In Switzerland, the electric bicycle is becoming the preferred alternative mode of transport for many users. State aid, aid from certain local authorities, as well as ecological aspects are factors that push many people to buy an electric bicycle or electrically assisted bicycle (EAB).
The advantages that the electric bike offers in terms of parking, ease of movement in urban areas, and the opportunity to practice regular physical activity also explain the enjoyment of the electric bike. With proper use, respecting all the instructions, particularly those for charging the battery, the life of the electric bike is extended.
How to recharge your electric bike? This is exactly what we are going to see in this little guide created for this purpose. How to properly recharge the battery of your electric bike? What are the good habits to have? What is the most reliable battery? Without further ado, let's see all of this.
Why is it crucial to properly charge your electric bike?
It is essential to properly recharge the battery of your electric bike by following the instructions carefully in order to maintain the longevity of the battery and also to optimize the performance of the bike.
How to charge your electric bike? It is recommended to follow and respect all the conditions, to avoid breakdowns and naturally to ensure the user's safety.
Types of batteries for electric bikes
Lithium-ion batteries:
Lithium-ion batteries are now the standard technology for many devices including electric bikes.
A lithium electric bike battery contains cells welded in series and an electronic card: BMS (Battery Management System), which manages the charging and discharging of the battery.
It is essential to opt for such a model when choosing an electric bike. In terms of high-performance electric bike batteries with intelligent BMS, we invite you to see Shimano , Bosch or Yamaha batteries.
The most commonly used e-bike batteries are 24, 36 or 48 Volts. The higher the battery voltage, the greater the battery power.
Lead-acid batteries:
They have very little memory effect and are inexpensive. However, these models are tending to disappear and are less and less used for the latest electric bikes.
These batteries only offered constraints to keep them in good shape. Also very heavy, their lifespan was not very long and their capacity not very efficient.
NiMH batteries or nickel batteries:
This includes Nickel Metal Hydride Ni-Mh and Nickel Cadmium Ni-Cd which are now banned due to the toxicity of Cadmium.
Lighter batteries, NiMh batteries store more power for the same volume but the price is higher. They suffer less from the memory effect. Just like lead batteries, these NiMh batteries tend to become obsolete and are less and less used for e-bikes.
Steps to properly charge an electric bike
To recharge your electric bike you need:
Charge the battery according to the instructions
Some batteries must be detached from the bike to be charged, others can be charged directly on the e-bike.
To recharge an electric bike battery, several things need to be considered:
First of all, you must charge the battery at room temperature, preferably between 10° and 20°, never below 0 and never above 40°. This is before connecting the battery and, the same thing, during charging.
Remember to allow enough time for your battery to cool down or warm up, depending on the case and the season, before plugging it in.
Follow these tips:
- First connect the charger to the battery
- Secondly, plug into the mains.
- It is very important to respect this connection order to avoid power surges.
You should always use a charger designed for the battery to be charged, therefore always using the original charger supplied with the battery.
Monitor the load:
- Standard recharge time (usually 4-6 hours).
- Do not exceed full charge to protect the battery.
If you want to buy an additional charger, make sure you choose a model that matches the brand of your battery.
- Use a dedicated outlet to avoid overloads.
- Clean the battery if necessary.
Where to recharge your electric bike?
It is a legitimate question when riding an electric bike, where to recharge your electric bike, so let's see the possibilities:
At home:
At home it is possible to use a standard socket but before that you need to check the voltage, obviously if your battery is designed for 6 volts you will not need to use a 12 volt charger!
Before putting the battery back on the bike, make sure it is switched off. Remember to always lock your battery onto your e-bike once installed.
At work or on the go:
Some companies have made spaces available to their staff dedicated to recharging electric bicycle batteries.
It is possible to see the websites of communities and/or town halls, tourist offices which communicate the locations of charging stations. In some municipalities and, according to users, finding a free terminal is not
On the road:
Use of portable batteries or compatible adapters.
How to charge an electric bike without a charger?
To recharge an electric bike battery without a charger there are six ways to do it, namely:
- Direct charging,
- Using a power bank,
- Using a solar charging station,
- Using a car charger,
- Using solar panels
- Direct battery charging
One of the most efficient ways to charge outdoors is to use a solar charging station.
In fact, most car batteries have enough power to fully charge most e-bike batteries with a capacity between 200W to 1000W.
However, if your car battery is a little weak or not fully charged, then it is better to partially charge the bike battery.
Tips to extend the life of your battery
Lithium-ion batteries can be recharged a large number of times, generally between 1000 and 1200 cycles. A cycle corresponds to the entire charge, but does not correspond to a single charge.
In short, it is the use and recharging of a battery to 100% of its capacity which corresponds to what is called a complete charge cycle.
At the end of each charge cycle, the battery loses its capacity, at first it is imperceptible but this phenomenon increases over time, but with good use and good maintenance, your battery can last a large number of cycles. To do this there are things not to do such as:
- Wait until the battery is empty to recharge it
- Do not expose the battery to extreme hot or cold temperatures for a long time.
- If you do not use the original charger.
- Use batteries purchased in Switzerland with all necessary certifications.
Myths and facts about charging electric bikes
- Myth :
Batteries have a memory effect.
- Reality :
Lithium Ion batteries have no memory effect. You don't have to wait until your battery is completely discharged to recharge it.
- Myth :
Recharging while pedaling is sufficient.
- Reality :
Pedal-based charging systems only offer minimal energy recovery, so it's not very efficient at the moment.
Troubleshooting Common Charging Issues
Battery not charging:
There are many reasons why this may occur: aging, frequent charging cycles, poor battery management or even a manufacturing defect.
The battery can also fail due to heavy charging.Check charger and connectors.
Recharge time too long:
The time it takes to charge an e-bike battery depends on several factors, such as the battery capacity, the charger's output power, and the current charge level.
Most e-bike batteries have a capacity between 400Wh and 500Wh. The higher the capacity, the longer it takes to fully charge.
The battery discharges quickly:
E-bike batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Very hot or very cold temperatures can reduce battery life.
If your electric bike battery has lost a lot of its capacity, you can have it serviced. All batteries lose capacity over time through use. Your electric bike battery also slowly deteriorates over the years, especially after each winter.
Conclusion
In order to preserve the battery of your electric bike for as long as possible, it is very important to follow all the instructions that ensure a better longevity. It is necessary to charge your battery correctly by respecting the charging order and having the original charger.
We invite you to discover the rechargeable and high-performance models from the Batoo brand for optimized use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to properly charge your electric bike battery?
There are two ways to charge your electric bike battery, either you charge directly on the bike, or you remove the battery and charge it somewhere other than on the bike itself. In all cases, it is advisable to first connect the charger to the battery before plugging it into the mains.
Does an electric bike charge while pedaling?
In general, most electric bikes do not charge while pedaling, the bikes need their batteries to be plugged into a power outlet to be powered. It is true that there are models of bikes that claim to be able to charge while pedaling but for the moment this option does not prove to be very effective.
How long does it take to charge an electric bike?
To get an idea of the recharge time of an electric bike battery, take into account these data:
- 10Ah with charger 2 A count 5 h.
- 16Ah with 4 A fast charger, count 4 h.
- 500 Wh with 100 W charger, allow 5 hours.
How to connect an electric bike charger?
To connect an electric bike battery charger, you need to plug the power cable of the electric bike battery charger into the wall socket. Then, you need to connect it to the battery. Be sure to follow the connection order, miracle plug first and battery last.