Key Takeaways:
- To gauge the battery level of an electric bike battery, plug it into a power outlet and look for an indicator light.
- Keep the battery regularly cleaned and maintained, but avoid cleaning tools that apply high water pressure.
- It can be a bad idea to overcharge a bike battery, so you may not want to leave it plugged in all night every night.
Charging up your favorite electric bike is one of the primary tasks you have to do in between rides. Consumers may be wondering, however, just how to tell when the bike’s battery has been charged.
How to Tell Your Electric Bike Battery is Charged
Generally speaking, there should be a battery light indicator that will turn green or another color when the eBike’s battery has been fully charged. This light could also be red while charging. The placement and color of the light can differ depending on the make and model.
Tips to Extend Overall Battery Life
On average, an electric bike battery will begin to lose efficiency at around 500 charging cycles. Here are some tips to keep your battery working optimally.
Give it a Full Charge Upon Purchase
It is generally considered a good practice to plug an electric bike’s battery in for around 12 hours when you first purchase the eBike. In other words, make sure the battery is 100 percent charged before you attempt to ride it. This will help to optimize battery life and give the battery’s integrated sensors a good base level to measure future use. This should apply to when you purchase a new electric bike or when you purchase just the battery for replacement.
Tip: It is generally considered a good practice to plug an electric bike’s battery in for around 12 hours when you first purchase the eBike
Warning: This should apply to when you purchase a new electric bike or when you purchase just the battery for replacement
Clean the Battery Carefully
You should perform general maintenance and cleaning when it comes to an electric bike battery. It is important, however, to clean lithium-ion battery packs carefully, so as to avoid accidental damage. The cleaning method may vary depending on your particular battery, but you should always avoid any cleaning tool that applies a large amount of water pressure. This could force water into the battery’s internal components. Some batteries can be cleaned using a traditional garden hose, while others should be maintained with paper towels and the like. Read the instructions thoroughly before attempting any maintenance.
Warning: The cleaning method may vary depending on your particular battery, but you should always avoid any cleaning tool that applies a large amount of water pressure. This could force water into the battery’s internal components
Tip: Some batteries can be cleaned using a traditional garden hose, while others should be maintained with paper towels and the like
Don’t Overcharge the Battery
While you should plug your battery in for a charge after riding, it can be important for some models to not overcharge the unit. In other words, it may be a bad idea to keep it plugged in all night every night, as it could end up hurting the battery’s overall lifespan and efficiency. Every battery and bicycle are different, though, so look for any charging-related warnings in the instruction manual.
Warning: In other words, it may be a bad idea to keep it plugged in all night every night, as it could end up hurting the battery’s overall lifespan and efficiency
- Related Post: How Far can an Electric Bike Go on One Charge?
STAT:
Experts now agree that you can double the cycle life of your battery by charging it only to 80 percent. (Source)
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_in_lithium-ion_batteries
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_battery
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/6586975
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSGBhVvYZUI
