Electric Bike Battery Care: Drain Or Maintain?

Electric bike batteries can be a source of frustration for many bikers, as they can drain faster than expected. This can be caused by a number of factors, including charging system failure, electrical system problems, and environmental factors. One of the most common misconceptions is that you should drain a new battery entirely before recharging it. While this may have been true for older, nickel-based batteries, it is not the case for modern lithium-ion batteries. In fact, repeated full discharge can reduce the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. To maintain battery health, it is recommended to store removable batteries off the bike when not in use for extended periods and to avoid discharging below 20%.

Electric bike batteries should not be left fully discharged

It is recommended that you do not discharge your electric bike battery below 20%. If you are going to be using it soon, charge it to no more than 90%. If you are putting it into storage for several weeks, charge it to 40-60%.

Electric bike batteries will slowly discharge even when the bike is not in use. This is due to background drain from the bike's electronics. If you are not planning to ride your bike for an extended period, it is recommended that you store the battery off the bike, as this will help to preserve its charge.

There are several other factors that can cause rapid battery drain in electric bikes, including charging system failure, electrical system problems, parasitic current draw, old or defective batteries, and extreme environmental factors.

Charging systems are pivotal in maintaining battery health

All lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time. How fast this occurs depends on a number of factors, including the number of charging cycles and how low you run them. Repeated full discharge reduces battery lifespan. It is therefore recommended that you store your battery off the bike when you're not riding for an extended period, as there's background drain from the bike's electronics even when it's not in use.

It is best not to leave a lithium-ion battery discharged if you can help it. You should also avoid discharging below 20% and, if you will be using it soon, charge it to no more than 90%. If you're going to put it in storage for several weeks, charge it to 40-60%.

Electric bike batteries slowly discharge even when not in use

To avoid rapid battery drain, it's important to maintain the health of your charging system. Any component failure could lead to rapid battery drain. It's also recommended that you don't discharge your battery below 20%. If you're going to put your battery in storage for several weeks, charge it to 40-60%.

Riding into the wind will drain your battery faster

Riding into the wind will drain your electric bike battery faster. This is because you will need greater support from your motor, which will increase the drain on your battery. To extend your available range, you can plan your ride so that you have the headwind on the way out, when you’re fresher, and have a tailwind on the way home.

Electric bike batteries will slowly discharge, even when the bike is not in use. If you’re not planning to ride for an extended period, it’s generally recommended that you store the battery off the bike, as there’s background drain from the bike’s electronics even when it's not in use. All lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time, and how fast this occurs depends on a number of factors, including the number of charging cycles and how low you run them. Repeated full discharge will reduce battery lifespan.

To avoid rapid battery drain, it’s important to maintain the health of your charging system, as any component failure could compromise it and lead to rapid battery drain.

When charging your electric bike battery, it’s recommended that you don’t discharge below 20%, and that you charge to no more than 90% if you will be using it soon. If you’re going to put it in storage for several weeks, charge to 40-60%.

Old or defective batteries can cause rapid battery drain

Lithium-ion batteries don't have the memory effect of older tech batteries, so it is best not to leave them discharged. All lithium-ion batteries slowly lose capacity over time, and how fast this occurs depends on a number of factors, including the number of charging cycles and how low you run them. Repeated full discharge reduces battery lifespan, so it is generally recommended that you store your battery off the bike when you're not riding for an extended period, as there's background drain from the e-bike's electronics even when it's not in use.

To avoid rapid battery drain, you should not discharge below 20%. If you will be using it soon, charge to no more than 90%. If you're going to put it in storage for several weeks, charge to 40-60%.

Frequently asked questions