A battery can last up to 10 years? How to maintain your electric assist bike battery?
A battery can last up to 10 years? How to maintain your electric assist bike battery?
The battery's lifespan, in addition to its inherent lifespan, also depends on how you use it, just like how your old phone now needs to be charged every five minutes. The battery of an electric assist bike will inevitably age over time. Here are some tips to help minimize wear and tear and maintain a longer power supply.
1. Proper Pedaling Cadence
The fewer times the battery is charged and discharged, the longer its lifespan will be. When riding an electric assist bike, you need to find the optimal rhythm that syncs with the electric assist motor. Generally, the electric assist motor is most efficient and has the least power loss under a normal to high pedaling cadence. For example, Bosch motors recommend a cadence above 50 RPM, fully utilizing the gears and avoiding a very low cadence that would increase torque and lead to higher power consumption. Similarly, take advantage of the smart computer on your electric assist bike to choose the riding mode that suits you best, for instance, you want the motor to provide maximum power to help you climb a steep hill, but you should not reduce the cadence to the minimum, as the smart computer may misjudge, and this will also damage the battery and motor.
2. Don't Fully Drain the Battery
The battery or motor itself actually has a computer chip to regulate output and charging, protecting the battery's health. This means the battery will never be overcharged or over-discharged to damage itself. However, always charging the battery full before a ride and then completely depleting it during the ride puts a greater load on the battery, and this charge-discharge cycle is one battery cycle. So, try to stop using the motor before the battery is completely drained, but it's easier said than done.
3. Charging
Charging the battery at room temperature is very important. The ideal charging temperature is between 10-20 degrees Celsius, avoiding below 0 degrees Celsius, and also avoid charging in a damp environment. Bosch recommends charging in a dry indoor location with a smoke detector (lithium-ion batteries are proven to be very safe, but in the rare event of a short circuit, they can catch fire, and many property managements explicitly prohibit electric bikes/scooters in stairwells), while in China, outdoor charging is recommended. So, when riding outside this temperature window, you'll notice the battery draining much faster, which will also shorten the battery's lifespan, as the low temperature slows down lithium-ion activity, requiring a higher voltage to drive the battery to function normally, causing greater battery consumption, while high temperatures increase resistance, leading to higher consumption as well.
4. Storage
If you won't be riding your electric assist bike for a few days, weeks, or months, don't let the battery fully drain. Bosch recommends maintaining a 30-60% charge, while Shimano suggests keeping it around 70%. Charge it fully every 6 months, and of course, charge it fully before riding again.
Avoid using too much water around the motor and battery, as it may cause ingress and short circuits.
5. Cleaning and Maintenance
Bosch recommends you should remove the battery before cleaning the bike, while Shimano says you should leave the battery in place to protect the exposed ports. Shimano's advice may work better in practical application. Both Shimano and Bosch suggest avoiding high-pressure water guns and using a sponge to gently wipe it clean.
