How to Care for Your eBike Battery

With proper care an eBike battery will last for years. Here’s what you need to know to maximize your battery’s longevity and performance:

Fully charge a new eBike battery.
IZIP eBikes use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are shipped with only a partial charge. As soon as possible after you receive your eBike, charge your battery to full capacity so you don’t risk running it dangerously low, which could damage it.

It’s OK to top off your eBike battery.
Partial discharge/charge cycles will not harm the battery’s capacity or performance. (Running the battery down halfway, then recharging it completely is considered one half of a charge cycle.) After a ride, wait for the battery to cool to room temperature before charging.

Practice standard battery safety protocol.
Never charge a battery continuously for longer than 12 hours, and only use the charger that comes with your battery. It’s normal for the battery to get warm when charging, so be sure to place it on a nonflammable surface such as metal, ceramic or glass.

eBike Battery Care

Avoid extreme temperatures.
Exposure to extreme heat or cold can reduce overall battery life and performance. Don’t leave the battery sitting in full sun on a hot day: It can overheat and will stop working until it has cooled. If you park your eBike in full sun or transport it on your car, remove the battery from the frame and take it with you or put it inside your car.

Don’t worry about rain.
It’s OK for your battery to get a little rain on it. Dry the battery with a soft cloth as soon as you can. Don’t ride through deep standing water, though.

Maintain your battery during storage.
A Li-ion battery stored in a discharged condition will lose capacity much faster than a charged one, so it’s important to recharge from time to time even when you’re not riding your eBike regularly. When storing for longer than two months, remove the battery from the bike and maintain a 40%-60% charge by recharging to 65%-70% about once a month. Be sure to disconnect the charger from the wall before storing the battery. Store the battery in a cool, dry place to avoid corrosion or damage from condensation.

Replace and recycle.
Even with proper care, rechargeable batteries don’t last forever. Average battery life depends on use and conditions. A Li-ion battery will last about 500-750 charge cycles. Once a battery can no longer supply 70% of its original rated capacity in amp-hours, it is near the end of its useful life. Consider replacing it, because it will rapidly deteriorate until it can’t hold a charge. Be kind to the environment and  find a location that accepts Li-ion batteries for recycling instead of tossing it in the garbage.

Although it seems counterintuitive, eBike batteries function better and last longer when used regularly. All the more reason to make eBiking part of your weekly routine — whether that means commuting, cruising, or weekend adventuring. Get rolling!

eBike Battery Care