As the weather changes and the temperature begins to drop, it’s essential to ensure you consider how this affects the battery on your e-bike. By following our simple advice, you can keep riding over the colder months without any drop in performance or range you would usually achieve.
Let’s start with why temperature can have such a significant effect on the battery. Nearly all e-bikes out there use a Lithium battery. We use a specific type of Lithium-Ion battery, namely Lithium Cobalt Manganese. This particular type of battery has the lowest discharge rate of all E-Bike batteries, as well as boasting impressive charge cycles. This means it can comfortably be charged 1000 times without degradation, significantly more than many competitors on the market. It will also hold a charge for much longer than plenty of the competition too.
As the temperature drops, the gel-like substance inside the battery that transfers electrical energy from the cells around the battery starts to stiffen up. This reduces the charge level that the battery can handle, both incoming and outgoing, and the colder the temperature becomes, the stiffer the gel becomes, and the charge reduces further.
It’s common for riders to find that they get less range from a single charge over the winter than they would in the spring or summer. But don’t worry – by following our tips, you can minimise the effect and keep riding all year round!
Store The Battery Inside
If the bike is stored in a cold place overnight, such as an outside shed or garage, the battery gets cold. During this time, the gel inside will stiffen up and therefore reduce the range available - especially inconvenient if you planned a long-distance morning ride or commute.
We understand it’s not convenient for everyone to store the E-bike inside; therefore, we advise removing the battery from the bike and bringing the battery into the house when not in use. The bike itself can remain in the shed or garage, as it’s only the battery that’s affected by the cold. Then whenever you want to ride, re-fit the battery as normal.
Charge The Battery Inside
Similar to the point above, if the battery is charged in a cold environment, the charge won’t move as freely around the battery and will therefore struggle to achieve full capacity. Not only will this affect the range as the battery will never reach a full charge, but it can also reduce the lifespan of the battery.
Therefore, whenever you need to charge the battery, we recommend removing it from the bike and placing it on charge indoors. It’s also worth pointing out that the battery should be at room temperature before charging it, so if you’ve just come back from a cold ride, let the battery rest inside for several hours before plugging it in.
Remove The Battery If Unused
If riding in through the winter months isn’t your thing, and the bike will be unused for a period of time over winter, then we’d recommend removing the battery from the bike and storing it indoors at room temperature. For optimum battery care, once removed, charge it to around 60% capacity and then store inside until you’re ready to ride again. Our Smart batteries have a useful function designed exactly for this scenario. By pressing the button on the charger, it will charge up (or discharge) the battery to 60% and the battery management system will automatically place it into hibernation mode, which protects the battery when not in use for some time.
Cleaning The Bike
It goes without saying that you’re bound to encounter more rain and dirt during the winter months. This isn’t an issue as the bikes are designed to protect the battery in the event of a downpour. However, you may need to clean the bike once the ride is complete.
We don’t recommend using a pressure washer on our e-bikes, as this can damage the connections and force water inside areas it shouldn’t get into. Instead, wash the bike by hand (we’d suggest doing this with the battery installed to ensure the terminals are covered) and then thoroughly dry the bike before removing the battery to recharge or store.
Practice Good Battery Maintenance
While not so much linked with temperature, it is good practice to run the battery completely flat at least once every three months. This will help to keep the maximum charging capacity as high as possible.
Don’t Worry About The Cold When Riding
Despite what we’ve said so far, don’t be afraid of using your bike during the cold weather! Lithium-Ion batteries will warm up slightly when in use and that warmth will help keep the battery above 5 degrees. It’s important to highlight that the cold cannot damage the battery; our advice will help to get the most from your batteries life.
Electric bikes are designed to withstand all the elements from the British winter, so don’t let it stop you from enjoying your bike out on the roads. Riding in the cold is fine and will do no lasting harm to the batteries health.
By following this advice, you should be able to ride year-round with little change to the range you would expect to receive. But if you do forget any of the above, it’s important to remember that cold weather does no lasting damage to the battery at all – it has a temporary effect, but it will go back to normal.
Read our full guide on E-bike batteries
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So don’t let the cold weather stop you from enjoying your e-bike – follow our advice and you’ll be able to keep riding all year round!
If you’re an e-bike owner, this winter is the perfect time to ensure your battery is in the best condition for your rides. Giant Bicycles UK have compiled this guide to help you keep your e-bike battery in peak condition for winter cycling.
First and foremost, charge your battery regularly, regardless of whether or not you’ve recently used it. The pack should be left on a full charge during the winter months, so be sure to give it a full charge prior to storing it during this time. If you anticipate being away from home for extended periods, take the battery with you for inconvenient charging.
Secondly, never expose your battery to temperatures below 0°F (minus 17°C). This can cause permanent damage to the cells, and could significantly reduce the battery life or even render it useless. When charging, remove the pack from your bike and store indoors in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. It is also advisable to keep the battery cool but not cold when on the bike to extend its life.
In addition, use a battery-conditioner like a ‘Volcano’ charger to ensure the best energy storage and optimal battery regeneration. These chargers will help to extend the life and performance of the battery as they provide a slow and steady charge.
Finally, check up on your bike’s power supply. You should check and clean the connections regularly to ensure a good connection between the motor and the battery. If your bike does not start, or fails to re-start, this is likely to be the cause.
By following these tips from Giant Bicycles UK, you’ll ensure that your e-bike battery is in peak condition for the winter months. Keep your bike charged, store in a cool environment, use a battery-conditioner and keep the power connections clean – these steps will ensure that you’ll have optimal performance until spring arrives!