Electric Bike Battery Life: How Long Does It Last

As far as we are aware, e-bikes are certain types of bicycles with motor and battery power. The bike’s battery is what propels it forward.

You want to use your e-bike but you’re worried that its battery won’t give you enough juice to ensure you complete your daily commute.

Or maybe when you take your e-bike on a longer trip outside of the city, you worry that you won’t find a charging station along your route and be left stranded.

The type of battery in your e-bike matters a lot otherwise you can’t power up your ride! 

How long does the average e-bike battery last?

This will vary a lot, depending on the e-bike motor’s power and how you ride your bike. For example, if you use your leg power more than your e-bike’s power then you’ll save battery power.

Generally, you’ll get an average battery life of 25 to 70 miles for every battery cycle. This will be much less – giving you up to 25 miles maximum – for riders who use the electric assistance a lot.

With that in mind, let’s look at how long you can expect your e-bike’s battery to last as well as how to find the right battery for your riding needs.

What Batteries Are Used In Electric Bikes?

Before we can look at how long e-bike batteries last, we first need to know what batteries they use.

There are quite a few different types of e-bike batteries. These include lead acid batteries and lithium ion batteries.

The latter last longer – you’re looking at only having to recharge the battery between 500 and 2000 charges, while acid batteries require charging after about 300 or fewer battery cycles.

Many e-bikes on the market will make use of lithium-ion polymer batteries. These are rechargeable, inexpensive, and give you a boost of power in a short amount of time.

They charge quickly. Lithium-ion polymer batteries are a type of lithium ion battery. They have a non-rigid container so that they can be manufactured into a variety of shapes.

The benefit of this is that they can be integrated into the bike’s frame in an easier, more convenient way and it allows for greater customization.

While you’ll probably still find nickel-metal hydride (NiMh) batteries, they are expensive and not as mainstream for e-bikes due to how lithium batteries are much more efficient and popular.

What To Know About Battery Capacity

When choosing an e-bike battery, capacity is an important element.

Basically, capacity refers to how much range you’ll get for every battery charge. Two things influence battery capacity: how big the battery is and if it’s been made with quality in mind.

Battery capacity is measured in watt hours (Wh) but some manufacturers measure it in ampere hours (Ah).

You don’t always need a large battery, though. It basically depends on what you’ll be using the e-bike for.

If you’ve got a light or very efficient e-bike, or you won’t be using your e-bike for long trips, then a smaller battery makes the most sense for your lifestyle.

A battery capacity of 180 or 200Wh will surely be enough for you.

On the topic of the battery size, you also want to ensure that the battery’s not too large that it’s capable of inhibiting your riding experience, such as by preventing your speed.

It’s good to know that up to 30 percent of the weight of your e-bike will be comprised of its battery, so larger isn’t always better!

When purchasing an e-bike, consider the weight and price of it along with the quality of its battery, because all of these factors are linked.

If your battery’s useful for ensuring you cover long distances and it costs a bit more than other batteries on the market, it’s likely to have a lighter weight.

Bikes that you purchase on a budget will sometimes have heavier batteries that also won’t last as long – you get what you pay for, as they say!

If you want a battery that will give you enough juice for a longer trip before you need to recharge it, you can find batteries with a capacity of up to 1000Wh.

Sometimes these will make use of two batteries to power up your ride, which is an awesome way to boost their capacity. 

How To Work Out How Much You Need

Now, based on the above, you might be wondering exactly how much capacity you’ll need based on your daily commute.

You can estimate it by dividing the Wh capacity of an e-bike battery by 15 – this will give you the range that you can expect to be able to enjoy with that battery cycle.

So, if the bike has a 360Wh capacity and you divide this by 15, you’ll have an approximate range of 24 miles.

It’s important to bear in mind that your range will be affected by several factors, such as your weight, the terrain on which you’re riding, and what power level you’ve selected.

In addition, if you choose a high-power setting for the whole trip, this will obviously drain the battery much more than if you only use it for parts of the journey.

It’s therefore a good idea to mix it up a bit so that you don’t use the battery too much, however it’s worth experimenting to see how long a battery cycle lasts for you based on how much you use it.

How To Extend The Life Of Your Battery

To ensure that your battery doesn’t drain during longer trips, you should follow some important tips when riding.

These include:

• Riding at slightly lower speeds
• Using power settings conservatively
• Making use of your pedal power

How To Look After Your E-Bike Battery

Along with riding sensibly, a bit of battery maintenance will go a long way to keeping your battery in good condition so it won’t let you down.

Here are some important tips you should follow on a regular basis.

• When you first charge your e-bike battery, make sure you do so for 12 hours before you use it. This is important to ensure that electricity can flow through all the battery’s cells and this is part of conditioning the battery so that it will work well.

• When you charge your battery after that initial charge, make sure the battery isn’t in a freezing environment as cold temperatures can damage it.  However, the charging environment should also not be warmer than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Such temperature extremes are bad for the battery, so aim for a moderate temperature of between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

• When you attach the battery to the bike, make sure that it’s tightly fastened and secure. It will have to be locked in order for the battery to work properly and this will also prevent it from moving around during your ride.

• When you clean your e-bike, such as after every ride, you need to remove the battery to prevent it from getting damaged by water. 

• When your ride is finished for the day, charge the battery to make sure that it will be ready to go for your next ride. Leaving it with almost all of its battery life will ensure that the battery is kept in good condition. A lithium battery, for example, tends to have the best longevity when it’s fully charged.

• If your bike’s battery gets wet, such as if you accidentally submerge your bike into water, you must dry it off quickly, taking your time to dry the components to prevent rust damage.

• Never store your e-bike battery on empty, unless otherwise advised by the battery manufacturer. If you’re not going to be using your e-bike for a while, such as during the winter months, keep the battery at 60 or 70 percent to ensure it stays in good condition. When you’re ready to use it again, you want to be sure that it’s ready and won’t let you down.

What To Know About Changing E-Bike Batteries

Sooner or later, your e-bike battery will need to be changed, in a similar way that after a lot of usage your mobile phone battery won’t be able to hold onto a charge anymore.

When should you replace your e-bike battery?

When you can see that you’re not getting the same range that you used to get out of it, then this is a sign that it’s reaching the end of its lifespan.

That said, it’s good to know that if the e-bike battery is a quality product, it should give you more than 1,000 cycles.

If you tend to drain the battery about once a week, it should last you for three or more years, which is pretty decent.

When you need a new e-bike battery, you might be wondering where you’re supposed to purchase it.

The best thing to do is purchase a new battery from the e-bike company where you bought the e-bike in the first place.

This will ensure that you’re getting a quality product and that the battery will work with your e-bike.

Of course, if it so happens that you can’t get a replacement battery from the e-bike manufacturer, then you can consult with your local dealer who might be able to help you.

There also some companies to check out as they will be able to help you find the battery you need. A company worth considering is EBikeKit.

Now for the cost. To buy a new e-bike battery, you can expect to pay between $500 and $800, but this will obviously depend on the size of the battery and if it’s custom-made or a standard product.

Are Electric Bike Batteries The Same As Electric Car Batteries?

Electric car batteries can be quite similar to electric bike batteries.

You’ll also get lead-acid batteries, nickel metal hydride, and lithium-ion battery alternatives, just like you would with your e-bike.

While you might be tempted to use the battery in your electric car for your e-bike, it’s worth remembering that these batteries are used for different goals.

In car engines, batteries are used to give you a decent amount of current to start the engine and then the electricity used from the battery wanes.

In e-bikes, you will have that initial start that requires energy but you also require a continuous current.

The bottom line: Stick to using batteries meant for e-bikes on your bike! This will ensure the battery works in the way it’s been designed to so that you can make the most of your riding experience.

Related Questions

Is the battery the most important component of an e-bike?

The e-bike battery is important but you should also purchase a bike with a quality electric drive system because this will mean the batteries have been assembled according to high standards.

Popular and quality drive system manufacturers include Yamaha and Bosch.

For how long should you charge your e-bike battery?

Empty lithium-ion batteries will take between four and six hours to charge.

The last hour of charging is used for topping off cells but you don’t have to wait for it to be completed, so you can use the battery when it’s 90-percent charged.

Some e-bike batteries will reach that within two hours.

Conclusion

Your e-bike’s battery is an essential component of your riding experience, so it’s important to choose the right one, know when you need to change it, and maintain it properly.

In this article, we’ve looked at everything you need to know about electric bike battery life, as well as featured advice on how to make your e-bike battery last longer.