Electric Bicycles

Getting the most from your electric bicycle

Here are some things to keep in mind to keep your e-bike in great shape.

Replacing the battery
The lifespan of a battery is measured in terms of charge cycles. This is the number of times that the battery is fully charged. An average lithium-ion e-bike battery should last for at least 1,000 charge cycles. A well-maintained battery should last 3 to 5 years before its performance will start to decline and it starts holding less charge.

Typically, a new high-quality replacement battery will cost anywhere between $500 to $900+ depending on the brand and capacity, although batteries continue to become less expensive. Check with the manufacturer to make sure your replacement battery is compatible with your e-bike. Higher cost batteries are often higher quality. One key measure of quality is energy density, the amount of energy storage capacity in a given weight of battery. Higher quality batteries tend to have a higher energy density, allowing them to be lighter and add less weight to the bike.

Unrecognizable woman changing batteries on her electric bicycle

Battery maintenance
For long periods when your e-bike is not being used, it is best to store your e-bike and the battery out of direct sunlight. If the battery is detached from the bike, keep it in a cool, dry place, ideally below 68°F/20°C. If you’re storing your battery for a lengthy period, such as throughout the winter, it’s best to store it less than fully charged so you don’t reduce the battery life. Check your bike’s user’s manual to see what percentage the manufacturer recommends. That also means it’s best not to leave the battery plugged in for long periods after it’s fully charged.¹

¹https://bicyclevolt.com/electric-bike-maintenance-cost