Key Takeaways:
- Most electric bikes feature lithium-ion battery packs.
- Lithium batteries are made from a number of key components, including metallic lithium and electrodes.
- Electric bike riders can expect between 500 and 1,200 charging cycles before the battery starts to fail.
One of the key components of the top electric bike is its battery system. These batteries can often be misunderstood by consumers, with many wondering exactly how they work and what they are made out of.
Understanding Electric Bike Batteries
In order to understand electric bike batteries, you need to understand what exactly modern bike batteries are made out of and how they work.
How eBike Batteries Work and Their Components
Electric bike batteries fall into a number of categories, though the lion’s share of modern eBikes features lithium-ion battery packs.
Lithium Battery Components
Lithium battery packs are typically made from metallic lithium in the form of an anode. For this reason, these batteries are also known as lithium-metal batteries or lithium-ion batteries. Other key components include electrodes for passing electricity to the motor and a thin and porous slip of polypropylene to help keep all of the various components away from one another during use. This latter addition keeps these batteries from catching on fire, a problem that plagued early personal scooters that were equipped with cheaply made lithium batteries.
Tip: Lithium battery packs are typically made from metallic lithium in the form of an anode
Warning: This latter addition keeps these batteries from catching on fire, a problem that plagued early personal scooters that were equipped with cheaply made lithium batteries
How a Lithium Battery Works
A lithium battery can be installed in a variety of locations throughout a bicycle, including the front wheel hub and the rear wheel hub. Occasionally, batteries can also be affixed to the center of the bike frame. Modern lithium battery packs are extremely lightweight, allowing them to be installed on just about any part of an electric bike. Some modern eBikes allow for easy removal of the battery, for the purposes of remote charging. In other words, you can usually charge the battery inside without bringing in the whole bike.
Tip: Modern lithium battery packs are extremely lightweight, allowing them to be installed on just about any part of an electric bike.
Tip: In other words, you can usually charge the battery inside without bringing in the whole bike
These Batteries Last a Long Time
Modern lithium battery packs operate within peak efficiency for around 500 charging cycles, which could translate to around two years of use. After 500 charging cycles, the battery can still be used it will just operate at a lower efficiency level. Once a lithium battery pack has been charged around 1,200 times, it may begin to degrade and experience total failure.
Tip: Modern lithium battery packs operate within peak efficiency for around 500 charging cycles, which could translate to around two years of use
Warning: Once a lithium battery pack has been charged around 1,200 times, it may begin to degrade and experience total failure
- Related Post: How to Know if Your Electric Bike is Fully Charged
What Else Lithium Batteries Are Used For
Lithium battery packs can be found in just any and every type of gadget, from smartphones to laptop computers. You can also find them in tablets, personal scooters, eBook readers, various smart gadgets, and more.
STAT:
When you plug your battery in before your next ride, you should avoid charging it to 100% as this can prematurely degrade the battery. (Source)
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_in_lithium-ion_batteries
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378775309020564
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tluh8a9fTnQ
