Association, the US imported approximately 790,000 e-bikes in 2021. That’s a substantial increase over the roughly 450,000 e-bikes imported in 2020 and around 250,000 in 2019.
Based on these sales figures, it’s clear that e-bikes are becoming more and more popular worldwide. This trend is likely to continue as prices for e-bikes continue to drop and more people become aware of their many benefits.
In this quick guide, we’ll provide some tips on how to charge an electric bike so you can get the most out of your e-bike.
In this guide:
- How to Charge an E-Bike Battery
- Where Can I Recharge the E-Bike Battery?
- How Can I Make the E-Bike Battery Go Further?
- How Long do the E-Bike Batteries Last For?
- How Much Does it Cost to Charge an E-Bike?
- How do I Care for the E-Bike Battery?
How to Charge an E-Bike Battery
Depending on your electric bicycle, you may be able to plug the charger into the battery while it is still attached to your ride. However, it is often recommended that you remove the battery and charge it in a cool, dry place.
With the battery detached, switch it off, then plug the charger into it. The charging process will usually take between 3 and 4 hours, although this will depend on the capacity of your battery. Once the charging light on the charger turns green, your battery is fully charged, and you can reattach it to your e-bike.
Lastly, plug the charger into the power outlet, then turn it on to begin charging.
How Long Does it Take For Electric Bike Batteries to Charge?
Most new e-bike batteries need to be charged for up to 12 hours at first to power them up. However, the battery charge time after that typically ranges between 2 to 7 hours, depending on the size and capacity of the battery and its recharge rate.
Do E-Bike Battery Charge While Pedaling?
Some e-bikes enable you to extend the battery’s life up to about 10% while riding them. This happens because the battery is recharged through regenerative braking, where the energy from pedaling is used to recharge the battery.
However, because this feature only engages when you press the brakes, it can be difficult to ride your bike comfortably while charging it. Additionally, this feature is not available on all e-bikes.
Hence, it is suggested you simply invest in a spare battery when taking long trips on your e-bike to ensure a more confident ride.
Do I Need to Wait for the E-Bike Battery to Fully Drain?
The less you allow the battery on your bike to become fully drained, the longer it will last because it enables some of the cells to retain their life cycle, which reduces stress and high temperatures on the internal components when charging the battery.
Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid letting your e-bike’s battery charge fall below 20% before recharging it to help prolong its lifespan.
However, provided the battery only becomes fully drained from time to time, it’ll be okay. Just remember to recharge it as soon as possible afterward.
Can I Stop Charging the E-Bike Battery Before it is Fully Charged?
Yes, you can stop charging your e-bike battery before it is fully charged. This is often recommended because it helps prolong the battery cells’ lifespan.
The best electric bicycle uses lithium-ion batteries, which operate by first quickly charging the capacity to about 90% before gradually becoming completely charged.
Hence, provided your e-bike has a lithium-ion battery, it is okay to unplug it before it is fully charged without causing damage.
However, if your e-bike doesn’t include a built-in battery indicator, you may have to let it fully charge before unplugging it. Just be sure not to let it overcharge.
Can I Replace the E-Bike Battery?
The answer to this question will depend on the type of e-bike you have. Many e-bike batteries are designed to be removed at any time for charging, which means you can simply swap out the old battery for a new battery when needed.
For instance, if your e-bike has a removable battery, then it can be replaced quite easily. You may be required to buy a new battery that is compatible with your bike and change it with the old one.
On the other hand, if your e-bike doesn’t have a removable battery, you will likely need to take it to a professional to replace the battery. This is because the battery is usually integrated into the frame of the bike, which can be quite difficult to replace on your own.
Additionally, even if your e-bike does have a removable battery, it is still best to take it to a professional to have the battery replaced if you are not confident in your ability to do so. Working with electrical components can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
Where Can I Recharge the Battery?
An e-bike’s battery can be charged using a common mains outlet; therefore, it can be replenished anywhere one is available. Just be sure it is in an area free of water and fire hazards for added safety.
In some countries, there may also be publically accessible charging stations set up specifically for e-bikes. These stations usually have a higher output than a standard mains outlet, which means they can charge your bike’s battery much faster.
For example, in China, there is a nationwide network of e-bike charging stations that have been set up for the country’s growing population of electric cyclists. The same goes in the United States, where e-bike charging stations are cropping up in various cities. To find see if there are any public e-bike charging stations in your area, you can check with your local government or do a quick search online.
In short, you can recharge your e-bike’s battery just about anywhere that has a power outlet. However, if you want to recharge it quickly, then you may need to look for a public e-bike charging station.
How Can I Make the E-Bike Battery Go Further?
There are many steps you can take to make your e-bike’s battery go further. One way is to use a low resistance setting, thus enabling you to use more of your own power than the bike’s, which will help the battery last longer.
Another way is to make sure you are not overloading the bike. This means not carrying any extra weight on the bike that would strain the motor and battery, such as luggage or a child seat.
Additionally, avoid riding in hilly areas as much as possible because this will also drain the battery faster. If you must ride in hilly areas, then make sure to use the bike’s gears properly to ease the load on the motor.
You should also be sure that when traveling at lower speeds, you use a lower gear, and when traveling at higher speeds, you use a higher gear to help save power. Changing the gears slightly before you need to also helps increase your battery’s efficiency.
Keep in mind that the faster you go, the more power your bike requires, which will drain the battery quicker. So be sure also to consider your bike’s power requirements when traveling at higher speeds.
When traveling at higher speeds, you can also use a low assistance mode to help keep the battery charged longer.
Last but not least, try to keep the bike clean because a buildup of dirt and grime can also affect the battery life.
How Long do the E-Bike Batteries Last For?
On average, you can expect your e-bike battery to last anywhere from 500 to 1,200 full charges before coming the need to replace it. This is except for a pedal-assist e-bike, which can last up to 30,000 miles before significantly losing power, depending on the battery capacity and how you ride it.
If you ride your e-bike regularly and use up a full charge every week, then your battery will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years before it needs to be replaced.
Of course, this is only an estimate because many factors can affect the lifespan of an e-bike battery, such as how often you ride, how far you ride, what kind of terrain you ride on, what type of climate you live in, and how well you take care of your battery.
To get the most out of your e-bike battery and make it last as long as possible, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for charging, storing, and maintaining the battery.
How Much Does it Cost to Charge an E-Bike?
The cost to charge your e-bike’s battery will depend on your battery capacity and the electricity rates in your area.
So if the electricity rates in your location are high and your battery capacity is also high, then expect to pay more per mile to charge your battery and vice versa.
To give you a rough idea, if your battery is 1 kWh and the electricity rate in your area is $0.12 per kWh, it would cost you $0.12 to charge your battery.
And if your battery is 500Wh and the electricity rate is $0.30 per kWh, it would cost you $0.15 to charge your battery.
Of course, these are just estimates because the actual cost will vary depending on your specific situation.
To get a more accurate idea of how much it will cost you to charge your e-bike’s battery, we recommend contacting your local electric utility company or doing a quick search online.
How do I Care for the E-Bike Battery?
Keeping your battery in tip-top condition helps preserve its life and helps save on replacement costs. So be sure to take proper care to maintain it.
For instance, never store your battery in a place with temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) because it can get too hot and damage the battery.
Likewise, you should also avoid storing the batter in areas with temperatures that get too cold.
You also need to avoid getting the battery wet, including during rainy weather, because it can damage the battery.
If you must ride your e-bike in the rain, take proper precautions to protect the battery. For instance, you may consider investing in bike fenders as part of an electric bicycle kit, which will help prevent water from puddle splashes and more from entering the battery.
After riding your e-bike in the rain, it is also crucial that you quickly dry off the bike and battery before storing it in a cool, dry place.
After purchasing your electric bicycle for sale, it is also important that you only use the charger provided by the manufacturer to help prevent damage to the battery.
You also need to keep your e-bike’s battery charged at least once a month when storing it for long periods because lithium-ion batteries will eventually lose their charge if left dead for too long.
In a Nutshell
E-bike batteries are expensive, so you must do everything you can to make them last as long as possible.
To do this, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for charging, storing, and maintaining the battery. You should also take precautions to protect the battery from extreme temperatures and wet weather conditions. And finally, be sure to keep the battery charged at least once a month when storing it for long periods.