Ways to Expand the Life of your Battery
DON’T REGULARLY FULLY DISCHARGE YOUR BATTERY
We still see tech websites advising to fully discharge your battery, even if this has been established as detrimental.
Take a look at the chart below, which indicates that frequently discharging lithium-ion batteries to 0% is dangerous, while partial discharges with ordinary top-ups are encouraged to increase the recharge-cycle lifespan of the batteries.
The occasional complete discharge isn't a problem! But, it's best to top-up lithium batteries frequently. As shown in the chart below, it’s great to function them within the top 50% of their discharge cycle; lithium batteries don’t have a ‘charge memory’. So if you're doing brief rides on an ordinary basis, top up your battery when it reaches around 50%. This will avoid adding stress to the battery and will help extend it's life.
Another important step is to be aware of the cold weather season – ensure that your battery is above freezing temperatures before charging, otherwise you may damage the battery cells. It isn't a problem to ride the E-bike in below-freezing conditions (it doesn’t damage the battery), simply make certain you allow the battery to heat up before charging.
When you're riding in very cold weather, you'll notice a drop in energy and range; that is normal and expected. You can fix this by bringing the battery indoors each time you aren’t riding to increase the temperature of the battery. In no time you'll see a slight energy increase!
With correct protection and storage, your battery will notably boom its lifespan. A well-maintained lithium battery will last among 3 to 5 years, while a poorly maintained battery may be badly damaged over simply one season or sooner.
STORE BATTERY A LITTLE BIT CHARGED – BUT NOT TOO LOW!
You’ll additionally be aware by looking at the above chart, that storing a completely charged battery has an effect at the recovery capacity. On the other hand, storing a completely depleted battery can be disastrous because a lithium-ion battery will slowly discharge over the years even if you’re no longer using it. If the voltage drops beneath a certain point this will cause irreparable molecular damage, depending on the time it’s left sitting.
Ideally, whilst storing the battery for an extended period, make sure it has a charge of approximately between 80% and 40% of a complete charge. A good strategy is to take the E-bike for a journey after you’ve charged it completely and before storing.
Also, don’t leave your battery at the charger for lengthy periods, as storing it at or near 100% will reduce the life of the battery.
Check your battery occasionally during the winter months. If you realise that the battery indicator has dropped too low, you may give it a short charge to bring it up to an appropriate voltage range again (this won’t be necessary if the battery is at 40% or above). If you don’t have a battery indicator, it’s recommended that you charge the battery for 30 minutes every few months.
KEEP THE BATTERY COOL
Environmental conditions are a crucial aspect impacting lithium batteries. For example, leaving you car battery under the sun in hot weather will eventually reduce the lifespan of your battery. In fact, this could be the worst situation: keeping a fully charged battery at increased temperatures.
A crucial rule to save the life of your E-bike battery is to keep it out of the direct sunlight for lengthy intervals and whilst not in use store your battery in a cool place, ideally beneath 20°C (68°F).
