E-bike batteries like this Bosch PowerTube 625 are expensive if you need to buy a replacement. Adrian Kingsley Hughes
Many people buy e-bikes. They are becoming increasingly popular, not only as a means of transportation, but also for fitness and leisure (yes, an e-bike can help you get fit and stay fit!).
But owners can be quite shocked to discover how much a replacement battery costs (most find out when they think about maybe getting a replacement battery). They easily look at several hundred dollars, with some at or even over the thousand dollar mark.
Yes, these batteries are expensive. They make up a good part of the price of the e-bike.
And for a good reason. They are huge batteries that pack a lot of power, with sophisticated on-board electronic systems to prevent overheating, overloading and deep discharge.
You are very good at taking care of yourself.
However, if you expect them to have a long lifespan, it’s a good idea to take care of them from day one.
Battery damage or degradation can occur in three ways:
- Normal battery wear.
- physical damage.
- electrical damage.
How to take care of your expensive e-bike battery and use it optimally
Let’s take a look at what we can do to protect the battery as much as possible and extend its life.
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Batteries wear out and age with use (or even when not in use). That’s physics and there’s not much you can do about it.
A battery is meant to be used, so use it! It should last well over 500 charge cycles (and remember that a single charge will use up the entire capacity of the battery, so if you always charge at 75% you can expect to get around 2,000 charges).
A few things you can do to slow down the wearing process are:
- Store and charge the battery at around room temperature.
- Use a real charger.
- Protect the battery from direct sunlight.
- If you won’t be using the battery for a few months, store it with about 50% charge.
Do not ride the bike without the battery cover attached. Adrian Kingsley Hughes
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E-bike batteries are heavy, weighing several pounds. While they are quite strong, the device’s plastic and metal construction is by no means indestructible.
- Handle your battery with care – take extra care when removing the battery from the bike as the weight may surprise you.
- Keep the battery away from dirt, dust and liquids.
- The plastic parts on the battery – like the clips – are the most susceptible to damage.
- Be sure to put the battery protection cover back on after reinserting the battery.
- When you’re not on the bike, it’s a good idea to keep the battery in one protective carry case.
- Remove the battery when transporting the bike by car or truck.
The plastic parts on the e-bike battery, like these end caps, are the most susceptible to damage when the battery is dropped. Adrian Kingsley Hughes
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Take sensible precautions here, similar to any other electrical device.
- Check everything for damage before use.
- Use the real charger.
- Keep the battery away from liquids.
- Remove the battery before cleaning your e-bike, and even then it is best not to clean your bike with water. Use a damp cloth instead.
Make sure that neither dirt nor liquids get into the connection of the battery. Adrian Kingsley Hughes
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Two things to keep in mind are that you bought your e-bike to use and enjoy it and that all rechargeable batteries are consumable items that wear out over time and need to be replaced.
With the right care, however, the battery on your e-bike should give you many years of pleasure. The day it wears out, you can decide to replace it, or maybe it’s time for a new e-bike.
So don’t worry and go out and enjoy your e-bike.