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Get to know your e-bike battery. If you are venturing into the world of e-bikes it is vital that you know and understands what components make up your battery and how you can best take care of your investment. In this blog, we are going to be talking you through everything you need to know before you get started.
Batteries
As you are probably more than aware of by now e-bikes are electric-assisted pedal bikes. Essentially it is a regular bike with a motor and battery. Like the cyclist, you are in control of how much power you wish to use by selecting the power mode on the head unit. Your battery is detachable and is able to be charged from your typical three pins charging port.
The amount of time your battery will last before changing is dependent on how much power you are using, this can range from 25-100 miles and will most likely get you through your daily commute. If you run out of battery your e-bike will return to functioning like a regular bike until you charge the battery again.
Where does the battery sit?
More than likely your battery will be in one of these locations; on top of the downtube, rear rack or it could be integrated into the frame. When picking your e-bike it’s worth thinking about the placement of your battery as it can affect the performance of the bike.
Rear rack- This placement is great if you have a lighter bike as the weight is towards the back of the bike it means that it is best used for lighter more casual use. Rear rack mounted batteries are typically found on more budget bikes but this doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t as good quality.
Downtube mounted- This part of the bikes refers to the main structure of the bike situated behind the front tire. This is the most popular position for a battery, it is more out of the way than rear rack and offers more peace of mind when cycling as it is less likely to be damaged. Downtube mounted batteries typically offer a more sleek looking design that many find more aesthetically pleasing and as the weight is distributed in the centre of the bike it can offer a more steady ride.
Integrated- This is a relatively new concept and one that is proving to be popular with bike enthusiasts, it is as it sounds integrated into the structure of the bike, this offers complete peace of mind when cycling as there is no chance of it becoming loose or damaged. It offers the same weight distribution as downtube mounted so is a comfortable ride. However integrated batteries cannot be disconnected this, therefore, means that if you wish to charge the battery you cannot simply remove it.
Overall downtube-mounted and frame-integrated provide better handling than rack-mounted batteries as the weight is kept low and central along with your body.
How many miles will I get from my battery?
The most asked question about e-bike batteries is how long will it last before you have to recharge? Honestly, there is no answer to this question. It is completely dependent on how much power you are using during your ride. If you are using full power to the entirety you will have to recharge a lot quicker than if you are only using it occasionally throughout your ride. Typically though the average e-bike battery will allow for between 22-50 miles on a single charge some even offering up to 80 this is dependent on your batteries capacity, the wind and level of your path along with the size of your bike.
Tips for extending battery range include conservative use of the power settings and using the gears to keep the pedals spinning at a fairly fast cadence as well as moderating your speed; for example, riding at 13mph instead of the max assisted speed of 15.5mph will usually save a good amount of battery capacity.
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