5 Tips For Ebike Battery Care & eBike Battery Long Life

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

How often do you charge your eBike batteries and do you charge them to 100% each time?

[@pubcollab]

I have several ebikes (some since 2015 like GB), and generally store them at 40-60%, even if only for a few days (sometimes 80% if I expect too use it soonly). I charge my smaller batteries (400-500Wh) to 100% before most rides, and my larger batteries to 80-90%. I'm not a distance rider, so that's always been enough for me to end up with at least 20% post-ride charge levels (usually more like 30-50%). Then I either use my "smart" chargers to juice back to 80%, or my 1-hour timer to pump 100-150Wh back into the mostly-depleted battery. This has worked well for me - my 2015 iZip still has at least 80% of original capacity, and my most-used bike (a 2018 with Shimano STePS) still shows 99% of its original capacity after nearly 100 full charge cycles.

[@DanBronk]

@@pubcollab Sounds like you are caring for your batteries properly. If you are only using a small percentage of your battery on each ride, then charging to under 100% you will definitely get much more life out of your batteries. 2015 is a great run for an eBike and yours sounds like it has plenty more life left in it. Keep on rolling.

[@obadiahsmith2345]

Hey Dan , I don't want to put an advertisement up but check jag35 for some used good condition batteries.

[@mytrigger5613]

Would you recommend charging with a portable power bank achieved by a solar set up. If so do you have any recommendations? I have the aventon sinch 48v 14ah 500-750w brushless motor and I'm going to start using it for work. I am thinking I'll buy a back up battery and store it under the rear rack. The battery at use is inside the foldable frame. I'm a heavy guy so the 40 miles that the battery claims to last per charge is more like 28 for me. A few hills will cut that range even lower. Thanks Oh, and I'll be charging off the bike and not while charging the power bank whether solar or plugged in through my cars lighter or into the wall. Even if I wanted to simultaneously charge my power bank via solar and charge my e bike at the same time I'm not sure that I could with my current set up, but sounds like something I might look into for maximum efficiency in another build someday.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@mytrigger5613 I have charged with both the Solar panels and from a battery bank. It to forever to fully charge. Like you, I'm a heavy rider so my batteries usually get discharged to 25-30% each time. As far as using the battery bank or the solar to charge all the time. I use both systems occasionally so I can't say from personal experience for long term use. However I have called the manufacturer and they said using a battery bank or solar to charge is OK and shouldn't cause damage to the battery. They even said It may better because of the slow charge. I have two 48 volt 21 amp hour batteries and I and when I ride in the hilly areas with PAS 3 I can get about 30 miles until the battery monitor is in the yellow. That seems to be average for the heavy rides I talk with using the same conditions. Of course, when I see I may not make it home I switch to PAS 2 or 1 and limit the use of the throttle to extend the range. As far as the recommendation, I've had my solar set up for many years and I don't think it's even made anymore. However, since charging with solar is slow I would recommend getting the biggest portable set of solar panels you can get and carry to help with charging time.

[@mikescarborough9196]

The disguise isn’t working: We know you’re Steve Wozniak.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. I'll take that as a compliment. 😎 But I use Microsoft. 😀

[@Loveveryday-f9j]

I’ve had my Super73 battery since 2020 and mine is still going strong. I use my bike pretty much everyday & charge mine to 100% each time. Although Super73 is pretty expensive for what it is, it’s definitely durable. I’d say I put 60k-80k miles on it.

[@jwebbw]

Also, you might want to consider what my battery manufacture suggests. If the battery is to be stored for more than two months, charge for 2 hours for every two months in storage. Thanks for all of your info !!

[@JasperJanssen]

Mine says I should keep it at roughly 60% ish I=for long term storage - neither fully charged nor fully discharged.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

This was the easiest to understand and concise battery care video I have seen. Thank you for sharing.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video and found it useful. Hope you will be enjoying some of my other videos.

[@mattcameron9349]

I've had my ebike battery for just over 2 years. I do the following 'top 10': 1. only charge up to 90% 2. only discharge to 10% 3. store charged at 50% 4. store in a drawer in the spare-room (12 degrees Celsius) 5. use at least 3 months 6. cycle down to under 3% and charge to 100% once a year 7. only charge from the 50% to 90% the night before a ride 8. only commence charging a minimum of 2 hours after a ride 9. only use the manufacturers 'slow-charge' charger 10. dry-wipe the socket/electrical connections a brush (and contact-cleaner if contaminated) The BMS was 'interrogated' during it's first 1,000 mile service and shows a degradation-rate of around 2% which is absolutely fantastic for a 2 year old battery. I'm a fair-weather cyclist (Scottish Highlands) and use the bike perhaps 2 to 3 times a month. I bought the largest capacity battery available for my bike (460Ah) and am absolutely delighted at the performance!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comments and tips. Sounds like your battery care and maintenance is working well for you. Generally, I don't argue with success, but If I was going to recommend anything different, I would say to charge to 100% more often. The older the cells are in the battery, the more they charge at different rates. Some cells may charge to 90% -95% while some only charge to 70% -75% averaging 85%-90%. But like I said, I'm one who doesn't argue with success, so if it's working weel don't change. I've traveled the world but never had the opportunity to visit the Scottish Highlands, but I've heard it's beautiful. I've also heard the area has some pretty steep hills. Does your eBike handle them well?

[@mattcameron9349]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Hi there! I may well change my charging regime to perhaps 1 in every 4 charges being a full charge. Perhaps I'm just being too cautious! As for 'hills', I live just a couple of miles outside the Cairngorm National Park, so it is a bit of a cycling playground here. I'm lucky enough to tie into the Dava Way and West Highland Way (decommissioned railway-line in the 1960's) so it is pretty much the opposite of hilly, nice and flat routes which have been blasted out of rock and viaducts keeping things (for the most part) level. This helps me achieve around 90 miles between charges (Batribike Delta Plus 100nm 250w mid-drive 460Ah, I'm 11st in weight)

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@mattcameron9349 WOW! I would have thought your riding area was very hilly. It sounds like you have the perfect eBike and battery set-up for your type of riding. For me I need a little bigger eBike and battery for my very hilly area and my size, about 19 stones (265 lbs). However, I get to ride all year round because we get very little rain and snow only about 30 days out of the year. From what I've heard, it's pretty wet where you are. is that correct?

[@mattcameron9349]

@@GreyBeardEBiking We tend to get all four seasons in just the space of a couple of hours! I'm only 4 miles from the coast, plenty of flat forest-trails, bridleways, old logging-roads, private estate roads (in Scotland we have the 'right to roam'. There are no laws of trespass, jaywalking, etc... so anything goes!) as well as the old 'Beeching Lines' which in Scotland are nearly all converted to cycleways. (Please see the link. These transport cuts were initially disastrous for local communities, but 50 years later are now spectacular for cyclists!!) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_cuts

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@mattcameron9349 Sounds like you need to be very prepared for all types of weather when you ride out there. I have read about the "Right to travel or roam" and I really like the concept as long as the travelers are respectful the owner's land. Here in the US, many times a few irresponsible people, a few bad apples as it were, ruin a great thing for others. In the US we have many similar roads and trails as your Beeching Lines. The term generally used in the US a "Rails to trails". Old, discontinued rail lines or access roads converted to hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Do you carry Panniers on your rides to carry your gear?

[@kizashikaze9066]

Very easy to understand and makes sense! Thank you Grey!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the great comment. Stay tuned for the follow-up video with new information regarding eBike Batteries.

[@victorhuffel4823]

If I may add an extra tip, If you store your battery for more than 4 months, remove the fuse or if there is a seperate switch to completely disconect the BMS, otherwise the BMS or conrtoller will use up some voltage and may deplete to a under voltage situation.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Great tip, Thanks. Generally, I recommend checking on your battery charge level every few months so the charge will not be depleted. Do you store your batteries for long periods of time ... such as winter-time?

[@victorhuffel4823]

@@GreyBeardEBiking here in the Netherlands we bicycle the hole jaar long. I own 5 e-bikes and try to sur thema all. I have a special one that I hand built and do not drive in the winter time. Its a 1909 Indian. Yes its electric. Its a good weather bike.

[@victorhuffel4823]

And we do not have Nice weather in the winter do it stands a long time still. The battery tot used up by the controller. A verg expensive mistake. The is hey i adder dat tip.

[@michaeljohn7467]

People if you are storing your ebike for months, at least ride it once every month or 2 months if you can, for sure once every 3 or 4 months Run batteries down n charge them up but not fully

[@techspot871]

So far the best and to the point battery care video I have seen. Thanks!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the great comment. What is your eBike and battery combo?

[@techspot871]

@Grey Beard E-Biking gotrax ebe5 fat tire ebike with a few modifications for comfort. A suspension seat, wider seat, extra lighting. As for batteries I have a 12.5 ah 48v that came with the bike. And a reention dorado aftermarket battery 25ah 48v.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@techspot871 Did you add the extra lighting for night riding? What kind of range do you get out of your 25ah battery?

[@techspot871]

@Grey Beard E-Biking i added 2 extra lights to the bike for a total of 3 lights. For the rear light i got a brake sensing light. It flashes and goes full red when hitting the brakes. I have never driven the 25ah till dead. Longest ride was 50km still seemed to have a 1/3 battery left.

[@techspot871]

@@GreyBeardEBiking I also ride my bike to work daily (10km). My car stays home on nice days

[@klumze9911]

Good video. I have one additional piece of advice from experience. If you store a battery long term consider fully charging it and riding at least once every other month. Leaving the battery at 70% charge is good but if you dont ride for a year it could drain during that time and you will never get it to charge again. I had that happen to my 1st battery.

[@DanBronk]

Great point. In reality, batteries should be used at least a little once every month or 2. With the cost of a new or even a re-built battery, regular maintenance of the battery can save you a lot of money. When you ride, do you charge to 100% everytime?

[@klumze9911]

@@DanBronk I have been charging to 100% recently because I have been doing range tests on my new bike using each pedal assist level. Once I am finished with each range test i might not charge to full each time. On my old ebike I always charged to full since the battery was small.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@klumze9911 I would love to hear how your range tests finish up. Sounds like you charge up to be ready for any kind of ride.

[@pubcollab]

I have at least 1 year of experience with each of the following battery "brands": Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha. I also have 1+ years with several "off-brand" (much cheaper) batteries that at least claimed to use Samsung, Panasonic, LG etc cells. In my experience, the "mainstream" branded batteries lost little to no charge when stored idly for months on end, but the inexpensive ones lost large amounts of charge levels. For example, one Yamaha battery (from a Haibike) I had was an "extra" and I stored it at 60% for more than 6 months. Simultaneously, I had a Sondors battery that had about the same starting charge for the same period. The respective charge levels at the end were 59% and roughly 30-40%. I think that ebike batteries' cell quality has as much to do with the need to frequently recharge as anything else.

[@DanBronk]

@@pubcollab Yes, you're so right. I have had the exact same results from the cheaper batteries. You definitely get what you pay for. In my view, a high quality battery pays for it self when compared to the low quality batteries. What kind of bike do you use your batteries on?

[@skeller61]

Thanks for the video. I watched a 30 minute video of a vlogger interviewing an e-bike battery refurbisher and all your tips comport with what he said, with a lot less time and extraneous video. I ordered a second battery for my first e-bike (I haven’t received it yet), for many of the reasons you state. It will be nice, for longer rides, not having range anxiety!

[@HzyHpz]

the timer tip saved me so much money

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. In addition to saving money, using the timer makes charging much safer.

[@ghz24]

How did it save money?

[@sonsandgrandsons]

Your video about batteries was very informative and much appreciated. Thank you.

[@captainmorgan5255]

Thanks for your tips !

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Hope you have a great day riding your eBike.

[@BronkBuilt]

Great advice and is going to save a lot of people money by helping them extend their battery life. Thanks!

[@DanBronk]

Yup for some it will save some dough. For me, I don't worry about the life because, when cared for properly, the battery will last a long long time under normal use. I would rather sacrifice some charge cycles for always being charged up to 100% and ready to ride anywhere at anytime. I think the real keey is how you store your batteries and how you charge them. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@gsp49]

​@@DanBronkmost last a little over a year. Gasoline is much cheaper.

[@mytrigger5613]

Sweet beard. I only trust a man with wisdom and true relevance. It should come as no surprise that reliable knowledge, trust, and perspective is best achieved through competent logic and reason which can only truly be achieved through trial and error and repetition. When you add it all up placing emphasis on matters of importance and heart you come to conclusions that have a few things in common. Blood, sweat, and tears. All of the necessary criteria for a sweet grey beard. Thank you for sharing wisdom sir.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. I really do enjoy making them. Thanks

[@lbarnett748]

An ebike battery when in too hot conditions gets condensation build up inside and with extreme cold it’s ice or frost build up so in both hot and cold environments are 2 types of water produced. Frosty ice or hot condensation. These can cause serious fire risks . So yeah temperatures are definitely important.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for thew great info. You are so right. And that's why temperature conditions are super important with regard to eBike battery use and storage. I treat my eBike batteries like I like to be treated, in comfortable conditions ... not too hot and not too cold. Thanks again.

[@lbarnett748]

@@GreyBeardEBiking your welcome 👍😉

[@RickMidds]

For the colder months, I bought a neoprene sleeve with Velcro closure that wraps around the battery and frame to help negate the negative effects on the battery riding in cold weather.

[@lbarnett748]

@@RickMidds that a really good idea. Definitely worth doing especially in minus temperatures.

[@RickMidds]

@@lbarnett748 I’m pretty sure I bought it off of Amazon. It was around $15-$20.

[@petefromoz9308]

Thanks for the tips!😊 I didnt know about 30min rest b4 recharge. I'll turn mine off now a couple of k b4 home. Easy peasy.😊

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

🙂 Thanks for the comment. Yes, the battery does need a little bit of time to "settle" after use before charging. Especially in very hot or very cold temperatures. Are you getting good performance from your batteries?

[@brianbassett4379]

Removing the battery from the bike is a personal choice it doesn't affect the battery or the charging process in any way. Temperature doesn't really affect the battery between 40 and 113 degs F as long as you don't charge when it is near freezing. I've never stored a battery in over 7 years of use but they can sit for months at 60% without any memory damage. The only time I ever fully discharged a pack down to 5% charge was when the battery was new and I wanted to make sure the BMS balanced all the cells. Using a smart charger like a Grin Satiator will manage all the battery's functions and allow you to charge to a predetermined voltage. Don't often charge past 85% capacity and never discharge past 20% capacity and you can extend the number of recharge cycles to over 1400 with almost no loss of performance. I have been using a pair of lithium 2058Wh packs for over 7 years and have over 39K miles between the two. If you want to extend the life of the most expensive expendable part then get a Grim Satiator. - photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

[@SmokeyTreats]

$365, though I'm sure it's worth it.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the info. I take my batteries inside to charge them so I can make sure that both the charger and the batteries are in a controlled temperature environment. I also try not to discharge my batteries to 5% or less, however, if I'm on a ride and the battery is low, I prefer to ride it home even if it discharges 100%. A full discharge once in a while will not damage the battery. But fully discharging the battery often will damage it. A 2058Wh battery sounds like you can get some great range. Smart chargers or at least a shut off timer are very good options to help preserve your batteries. However, most battery experts recommend charging to 100% every 6 or 7 charges to let the cells balance. What is the voltage of the battery and your eBike type?

[@brianbassett4379]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Once I saw a video of a lithium ebike pack burning I never wanted them inside the house again. As long as the charge cycle is over before the temperature hit freezing you are good. The batteries are 58.8V 35Ah 2058Wh lithium triangle packs using 18650 cells for $800 each. That leaves 1337Wh using only 65% of the pack capacity. After 7 years I can't tell a difference between now and when they were new. If the BMS is functioning properly you don't need to charge to 100% to balance, but most chargers don't give an option anyway. The Grin Satiator can charge at specific amperage and to a specific voltage. I change at 8 Amps without stressing the cells because they are large packs, approximately 4 hours to fully charge. It can also trickle charge when it reaches the set voltage. Once it reaches its charge point it displays how many amp hours it used. In the photo set below, I start with a picture of the 500C display showing the beginning voltage and end with all the ride data including GPS data, and finally, the Grin display shows how many amp hours it took to recharge. The most important thing is that you can easily read the voltage at all times. The bike is a Tout Terrain Panamericana German steel touring bike, arguably the best touring bike frame in the world. A BBSHD 1000W mid-drive with 1.34 h.p. and 160 Nm of torque, 26" X 2.5" wheels, Speedhub, Fox shock with lockout, RockShox fork with lockout, FAIV front suspended rack, and dynamo hub. My max range with only bar bags and Fugoo speaker is 126 miles on 85% capacity or 80+ miles with a moderate load (an additional 40 lbs. in two front panniers) on 65% capacity. Fully loaded and pulling a trailer I can get 60+ per pack depending on the surface and incline. I have never depleted past 20% capacity. If I know I am going to need more range or power than that I take the other battery along. 10 May 20 - 100 miles. www.relive.cc/view/vMv85EGzYNO photos.app.goo.gl/9ZbuKQNWsHtRH3Ft7 prnt.sc/sw0igi

[@brianbassett4379]

@@SmokeyTreats Yup. Extend the life of a single battery and you pay for it. They also allow you to charge at different amps too. With big batteries like mine, I can charge at 8+ amps without stressing the cells, so it charges in 1/2 the time as a standard charger. It can be configured for virtually any lithium, nickle metal hydride, or lead acid battery pack. I like multi-purpose.

[@JoeDplummer_]

I would like to add, that a slow charging rate (Low amps charger) is always better for your batteries even if you need to wait longer to have it fully charged. Try to avoid fast chargers.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I totally agree with you. The best and safest way to charge is a slow charge.

[@Five0]

Good info! Thank you!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Do you run a spare battery of just one?

[@Five0]

The bike is brand new I will be getting a spare to ensure no waiting around. Its for my brother who is a senior.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@Five0 Have fun on your eBike. Thanks again for the comment.

[@RadagastBrown420]

Amen 🙏. Charge it to 100%, don't let it get to low. And definitely let it cool off before charging. I am not sure that 80% charge is the best, most of the time. I would like to see the data. GREAT PRESENTATION 👍.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks. Glad you liked the video. I've charged my batteries this way for years and it's worked great for me.

[@texasredh9757]

I keep battery at 50-80% and only charge 100% the same day i ride. Thanks for the tips

[@Kamikaze3557]

Most of these tips apply to all similar batteries, like GoPros etc….great tips, many I need to start using….

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I agree with you, proper care and maintenance for all of your batteries will definitely extend the life of your batteries.

[@2musicSoundtrackfandom579]

And also thank you for the review I bought me an electric bike and I want to take as much care of it as much as possible I want the best outcome for both my electric bike and the battery itself.

[@jayp4083]

Nice video, cut overs, added images-shows a lot of work. Thank you. Looking forward to getting my first ebike.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks, I appreciate noticing the extra work on the video. I hope you'll send a picture of your first eBike, I'd love to see it and I know you're going to enjoy it.

[@vashon100]

Good points. Many people only have experience with the old NiCad and NiMH, Lithium is much different care.

[@xmateinc]

this is just another reason I ride bosch, they have a very good BMS!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Yes, Bosch is a very good brand. And good maintenance is also good for any brand. Keep on riding my friend.

[@simonlinser8286]

Also taking it off the bike means you can control strain on the cord and port. The ports are rugged. But you'd be surprised how a small difference can really increase the resistance or lack of good electrical contact, so it will charge but electricity is weird like that, it might charge but take a long time or you think it's charging but somehow it doesn't fully charge, just due to little breaks in the cable or wires to the pins or the pins get a little loose and don't make full contact. Sometimes the bms kind of acts like it's charging or it is but then later it shuts down because a safety thing. Just some things ive observed with all types of batteries

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, taking care of your batteries will very much help extend their life. In addition, proper battery care will also be much safer. A good quality battery will generally take care of the safety issues because of the quality BMS system. I recommend using the factory supplied chargers for each battery and not go to some of these "Fast Chargers" that have been advertised.

[@mjj2u2]

Great video! Thank you!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. What kind of eBike and battery combo do you have?

[@mjj2u2]

@@GreyBeardEBiking thanks for asking. It's a Marlin 6 Trek with a Bafang mid drive conversion and a 1KW battery at 52v. That thing weighs a ton but has so much power and goes forever. My char controller is a 4 Amp charger and can charge to 80%, 90%, or 100%. Loving it.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@mjj2u2 Wow! That's a great set up. Did you do the build? Also, as you said it's a very heavy eBike, how do you transport it?

[@lewchaney2138]

What a great video on battery care. Thanks so much…

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the great comment. Take care of your batteries and you will be able to ride much farther, and your battery will last much longer. Have out on the road my friend.

[@emilkermendy4595]

You are as gray as I am, and truth allways hurt. Thankyou for putting together all this knowlege. Best Regards....

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Yes, gray, but no hurting. Gray just means wisdom. Sounds like we both have acquired a lot of wisdom. Thanks for the comment.

[@emilkermendy4595]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Yes my friend, we really appreciate you shere your knolege and experience. Thank You.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@emilkermendy4595 Thanks for the thoughts. Hope you will watch my next video coming out in a few days. The video is about How much speed on an eBike is too much speed.

[@Josh-fl2eo]

Really helpful, thank you

[@sotheamam1244]

Happy biking

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching and the nice comment.

[@codyjackson7724]

Nice!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks.

[@47f0]

I'm also skeptical of the high current rapid chargers.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree with you. I am very skeptical of the current rapid or fast chargers for eBike batteries. Many of the battery fires have been attributed to aftermarket fast charges. With a fast charger, the battery cells often times are not given enough time balance as they charge which can lead to all kinds of battery charging issues and damage to the battery cells themselves. In my opinion, using a fast charger on a long ride once in a while might be OK but for me, I'd just carry a 2nd battery and my regular charger. Yup, I'm with you on that.

[@marcellocapone4925]

Thank you.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching

[@goingoutotheparty1]

This is great, I commute part time and I use 2 batteries for convenience and wondered how long they would last

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Yup, 2 batteries always makes good sense, and is a great way to have a back-up power supply. Stay safe out there my friend.

[@honeybadger9425]

Yeah I charge to 100% keeps the battery memory and mileage strong and healthy. I’m skeptical 80% would be any better although realistically with short journeys up shop etc I’m not always at 100% anyway but that’s what I charge to.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. I with you on the charging. If I do a short ride (3-5 miles), I don't recharge, but anything else, I'm pretty much like you. I keep my batteries at 100% and I haven't noticed any issues with that charging routine. Thanks again.

[@ghz24]

Lithium don't have a "memory" that was a ni-cad issue.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@ghz24 Thanks for the comment. Yup, these days most of the quality batteries don't have an issue with memory. Stay safe out there.

[@clinth6432]

great job you made it so simple to understand.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching and for the comment. I try to keep the videos simple to understand. Thanks again.

[@mrkeopele]

good practical knowledge with experience, and using repetition when making strong points, thanks brah

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the great comments. Have you had good luck with your batteries?

[@noe616]

Thanks for your good advice. I look forward to match your range

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching and the comment. Keep me updated as to how your battery range is performing. 😎

[@vashon100]

2:40 Agreed. The motor will probably crap out before that.

[@banyanstudio]

Great video! Thank you so much for your important tips to save a battery!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks. Just a little up-date. My batteries are almost 2 years old and are still going strong charging and maintaining this way, so I think this way is working well. In my latest video I talk about charging to 100% everytime. Do you charge to 100% after each ride. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYu2Z4mmq9d-j5Y

[@banyanstudio]

@@GreyBeardEBiking I’m planning on purchasing an E bike conversion kit for my vintage 90s Hardtail mountain bike. I have yet to get a battery, but I want to be educated from the best before I do!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@banyanstudio Thanks for the kind words. Best advice I can give is go for the most amp-hour battery your budget will allow.

[@banyanstudio]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Gotcha. Thank you!!

[@Kamikaze3557]

I’ve got a weaker grip now at 67….so I think I need to get something that has a handle to pick up and move / carry my eBike battery.

[@SteezyMcCheezie]

Thanks For the Words of Wisdom👨‍🏫

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks. What kind if battery and eBike set-up do you ride?

[@SteezyMcCheezie]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Lectric 3.0 Long - Range🔋

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@SteezyMcCheezie Sounds like a great set up and lots of fun. Are you a trail rider or city streets?

[@ChrisHirner]

you must live in a warm area, cause 5 months out of my year its just too cold to scoot. On a related subject, I have some larger RC car lipos that have been charged 100s of times and and are getting close to 7 years old and they work as good as new. The news only tells us the bad stuff about lithium ion batteries. But the good stuff makes you start to realize the future is already here.

[@MHH3180]

We may disagree on many things, but this is the best basic primer on battery care I have seen.

[@DanBronk]

Thanks Mark. I tried to make the video simple and straight forward and base it on what I've learned over the years. Do you charge to 80% or 100% after your rides?

[@MHH3180]

@@DanBronk because I really only use the ebike for short commutes, I charge to about 80% after I am sure a new battery has been balanced. If I knowbIbam doing an epic ride with friends along The Great River or Cedar Valley trails here, I'll fully charge, but those rides are 60-80 miles and I am too cheap to get the extra battery I know I need.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@MHH3180 Sounds like the way you use and charge your battery, you're going to get a very long life out of it. And Man-O-Man I hear-ya on the cost of a new "Quality' Battery. 60 -80 mile ride is truly an epic ride. I have never ridden those rides but it sounds like they ar beautiful.

[@MHH3180]

@@GreyBeardEBiking before my right leg went away, I was one of those weirdos that would really enjoy a century ride on a Sat. Afternoon (slow, lots of stops and tons of laughs). I still try to getaway for at least a few overnighters, but no more long distance touring unless they can fix my leg.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@MHH3180 At least you still get to get out there and do some riding. My overnight rides include a stop at a motel. Still do enjoy an occasional century once in a while. Like you, plenty of stops, laughs, and good friends. Takes me longer to recover these days.

[@MagicycleBike]

very informative video!

[@DanBronk]

Thanks, I tried to make it easy to understand.

[@JSmith8388]

What Great advice and information. Got my bike but have not put it together yet. It’s a bit intimidating to me for some reason. I am 69 years old and have to get my head CA around all of this.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks. I've used this same information for over 5 years to keep my batteries in good health. Stay with the build, it will be so worth it when you get to ride. What kind of bike did you get?

[@nobleharbor265]

It is a definite challenge to learn about, buy, and ride an eBike. But you know, It gets easier after the first ride. Then the first 100 miles and the follow-up checkup (eBike AND your body 😉😁) In my case, eBike: Lectric XP Premium, 100+ miles Body: 70+, back biking after 30+ years. No problems so far either way… Lots more miles & things to see and do.

[@Simcore999]

What brand, what chemistry and what price

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for your questions. As far as prices, they vary as to the type, amp hour, voltage, ETC. A 48-volt 21-amp hour battery for my eBike runs about $600 - $800. I do not purchase after-market batteries. I always purchase and use the batteries that are directly from the manufacturer. In addition, I only use the charger that was supplied for the batteries from the manufacturer. If and when I need a new battery, I will always purchase from the manufacturer, and I only deal with quality manufacturers. Most are now going with UL safety standards. Yes, the cost is higher than the after-market batteries, but the quality is much higher. At this time, I'm using 3 batteries from Biktrix. All are 48 volts made for my Juggernaut Ultra 1000 eBike and I've absolutely no issues with anything I've purchased from Biktrix. The batteries and my eBike was purchased in January 2021 and everything is still performing as if new. Thanks again.

[@TwoWheelWarrior]

Way to go buddy!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching. Ride on my friend.

[@rodolfobaliga7577]

Good advice bro.

[@anthonyiocca5683]

There are other controllable factors, if ignored will shorten the life of the entire system. Mid-drive -vs- hub-drive, while hub-drive is neat-O, the mid-drive has mechanical advantages with gear selections. My e-bike setup is 750w mid-drive 17.5ah lithium ion battery. Gears are Shimano’s 7 internal hub gears. My front ring sprocket has 52 teeth, rear sprocket has 21 teeth. 26” wheels. My power options are 1-9, 1,2,&3 is considered as low-power, 4&5 are mid-power, 6,7,&8 are hi-power, #9 is max-power. Choosing the lowest power setting in combination with proper gear to negotiate the terrain is paramount. First gear is a hill climbing gear, about 8mph in low power, giving great mechanical advantage for motor/battery. Cruising in 4th gear low power at 15mph is comfortable. Highest gear #7 allows me to maintain a sustainable hi-speed of 22-25 mph on hi-power. I refrain from using max-power, it’s not really a necessity, unless your racing. Racing everywhere you go will cause excessive wear and tear. Stronger riders will get the most from any biking experience. The more you ride the stronger you become…

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Yes, you are correct. The more you ride the better you will become at using the correct gears and extending the range of your battery. Even on a hub drive, using a low gear and helping the motor get started by using some "Push" will help the batter and the hub motor. Not to mention, the more you ride the less PAS you will need which will definitely extend your battery range.

[@willparsons32]

I hear alot of percentage...my ebike doesn't have a percentage scale on its charging cord or battery itself. In turn, i usually end up charging the battery to a full charge and like yourself, makes me prepared for the unexpected trail miles or who I decide to ride with. On the flip side of the situation though, when I am finished riding the bike, (my trips usually last anywhere from 3 to 7 miles per ride) I like to recharge the battery because I just don't know when or where I'll be going tomorrow!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. I agree with your thinking. I like to be ready to ride any ride at anytime. Plus, with the new BMS systems on most eBike batteries, there is no advantage to not charging to 100% unless you are planning to store the battery for a long time ... say for instance, winter storage. What kind of Battery and eBike combination do you have?

[@donbrloks3959]

At 74 and weigh 230, I find that 10 miles is an average ride. Charging from 85% and discharging to 40% is normal. Lectric 3.0. Sweet spot is gear on 6 (out of 7) and PAS of 2.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment and good on you for being a big guy and staying active at 74 years young. Sounds like you have a pretty good charging routine. Is your riding mostly for commuting or for simple fun and exercise?

[@donbrloks3959]

@@GreyBeardEBiking just for fun.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@donbrloks3959 In my mind, that's the best reason to ride an eBike. Stay safe out there.

[@augustaporter3735]

Thank You for all this great information.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for watching.

[@vickytoshach2627]

What about humidity? We like in SW Florida all year round. Currently we store our bikes and batteries in a utility room off of our home. It has windows and stays a steady temp, but not sure about humidity.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Hello Vicky, Not sure if my first reply went through but here it is again. eBike batteries don't like humidity. Out here in California we don't have to deal with that much humidity but I have many eBiker friends who live in Florida. They all pretty much said the same thing. They use a very small fan to continuously blow air over the batteries when they ore on the storage shelf. They said they have never had a problem with humidity. I've also read this is a good solution. In fact, even though we don't have humidity out here in Southern California, there are many benefits to having air circulate over the eBike batteries so I've started using a fan to blow air over my eBike batteries. I purchased a $10.00 little fan from Amazon. Thanks for the question.

[@deanmone]

My Reention Dorado does not wake up because it sat for 6 months. Can i wake it up by hooking two dorado main powder ports together ?? For a few minutes?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for reaching out. I would not recommend the 2 power ports together. I'm not clear as to the "waking up". Is it the battery or the bike that is not being activated. The first thing I would do is I would check the batteries on another eBike and then I would check different batteries in your eBike. That's how I would begin the process. Let me know what you find out. Thanks.

[@danielwelker1286]

As a ebike newbie I enjoyed the information. Batteries Are expensive 😮

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. I agree with you. eBike batteries are expensive so it's worthwhile to try and make them last as long as possible.

[@joebidendidthat5121]

Great video…. Keep it up, love your videos!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks. Do you have any favorite eBike subjects or do you like to watch for entertainment?

[@pedalingpete626]

thanks for the tips. I'm looking for a way to carry an extra battery on top of my rear rack. It's too heavy for my panniers. I would like a hard plastic covered/padded inside that matches the battery size well.

[@DanBronk]

When I carry an extra battery I strap it onto the side of my rear rack. Check out this video at the 2:50 minute mark on how I do it and let me know if this will work for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rofLeGqPbLR5n6s

[@pedalingpete626]

@@DanBronk Great idea. Thanks.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@pedalingpete626 Good luck. Let me know when you decide how you're going to carry your spare battery. Love to see it.

[@michaeljohn7467]

I put 2 wire baskets on back rack one on each side, i carry 1 extra battery in one side n tools n straps n green slime n small air pump underneath in heavy duty plastic garbage bags so rain water wont hit it I carry water jugs n other stuff in other basket I also put stuff in garbage bag n bungy cord it on top, i can carry sleeping bag n pad n clothes in it You can carry a lot of stuff this way

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

My summers are 100-115 degrees every day. Batteries are stored and charged at 85 degrees. I guess my life span will be less.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, you are in some warm and some would even say hot weather, however, with the proper care you should not notice much, if any, abnormal battery power loss. You may lose a little range on those really hot days. What kind of riding is your normal ride? Distance, terrain, ETC.?

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Short trips around town for cargo, at most 15 miles round trip. All pavement. I live in a mountain state long hills in town can be a mile long at 6% grade. 50s temperature in winter, 100-115 F. in summer. And now a key on/off switch on the battery has a bad connection where the bike may shut off during the ride. After researching Ebikes for 5 years purchased a Lectric 3.0. No UL listing on electronics and the folding mechanism is what's damaging the key switch. IF I would have waited 6 months before buying, I would have bought their new introduction, the Lectric Expedition dual battery. A true cargo bike, non-folding bike, with an average 80 mile range. That range would make an Ebike for me 10x more useful. I was tired of breaking conventional bicycles for cargo hauling, the Ebike heavy construction makes for very inexpensive cargo bikes. Bad timing on purchase. @@GreyBeardEBiking

[@Stanima68]

This guy rocks!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

WOW! Thanks. What is your eBike set-up and what type of riding do you prefer?

[@Stanima68]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Bafang Mid drive 750w and i like to go fast and long

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@Stanima68 Sounds like you have a great set up. Ride safe my friend.

[@kjm-ch7jc]

it might last 5 years but what is the percentage degraded each year.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. With proper care and Maintenace, and depending on the quality of the battery, the degradation can be very small. I've have both of my batteries for over 5 years and have only noticed about a 5% reduction. That's why I have 2 batteries, so I can always have enough power to finish my rides no matter what. What kind of batteries do you use and how are they holding up?

[@papablueshirt]

I did all these tips with my first ebike, I rode about 11,000 miles and I just got my 4th battery. It is a 36v, I suspect it is undersized for the bike. The battery was too hot to touch after riding. I had a wifi plug set up to not start charging until 2 hrs after I came back from my ride. The bike still ate batteries like there was no tomorrow. My new Philodo is 48v, it seems to have a better battery management system as the batteries are barely warm when I get back. I charge to 80% overnight, then have it timed so it will be at 100 percent at the time I go on my ride. I am hoping I will get better mileage out of these batteries.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Sounds like you are on the right path for charging. Is you new battery a quality battery from a known manufacturer? Also, what size is the ebike motor and is it a hub or mid-drive?

[@papablueshirt]

@@GreyBeardEBiking It actually has two 1000 watt hub motors. The battery is a 22.5 AH beast. I am hoping it last for a while. The BMS seems to throttle back the power as it runs down so the battery never gets hot. I am hoping that will help the battery last longer.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@papablueshirt Do you also find that your hub motors get hotter as the battery discharges? If the battery issue continues you might want to consider running a separate battery for each motor. Also, you might want to consider switching to a mid-drive motor to be able to use the torque of the lower gears on the drivetrain. When I ran a hub motor I was wearing out the hub motor and the batteries because of the high torque needed for the hub drive. Please keep me updated on how your new battery performs. Thanks.

[@techspot871]

I hope you can answer my question. On my power outlet i have a Watt monitor that i can watch from my phone. Its a 110~120v 3a charger for my 48v battery. When i first start recharging my battery the power adapter starts drawing full power from my outlet at about 180 watts. when my battery enters near full i see the power draw drop. The watts slowly drop from 180 watt to eventually 0 watts i manually stop it around 60 to 80 watt draw. Im just wondering at what % level my battery starts to charge slower (topping off) and drawing less power from my charge adapter.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the question. When first charging your battery all the cells are being charge to full, however as the cells get closer to full the charger will "Slow Down" because some of the cells charge faster than others. The Charger doesn't need to send full power to all of the cells because some are already fully charged. Also, letting your batteries charge to 100% every 5th or 6th charge lets the cells balance out. All batteries are different and charging time depends on many things, battery condition, Battery age, ETC.

[@dg9bfc]

when current drops it's near full... 90% or so... a tiny bit below max voltage (depends on pack size and charger size)

[@Powerstroke98]

Thanks for the 'tips' as I thought I'd take a minute to check a video on charging, before doing so for both mine and my wife's e-bikes! Unlike you, we live in western Canada, where the weather doesn't allow us to ride unhindered in nice weather, so we only ride in dry weather for the most part, so there can be long stretches where we don't ride at all, but we do keep the batteries inside the house, keeping them at a pleasant temperature. Now, unsure of the importance on how to hook the battery, prior to charging...in to plug to the e-bike battery first, then the wall electric socket, or the other way around, or does it matter at all? I always plug to the battery first, but wondered if I was doing it correctly? I currently have 1,350 kilometres on my e-bike, and my wife just a few hundred, but we do take them on vacations as well ride locally on occasion. We've taken up Pickleball, and that tends to take up a good deal of our time, and unfortunately the courts are a good 30 minute drive by car, so we tend to not use our e-bikes for this purpose, but one day I'm feeling like I have additional energy, I just might give it a try! Thanks again.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment and question. I think I'll soon be experiencing the same type of weather as you. I will be moving to North Idaho this summer. My background is electrical engineering and as such I try to not plug in something with a load on it. The way I charge my batteries is I plug the charger into the wall outlet first then plug the charger into the battery. The I reverse the process when disconnecting. I unplug the charger from the battery then unplug the charge from the wall outlet. With the low charging amps, it probably doesn't really matter but that's just a habit for me on all of my electronics. I haven't tried Pickleball, but it looks like a lot of fun. Where I live, sometimes a 30-minute drive is actually shorter by eBike because of the traffic. What kind of eBikes do you have?

[@isawit9722]

@@GreyBeardEBiking I read that when you plug the charger into the battery after the charger is plugged in, there is a small spark inside the battery charge port, and after a while you create a little weld line inside the port,or carbon left from the spark.....so I've been plugging charger to battery first,and then charger to outlet...

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@isawit9722 Thanks for the comment. I use the procedure of plugging in the charger to the power source then plugging the charger into the battery after the charger has been energized because in my experience, the order is easier on the charger. I have not experienced any spark when plugging in the charger to the battery with the charger being energized. However, if you are seeing a spark then I would reverse the order as you described. Thanks again for the comment.

[@isawit9722]

@@GreyBeardEBiking I've never seen a spark.,. I just read a manual on ebikes by a professional electrician and I don't think letting the charger energize first would make much difference.... I also watched a video by same man.....with battery and charger hooked up to meter's to show the flow... when you plug charger into outlet it sparks on the plug, I guess that's what he was going by....

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@isawit9722 There are many differing opinions on this subject. And some manufacturers even recommend the 2 differing procedures on how to charge. However, as a retired licensed electrician, licensed electrical contractor, and with over 15 years of eBike experience, the industry standard "Rule of Thumb" is to never add any electrical load to any device, (the charger), before the device has been energized. The sudden load to the device coupled with being energized at the same time, can wear out or damage the device, (the charger). Generally, most of the charger to battery connections should be constructed so as not to allow cross shorting. Also, most of the time "if" there is a spark when connecting the charger to the battery, it usually means the connection points need some sort of Maintenace. Not saying connecting the charger to the battery before energizing the charger is wrong, but from my experience, and from the research I've done, I will keep the charging process as I've been doing it. For me it will be energize the charger then attach the battery to the charger. In addition, I unplug the battery from the charger before I de-energize the charger. I think some of your points are valid and I plan to do some more investigating on this issue. When I find more information, I'll let you know. I hope you will keep me updated also if you find more information on this subject. Thanks for the comment, I enjoy discussions like these. Stay safe out there my friend.

[@riden1234567]

I live in florida, where it can get pretty hot. I'm concerned that leaving my battery in the garage, charging or not, may be too warm. In wich case shuld I use a surge protector?

[@DanBronk]

Yes, a surge protector is a great idea Also I recommend a shut off timer for your charger so the power will automatically be shut off when the battery is charged. Thanks

[@2musicSoundtrackfandom579]

Where can I go to get a replacement battery for e-bikes so just in case if my battery ever goes bad where can I go actually get a replacement for it until I find a proper mechanic that would fix it.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the question. I always recommend going back to the place you purchased your eBike or the manufacturer of your eBike and/or battery to get a spare or replacement battery. Always great to have spare battery. I'm not a big fan of aftermarket batteries even though the price may be less. Thanks again and stay safe out there.

[@martinhanks1379]

I have lost my keys to battery any suggestions .

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I also lost my keys. I was lucky enough to have a good locksmith close by and he made 4 new keys for me. Let me know how things work out. Thanks.

[@user619tlsdca5]

Ive learned NEVER TO SIT A BATTERY IN STORAGE no more than 3 days. My battery died after 3000 miles due to not using it for another bike. Believe you have to charge every 4 days if not using. Sucks my battery went dead after 3000 miles but its a lesson I cant afford to make again.

[@zeekmx1970]

You've just received an Instalike.

[@sonsandgrandsons]

As of today, 1/22/23, it costs $500 for a second Aventon Pace 500.2 battery. Does it make sense for me to by a second battery through the company or is there some other place I should look? I am a 70-year-old woman who rode just over 1000 miles between April and October. That was year number one. I expect to do about the same but would like the security of being able to insert a second battery in case it was needed. Hmmm.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

In my opinion, I always prefer to go with the factory supplied batteries. I have 2 batteries from the manufacturer, (Biktrix), and I alternate them on each ride. On longer rides I carry both for the extended mileage. In my 10 years of riding eBikes, I have not had good luck with the cheaper batteries of lesser quality. Personally, I think the quality and reliability of the batteries supplied by the manufacturer are well worth the added cost ... provided the manufacturer is a quality eBike manufacturer. (Aventon is a quality manufacturer). You are putting on some great mileage, a factory battery would be my choice. Where are you putting on the eBike miles.

[@sonsandgrandsons]

@@GreyBeardEBiking 2/17/23 Thanks you for your reply and advise. I will purchase the backup battery from Aventon. There are paved paths along the roads and many parks just begging me to do another round. I can't wait for warmer weather here in MN. To expand the biking experience, I'd like to get a bike rack for my vehicle and also talk my husband into joining me on these rides. Enjoy the E-bike experience.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@sonsandgrandsons Sounds like a good way t go on the Battery. I hear you about the cold weather. I just got back from a long trip through North Idaho. Coooooooooooold! Hope your husband will be able to join you for some rides, however, solo eBike is also lots of fun.

[@CarlWillis-p7q]

Hi can you tell me what to do. So I had my e-bike battery stored for 6 months on a full charge and I am ready to ride again so do I fully charge it or do I write it like it is until battery is low thank you

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the question. I would install the battery on eBike and see where the charge is at. If it is at 50% or more I would do a short ride and then fully charge it. If it is below 50%, I would charge to about 75-80% and do a short ride and then fully charge. Let me know what you end up doing. Thanks again.

[@daryllmroberts7958]

my ride 66 r5 has the battery in the center bar,,kinda tricky gettin out,,,but worth the trouble

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree. I think charging the eBike battery off of the eBike is safer.

[@tS-sn7jt]

Is there any type of battery other than Chinese batteries? If so plz list them

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for your question. Usually I recommend batteries from Panasonic, LG, Samsung or a few other larger battery manufactures that have been in business for many years.

[@ghz24]

You should have used 90% of the batteries range when new as the average range because the battery drops to 80% at listed cycle life.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment. With my batteries I haven't noticed much drop in range using this method of charging. Stay safe out there my friend.

[@Jhpc399]

Please help. I am comfuced with the battery's actual 3.6v and nominal voltage 4.2v. On what voltage you calculate your 80 or 90% charge? and how about the theory that the battery is empty at 3v? All the above figures multiply x10 number of cells (36v or 42v or 30v)??

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for reaching out with your question. Generally, eBike battery cells a figured at 3.6 volts per cell. I'm not really a fan or believer in charging your eBike battery to only 80% unless you are going to store it for a long time. So, I don't really ever worry about charging to 80%. I charge to 100% on almost every charge. These days, the eBike battery technology has come a long way and the internal BMS, (battery management system) keeps your battery from over-charging. For the best battery health, in my opinion, I recommend charging to 100% on every charge unless you will be storing the battery for a long period of time, like months. And even if storing the battery for a long time you need to give it a partial charge every-so-often to keep the battery maintained. How many times a week are you riding your eBike and how much of the battery charge are you using on each ride?

[@Jhpc399]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you for your time.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@Jhpc399 You are very welcome. I invite you to watch some of my other battery videos..

[@stevenwells6292]

I have watched videos here on YT that say any charge was one cycle regardless of how much charge was needed and others that say a partial charge isn't a cycle. Who do I believe?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Hi Steven. The simple answer is, yes, a half charge is half a cycle. However, there are other factors that come into play. Such as if the cells are balanced or have been balanced, types of chargers Etc. Most of my rides use more than 50% of the battery and I do a full charge every time. Probably using a 3/4 cycle. But in reality, I don't worry about the cycle life because when the battery needs to be charged, you charge it. Trying to save a few charge cycles is really not going to save you anything. Most batteries these days are good for 800-1000 charge cycles which under normal use is over 5 plus years of life, even if you count a half charge as a full cycle. (Which, in general it's not). Of course, over time your battery range will degrade somewhat. I've had my current batteries for over 2 years and charge them 100% each time, and I've only notice less than a 5% reduction in range. I ride about 3-5 times a week. For me, I just don't worry about the charge cycles. I charge, then I ride, then I charge and ride again. Keep on riding my friend.

[@dg9bfc]

a partly charge and discharge do not count as full cycle using from 50 down to 10 makes more wear as from 80 down to 40 rule of thumb at best cycle between 20 or 30 and 80 .. and only do a full charge just before you use it for a longer travel where you need each Ah top out for balancing after a few half cycles if you use it day by day then you maybe should do the top loading in Sunday night (so it does not stay fully charged for a longer time)

[@arnehusby1420]

I live in Norway. One day I was Riding my e-bike Suddenly there was an extreme rainstorm. When i come home and charge my 48V Parrot battery, it was dead. I open it and it was water inside the battery, but not much, and the cells are covered. Now the battery will not charge and when I measure, it's zero Volts. My battery is just two years old. It's probably not something I can do, but it's annoying and expensive.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Sorry to hear about your battery issue due to the rain. I don't ride in the rain or in areas with water very much, but when I do I try to wrap my battery with plastic. And yes, you are correct, batteries are expensive. About a third or even half of the cost of an eBike. Unfortunately, it sounds like a new battery will be in your future. Are you going to purchase through the same place you purchased your eBike?

[@skeller61]

I just got a Velotric Discover 2, which has a battery UL rated so you can put it in a tank of water for 30 minutes, dry it off and have no problem. This was not my main consideration, but it’s nice not having to fear the possibility of getting stuck in the rain. Good luck with replacing your battery, that really sucks.

[@davidroberts6594]

Its all a about if you were lucky enough to get a good one. I have a 3 year old battery still going but the charger blew up in half that time. I had another battery fail and puff up in 6 months. Quality has gone down on just about everything. If you get lucky on a good long lasting battery/charger your still at risk of those cheap controllers blowing to also.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for your comment. I agree with you with regard to the "cheap stuff". In my experience, paying a little more for quality and using only quality manufactures, you take much of the "luck" out of the equation.

[@EddyBless551]

Hello.. what about if I charges my battery everyday,?.. because I use it to work everyday..20 miles Monday to Friday,.. because every 20 miles my battery discharge,so that's why I charges everyday.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Hi, thanks for the question. I have the same conditions. I ride pretty much everyday between 18 - 25 miles and I charge to full charge because I don't want to run short of power on my rides. I have been doing this on my 48-volt 21-amp hour battery for over 2 years and have not noticed any reduction in power or range. And really, with 1000 to 1500 charge cycles, that's 4 or 5 years worth of battery life so I don't worry about the charging cycles. I charge to 100% every time so I can enjoy my rides with having any range anxiety. What is your eBike and battery setup?

[@Mamudy]

I ride my bike 45km but the battery is still full! Not a single bar lost! Is that real? Thank you

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

WOW! That's amazing. Do you ride at PAS level 1 all the time? Is your terrain pretty flat?

[@keepitthoro6768]

So many rules

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the comment, however these are not really rules, but rather really good suggestions. These "suggestions" will help to make your battery be more efficient and last longer. How do you take care of your battery and how do you charge them?

[@cobraeditz557]

thankyou sir

[@alsafford7143]

👍

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the thumbs up. Ride safe my friend.

[@augustaporter3735]

Should I unplug the cord to the battery on my bike between uses or leave it plugged in

[@mithranjanweerathunga2113]

Thanks a lot for the valuable information. I’m having a 36v battery and I could not ride my bike for considerable time. Now the battery does not charging. Please advise.

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for reaching out with your question. Sorry to hear you are having an issue with your eBike battery. The information you supplied is very limited but here are a few ideas. How long was the battery in storage? Years? Was the battery maintained with a minimal charge during storage? If your battery is an older battery and was stored for a long time with no ongoing maintenance, then the battery may have slowly discharged to the point of sustaining damage. All eBike batteries slowly lose their charge over time. I would recommend taking the battery to a certified eBike battery service shop and have them check out your battery. Also, have you checked the charger to make sure it is in good working order? If you have a second battery you can check the charge on a good battery to make sure it is working properly. Kepp e updated on what you find out. Good luck.

[@mithranjanweerathunga2113]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Almost 6 months. Is there any fuse inside the casing….?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@mithranjanweerathunga2113 Some batteries have a fuse however, unless you are very experienced and a battery expert, I would take your battery to a certified eBike battery expert. Also, have you checked the charger to make sure it is working properly?

[@shawnstoik]

Great video! Wow, you need a haircut though that’s hilarious, lol sheesh

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the great comment. Yup, I do, (did), need a haircut. The long hair was actually due to a bet with my brother. The hair has long since be cut off and I'm back from my rebellious state to the respectable state. The beard stays however. 😀

[@azhardhawan7390]

We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. kzbin.infoUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!

[@jamesgibson3242]

Hi, my battery is a 48V 18 amp. Why does my display show my battery is at 52 volts?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

My 48 volt battery registers the same thing. The 48 volt designation is an average voltage depending on how the battery is built. Both my batteries are 48 volt and when fully charged the 21 amp hour battery shows 52 and the 14.5 amp hour shows 52 volts. Of course the 14.5 battery has less range and that's why I carry it as a spare on longer rides. But don't worry about the display showing 52 volts when fully charged. That's pretty normal.

[@jamesgibson3242]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you very much for the info. Just I ordered a 48V battery but on the battery it didn't say the Volts unless I missed that. Was wondering if by accident they sent me a 52 but from what you say I think mine is the right battery I ordered. Thanks!

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@jamesgibson3242 Even if you did get a 52 volt battery, most 48 volt eBikes will handle a 52 volt just fine.

[@mrtechie6810]

Most 48V lithium ion batteries charge at 54.6V. So it should show 54V when fully charged. (48V is around the middle of the discharge voltage curve.)

[@captainmikesnautitrainingv5530]

I have to leave my e-bike battery for 6 months - what can I do to keep it healthy? Can I use a ‘battery maintainer’ on it to keep it fully charged? Should I get someone to charge it every 2-3 months; any other suggestions - thanks!

[@justinbogart278]

Any data on exactly how long to wait between charge/discharge and how much cells will degrade if i don't? Battery "rest" time is a pain on ebike tours so I want to know the stakes...

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Thanks for the question. There is no set time for "letting the battery rest before recharging." There are many factors but mainly it is to let the battery cool down a bit before recharging. As far as a battery or the cells degrading, again that has many factors. How far was the battery discharged, temperature, ETC. My recommendation is to carry 2 batteries on a tour. That way you can alternate the charging. If you must charge quickly after or during the ride, try to let the battery "rest" for at least 15-20 minutes, more if it's hot. Also, "quick chargers" have become very popular, but they do add stress on your battery. I only use the chargers that came with the battery. Bottom line ... if you are on a tour out in the middle of nowhere and you gotta keep going then charge quickly as needed. Doing that "once in a while" will not destroy your battery. If it's hot though, you gotta let it cool down a bit.

[@clytondee4948]

Another solution to extend the range is to reduce the width and weight of the rider

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Yes, this is true, but I would rather get a larger battery that give up cupcakes and ice cream! 😂

[@SonriseSunset]

My ebike maker has larger batteries but not for my model (Polarna M4). Can you add an extra battery that is "wired" in or do they have to be pysically removed and replaced? If you could get a larger battery, do you then need a different controller? And does that controller have to be capmpatible with the display - mine is that green colored LCD display KD986

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

There are many "add-on kits" to wire in a second battery with a switch to switch between batteries. However, I would talk to the Manufacturer to get the specifics for your bike and if it's possible with your eBike and battery set up.

[@SonriseSunset]

@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you !!

[@theoissilet7356]

If my bike is retrofitted, would it be possible to change the battery when the power all gone?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Not sure what you mean, but generally you can change or add a new battery anytime. Thanks

[@Mamudy]

Can I ride an e-bike right after charging?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

Great question. The answer is yes, you can ride your eBike directly after charging your eBike battery. However, you should let your battery "settle" for an hour or so after a ride before charging. Don't let your battery go completely discharged on a ride. On longer rides that may reach the range of my battery, I carry a 2nd battery as a backup.

[@Mamudy]

​@@GreyBeardEBikingthank you

[@miked9646]

I bought 2 of the REI Co-op e1.1 bikes about a month ago. Today I noticed the battery meter on the battery shows red when the button is pushed. When I plug the charger cord into the battery the charger light stays green. Neither charger will charge the battery. The battery is a 36v 13 Ah, model BT F14 430.0, The other bike battery works fine charging and in the bikes. Any thoughts? It was working 2 days ago. It started to rain and the battery was a bit muddy but it was dried off right away and went into a dry car then the house. I also have to admit that 2 weeks ago I launched it out of my bike bag after hitting some baseball-sized rocks at 20 mph. The battery case has some scratches but did not crack and I have used it about 6 times since then.

[@Simply.C]

After you remove the battery do anything to protect the electrical connection points on the bike with anything? If so, what?

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

I never travel with or leave the battery installed on my ebike when I'm not riding it. Right now, I live in San Diego, Ca. so I don't cover the connections for short trips unless I know I'm going through some bad weather. Also I store my eBike in an enclosed clean and dry garage However, when I'm on a road trip I cover the connections, the motor and the monitor with either plastic bags with bungie cords or for long trips I have a full bike cover. When it comes to weather, I guess I'm spoiled or maybe just a wimp, because I don't ride in bad weather. 😬The full bike cover is the best, but it does present some other issues, such as blocking the vehicle tail lights and license plate. I'm going to be producing a video in the very near future about how to make a simple and cheap taillight and license plate extender. Also, I never leave the eBike on the rack at a motel, I always bring it inside with me. Be advised, some hotels/motels don't allow eBikes or the eBike batteries in the rooms, so you will need check. I know some folks that just don't mention that they have an eBike with them.

[@michaeljohn7467]

If it is going to rain or be real dusty while my battery is off, i use a plastic garbage bag n bungy cord it around where battery hooks into so it dont get wet or dirty

[@GreyBeardEBiking]

@@michaeljohn7467 That's exactly what I do also. If I'm going for a long drive with the eBike on the rack I use a full bike cover, but I will still wrap a plastic bag with bungees around the connections.