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.
@@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.
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.
@@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.
Hi Grey, I'm glad I got this video popped up on my you tube feeds. This is the 1st video I've seen on your channel . I share your excitement of e bike ridding. Can't wait to watch all your vids. I also subscribed your channel. I'm 63 I been cycling since 5 years old . I still have that picture. ♥🚴🏻
@@GreyBeardEBiking I ride a Vutiva sn100 Fat tire ebike . Its got a 750 watt rear hub motor..I've gotten up to 32 mph on a level flat road no with no winds blowing on peddle assist. I was just seeing how fast she would go. I normally jus cruise bout 10 to 15.mph
@@gary6463 That's my home area, (San Diego). I will be coming out with a video in the next few weeks detailing my recent move to the Pacific Northwest...North Idaho. Having to learn how to ride in the different 4 seasons especially the cold and snow.
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!
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?
@@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)
@@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?
@@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
@@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?
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 !!
@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.
@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.
Thank you for this. I'm new to the e-bike world. I looked at many battery videos but this one is by far was the easiest to understand and the best. Thank you again!
Thanks for the comment. I tried to make the video as easy to understand as possible. Are you still looking to purchase an eBike or have you made a purchase yet?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Yeah made my purchase I got my KBO Ranger 3 days ago.I love it so far. Can't stop riding it. Exactly what I needed in my life right now for my mental health. But again thank you keep doing what you're doing. You got to follow out of me.
@@GreyBeardEBiking Not quite yet just this is getting adjusted to it first... But soon. I haven't wrote a bike since I was 15. And that was almost another lifetime ago 29 years ago. Lol
@@notfakemaine1431 Well, you know what the ole saying is ... "It's like riding a bicycle, you never really forget how". The ole wind in your face and the smile on your face will come back quickly. Have fun getting to know your eBike my friend.
@@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.
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.
Bout a UPP 52V 20AH 40 amp battery 3 years ago and now going on 4th year once 2025 comes. I had been following these tips here 3 years ago of when to recharge, usage in riding, etc. Ive only loss 50 watts as 1800 was the max throttle. However I could of saved half more of 25 watts if I used the PAS system more as I only started using PAS this year due to Cali's new 2025 law of using PAS mode only when over 20.mph. Yes, thank you and thought I shared this to confirm the tips as very practical use for extending battery life. Always check the max wattage when using throttle to set your range mark of understanding how much watts you will lose on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis to check up on.
Thanks for the great comment. I'm glad you found the video helpful and informative. Also glad to see that you are getting such great longevity from your batteries.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Thanks for the info on how to properly maintained the battery. My friend advice me in order to extend the life of the battery it needs to extend the charging time of about 1 hour, in your part is he telling the right way for proper maintaining the battery's life?
Thanks for the question and the comment. When I charge, I have the charger turn off about 30 minutes after the battery shows 100% charged. With most of the newer and quality batteries, the BMS, (Battery Management System) will keep the battery from being overcharged and possibly being damaged, however, charging for an added hour generally will not increase the life of your battery. But keep in mind, that leaving your battery on the charger continuously after the battery is 100% charger could damage some older batteries with a low grade BMS. Stay safe out there.
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.
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.
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?
@@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.
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.
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
Thanks for the tips! Batteries are expensive , so taking care of them makes good sense. I just got an etrike and plan of purchasing a second (20Ah) battery. Mine are Samsung batteries, so they're pretty expensive, but it sounds like it's not a bad idea for extending the life of both batteries. I kind of like the added bonus of getting a much longer range as needed. Thanks again, I had planned to do this, but it's great getting confirmation that my plan should work. So, thanks for that!
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.
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.
Thanks for the comment. Yup, many chargers only show when fully charged. That's one reason I unplug the charger when the battery is fully charged. Do you have a battery that is removable from your eBike or permanently attached to the eBike?
there are power meters available that show voltage, current, power in watts.. and sum up the watthours ... that way it's super easy to control SOC ... or check how healthy the pack is
@@dg9bfc Thanks for the comment. Yes, there are many ways to check the state of your batteries and charger but for the ultimate safety, a timer for electrical shut off is the fail-safe.
🙂 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?
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.
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?
@@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.
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.
@@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?
Mine hit the ground going over a pothole. FOrgot to lock it in. I got a new shell for it and made it easier to disconnect from the switch and charge port in case I need to do anyhing with it in future. Like screw on the lock ring..... Dangling charge port - only used on dry days until I fixed that.
I had the same issue ... not from dropping the battery but the locking ring on the male plug on the battery. I secured it with a little set screw. You might want to make sure there is no other damage to the cells caused by the drop. Thanks for the info.
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.
Thanks for the comment. When planning a multi-day eBike ride I generally don't have enough time in one place to rely on a solar charger, so I try to plan my trip with recharging locations along the route. In addition, I pull a cargo trailer so I can carry up to 4 batteries. Then I only need to plan for 1 or 2 charging locations. Or worst case, pedal like heck with no power. This isn't an option for me though.
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. ruclips.net/video/gZS6VpvrKY4/видео.html
@@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!
Think your info is 100% correct,, I deal with Lipo batteries for remote control planes and basically same info ,, THANK YOU,,Sure will help many with new bikes owners,, I shall ride em down to 60% or so to store inside,,, charge up when gets lower now and them,, COLD , heat is the enemy,, ,,,
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.
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.
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?
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
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
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.
Thanks for the complement. I have been using this charging pattern for over 2 years and have had great success. I haven't had any power or range issues. What is your eBike and battery set up?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Haven’t had a lot of chance to ride it, but in our mountainous terrain the way I ride I would guess close to 50 kms. I have only had to charge the battery 3 times and yes I charge it to 100% which only takes a couple of hours, I got it on a timer.
@@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.
Thank you for your comment. I am looking forward to hearing from you on some of my other videos. Would you like to see a video on a particular eBike subject?
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.
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.
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 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?
I've got 2 batteries that are 12 Yeats los and have 45'000 miles on them. Never fully discharge . I do my ride let it Cool for 1 hr before i charge then let it Cool after charging .
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you have got some quality batteries, and you are doing a great job charging and maintaining them. What kind of eBike do your run these batteries on and how much range are your getting now?
hey there, thanks for very informative video. I was actually trying to figure out about extending ebike ride with another battery or a battery pack. I am first year owner. By accident my ebike was in a storage shed in cold Indiana area during the end of winter. I wrapped the battery in some clothes, but one time left it on bike. I was riding it to work and traveling out of state a lot. I was surprised that the battery roughed out a few cold nights dipping to 10 degrees or so. The battery has been doing very well since. It is June now. I now take it in apartment with me and charge: unplug when done charging every time. First time I heard of not charging to 100 percent that threw me off my bike seat!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, you are correct, both extreme cold or heat are not good for eBike batteries. Not only for storage but for charging also. If you are planning for long term storage, like say for the winter, then yes, store the battery with a 60-70% charge and if possible, remove the battery from the eBike for the storage time.
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.
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.
I suffer from battery imbalance right now.. battery will go off even when it has 80% charge... I heard charging it over night for 12 hours should fix it, making the battery balance again... Have you tried it? Will it work?
Thanks for the question. Battery cell imbalance can cause the issue you are describing, however, there may be other causes as well. I would recommend that you charge your battery to 100% then disconnect the charger. Let the battery rest for a few hours then reconnect the charger and let the charger run for an hour past when it shows full charge. Do not leave your battery unattended while charging. If this does not solve your issue, then you may have other problems. The battery could have been or be damaged, the charger could be defective, the controller on your eBike could be defective, or many other issues. You may need to bring or send your eBike and battery to an eBike battery specialist for evaluation. I don't know how old your eBike and/or battery are, so it could simply be the battery is worn out and a new one is needed.
@@GreyBeardEBiking thank you for the reply ❤️ the ebike battery is only 1 year old.. i did bring it to a battery technician and he said all battery cells are fine, bms also fine... He said its a balancing issue... After the technician balanced it, it works fine... But after i charged it again, the same problem occured ... I assumed the charger is faulty... Ive bought a new charger and will try to implement the trick you mentioned above. Thanks!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ruclips.net/video/xVhG7Y7OFiI/видео.html
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
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.
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.
@@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.
@@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.
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!
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?
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)??
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?
Hi, thanks for the question. Yes, eBike batteries can be kept at 100% for a few days, even a few weeks. Storage means more like months, like winter storage.
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?
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.
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.
So, if you are only charging to 80% that leaves a gap of 20% x 1008wh to full or about 200wh. Your charger is 48v x 4a or about 200watts, so if you suddenly decide on an unexpected long ride, you would only need about 1hr notice to do a last minute top-up to a 100% charge - give or take a bit. (reality is that the last 20% probably takes longer to squeeze into the battery). Of course, if you are already on the road when you decide to extend the ride that doesn't work. This is just me working out how to handle the charging of an electric car where the value tied up in the battery is rather more :)
Thanks for the comment. You are correct. Most people don't realize that the last 20% of the eBike battery takes longer to charge than the first 70%. And as you noted, if you only charge to 80%, you are losing that much power to your motor. This really affects the higher wattage motors. I'm like you, I like to charge to 100% every charge for many reasons, which includes the fact that I never know how long of a ride I'm going on and I want to have the options when I'm out on the road. Are your rides generally of longer distances?
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.
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
@@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.
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 👍.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
@@GreyBeardEBiking I bring my battery inside and try to not instantly put it on the charger, my intuition told me that was good, this video confirms it so ill be always doing that now. Also i didnt know keeping it on the charger was bad, i knew storing them somewhat discharged was ideal but the keeping on the charger, even for a day being bad i wasnt aware of. Makes sense though XD
@@naomi10260 Thanks again for your comment. Most new batteries and chargers have safety features that will keep the battery from being overcharged but, as we know, batteries tend to discharge little by little when not in use for a while, so when the battery loses it charge the BMS system will try to charge it to full. And if this happens over and over it can shorten the life of your battery. This is not common, but it can happen. In addition, I'm a big fan of turning off and unplugging my equipment when not in use to eliminate any possible electrical malfunctions or issues. I'm a retired engineer and some things just stay with you even after you retire. Thanks again.
@@GreyBeardEBikingYour explanation makes perfect sense, i appreciate that a lot. i now have one of those old dial like light timers on my charger with only the red off pin in there. Also you definitely have the EE vibe and your videos have a specific format that just works great, not sure how to explain it well but im loving it. its just right to the point. very well done. I just started tinkering with electronics a few years ago, wrapped my head around kicad recently, its just a hobby for me but i can see it turning into a career, i like messing with lasers and teslacoils. ive made some simple drivers for stuff like that and wind my own coils. fun stuff, the electronics hobby seems infinite lol Thanks again friend, take care.
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
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.
This is a fabulous vid Sir and I just have one quick question if you'd be so kind. I just bought an Aventon Soltera 7 on sale and love the thing. Took it for my 2nd ride early last evening here in southern PA. I can go most everywhere as fast as I want on power level 3 out of 5, and usually ride about 15 miles or so each time. When I get back home from riding, the battery capacity is usually down to about 80% from the near 100% that I start out with. I charge the battery off the bike. Should I charge it back up fully to near 100% after each ride or run it down to near 10% or so capacity left...then give it a full charge to near 100%. Thanks much. Regards, Frank
H Frank. Thanks for reaching out. The Aventon Soltera 7 is a nice eBike. If your normal rides are only using 20% battery with no problems, then I would charge to 100% on every other ride. Keep in mind that when your battery gets to 50% charge or less, you will have much less power than when at 100% charge. However. your 350-watt motor doesn't "eat-the-power" like bigger motors do. In my situation, I live in a very hilly area, and I am a heavy rider. My usual rides are 20 - 25% charge left so I try to keep a full charge all the time. Even if I do a "Quickie ride" and use only 10 - 15%, I charge to 100% because I will need the power for my next ride back to home, which is all up hills. I also sometimes carry a second battery so I can have fresh power for that last steep hill climb to home. What kind of riding do you mostly do?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Can't thank you enough for responding and happy to hear you approve of the Soltera 7. I was shopping around damn near a year for an e-bike that I really liked, had a good rep, and in my price range. Aventon had them on sale a few weeks ago plus a $80 online discount coupon, free shipping, free rear basket. I'm in Amish Land....southern PA. Looks exactly like southern Germany where the Amish emigrated from. There are a few short, very steep hills that you can ride if you choose or stick to the flats which have no more than an average of 5% grade or so. I blend in 1 or 2 big hills on my typical evening ride but mostly flats. Typically 15 miles or so each ride. I never use the thumb throttle and usually on power assist level 3. Just like you said, the 350W motor doesn't consume much juice. I'll do exactly what you said and charge to 100% every other ride.
@@frankcastle5294 Glad to hear you are enjoying your new eBike. I love to hear that you put in your due diligence before making your eBike selection. A good choice has to fit many different categories that matches your individual riding style, typical riding area and style, and of course your budget. I've been through Southern PA and it's a beautiful are to ride. Do you ride solo or in a group?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you Sir. I typically ride by myself or with neighbor lady who also has an e-bike. Would really enjoy a group outing sometime that's sponsored by local bike club. I believe most of those folks ride conventional bikes but I'll check into it. I'm an old guy and own approx 20-25 motorcycles at any one time but this Soltera 7 is my favorite new ride. Just very relaxing and pleasant and peppy speeds if I choose. Southern PA really is beautiful and we've managed to keep most of the builders and developers out of the bulk of Lancaster County, so riding is still pristine. Let me know if you ever return to southern PA and would be great to meet and take a long ride together. Many thanks Sir.
@@frankcastle5294 I'm sure if you check online, you will find some eBikers in your area. I kind of like the slowed down pace of things and that's why I'm planning a move from Southern California to North Idaho. Beautiful country up there also. Plus way less crowded. 20-25 motorcycles, WOW! How did you happen to acquire all those motorcycles?
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.
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...
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.
Hi. I don't really recommend an ice-pack over your charger to keep your charger cool. I would recommend using a fan blowing cool air over the charger. Make sure your charging area is well ventilated and at room temperature. Thanks.
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.
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?
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.
I typically ride one of my e-bikes (fat) in the snow so by the time I get back, the battery is pretty cold. Will the BMS recognize that and slowly charge or should I wait until it warms up to begin charging?
Thanks for the great question. You should always let your battery rest and adjust for an hour or so before you begin to charge after any ride. When you have extreme temperatures, hot or cold, you should allow your battery to get to or close to room temperature before you begin to charge. Where do you ride your eBike in the snow?
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?
@@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.
@@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.
@@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.
@@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.
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?
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How often do you charge your eBike batteries and do you charge them to 100% each time?
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.
@@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.
Hey Dan , I don't want to put an advertisement up but check jag35 for some used good condition batteries.
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.
@@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.
Hi Grey, I'm glad I got this video popped up on my you tube feeds. This is the 1st video I've seen on your channel . I share your excitement of e bike ridding. Can't wait to watch all your vids. I also subscribed your channel. I'm 63 I been cycling since 5 years old . I still have that picture. ♥🚴🏻
Hi Gary...thanks for your comment and for subscribing. Stay tuned for many more new videos coming out. What part of the world do you ride your eBike?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Hi Grey, I'm in.southern California .
@@GreyBeardEBiking I ride a Vutiva sn100 Fat tire ebike . Its got a 750 watt rear hub motor..I've gotten up to 32 mph on a level flat road no with no winds blowing on peddle assist. I was just seeing how fast she would go.
I normally jus cruise bout 10 to 15.mph
@@gary6463 That's my home area, (San Diego). I will be coming out with a video in the next few weeks detailing my recent move to the Pacific Northwest...North Idaho. Having to learn how to ride in the different 4 seasons especially the cold and snow.
@@GreyBeardEBiking Thats gonna be a cool video Grey! I be looking forward to seeing that part of the country as you film it on your ebike
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!
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?
@@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)
@@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?
@@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
@@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?
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 !!
Mine says I should keep it at roughly 60% ish I=for long term storage - neither fully charged nor fully discharged.
Very easy to understand and makes sense! Thank you Grey!
Thanks for the great comment. Stay tuned for the follow-up video with new information regarding eBike Batteries.
So far the best and to the point battery care video I have seen.
Thanks!
Thanks for the great comment. What is your eBike and battery combo?
@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.
@@techspot871 Did you add the extra lighting for night riding? What kind of range do you get out of your 25ah battery?
@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.
@@GreyBeardEBiking I also ride my bike to work daily (10km). My car stays home on nice days
Exactly what you need to know.
Compact knowledge about your ebike battery life.
Thank you dude!!!!!
Thanks for the great comment. I look forward to hearing from you on some of my other videos.
the timer tip saved me so much money
Thanks for the comment. In addition to saving money, using the timer makes charging much safer.
How did it save money?
Thank you for this.
I'm new to the e-bike world.
I looked at many battery videos but this one is by far was the easiest to understand and the best.
Thank you again!
Thanks for the comment. I tried to make the video as easy to understand as possible. Are you still looking to purchase an eBike or have you made a purchase yet?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Yeah made my purchase I got my KBO Ranger 3 days ago.I love it so far. Can't stop riding it. Exactly what I needed in my life right now for my mental health. But again thank you keep doing what you're doing. You got to follow out of me.
@@notfakemaine1431 Great choice on the eBike. Are you planning to carry a lot of cargo?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Not quite yet just this is getting adjusted to it first... But soon. I haven't wrote a bike since I was 15. And that was almost another lifetime ago 29 years ago. Lol
@@notfakemaine1431 Well, you know what the ole saying is ... "It's like riding a bicycle, you never really forget how". The ole wind in your face and the smile on your face will come back quickly. Have fun getting to know your eBike my friend.
Your video about batteries was very informative and much appreciated. Thank you.
Great video! Thank you!
Thanks for the comment. What kind of eBike and battery combo do you have?
@@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.
@@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?
Great advice and is going to save a lot of people money by helping them extend their battery life. Thanks!
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.
@@DanBronkmost last a little over a year. Gasoline is much cheaper.
Bout a UPP 52V 20AH 40 amp battery 3 years ago and now going on 4th year once 2025 comes. I had been following these tips here 3 years ago of when to recharge, usage in riding, etc. Ive only loss 50 watts as 1800 was the max throttle. However I could of saved half more of 25 watts if I used the PAS system more as I only started using PAS this year due to Cali's new 2025 law of using PAS mode only when over 20.mph. Yes, thank you and thought I shared this to confirm the tips as very practical use for extending battery life. Always check the max wattage when using throttle to set your range mark of understanding how much watts you will lose on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis to check up on.
I've learned this after setting aside my stock battery of shelving it too long as at least once a week to recharge when battery on idle of not using.
Thanks for the great comment. I'm glad you found the video helpful and informative. Also glad to see that you are getting such great longevity from your batteries.
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.
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.
@@GreyBeardEBiking your welcome 👍😉
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.
@@RickMidds that a really good idea. Definitely worth doing especially in minus temperatures.
@@lbarnett748 I’m pretty sure I bought it off of Amazon. It was around $15-$20.
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!
Happy biking
Thanks for watching and the nice comment.
Thanks for the info on how to properly maintained the battery. My friend advice me in order to extend the life of the battery it needs to extend the charging time of about 1 hour, in your part is he telling the right way for proper maintaining the battery's life?
Thanks for the question and the comment. When I charge, I have the charger turn off about 30 minutes after the battery shows 100% charged. With most of the newer and quality batteries, the BMS, (Battery Management System) will keep the battery from being overcharged and possibly being damaged, however, charging for an added hour generally will not increase the life of your battery. But keep in mind, that leaving your battery on the charger continuously after the battery is 100% charger could damage some older batteries with a low grade BMS. Stay safe out there.
@@GreyBeardEBiking thanks a lot bro with your answer regarding my question, 👍👍👍
@@rodolfobaliga7577 Say safe out there my friend. 😎
What a great video on battery care. Thanks so much…
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.
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.
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?
@@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.
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.
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
Excellent updates. Totally support
Thanks for the comment.
Thank you! I'm also learning from comments as well. 👍
Thanks for the comment. I try to keep the videos educational as well as entertaining. Thanks again.
Very informative, thanks
Thanks. Glad you found the video useful. Stay safe out there my friend.
Thanks for the tips! Batteries are expensive , so taking care of them makes good sense. I just got an etrike and plan of purchasing a second (20Ah) battery. Mine are Samsung batteries, so they're pretty expensive, but it sounds like it's not a bad idea for extending the life of both batteries. I kind of like the added bonus of getting a much longer range as needed. Thanks again, I had planned to do this, but it's great getting confirmation that my plan should work. So, thanks for that!
Thanks for the great comment. I will be looking forward to your comments on some of my other videos.
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.
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.
thanks for the advice grey beard. my charger doesnt show the percentage when charging it just has lights red for charging green for charged..
Thanks for the comment. Yup, many chargers only show when fully charged. That's one reason I unplug the charger when the battery is fully charged. Do you have a battery that is removable from your eBike or permanently attached to the eBike?
there are power meters available that show voltage, current, power in watts.. and sum up the watthours ... that way it's super easy to control SOC ... or check how healthy the pack is
@@dg9bfc Thanks for the comment. Yes, there are many ways to check the state of your batteries and charger but for the ultimate safety, a timer for electrical shut off is the fail-safe.
great job you made it so simple to understand.
Thanks for watching and for the comment. I try to keep the videos simple to understand. Thanks again.
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.😊
🙂 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?
This was the easiest to understand and concise battery care video I have seen.
Thank you for sharing.
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video and found it useful. Hope you will be enjoying some of my other videos.
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.
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?
@@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.
@@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.
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.
@@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?
Mine hit the ground going over a pothole. FOrgot to lock it in. I got a new shell for it and made it easier to disconnect from the switch and charge port in case I need to do anyhing with it in future. Like screw on the lock ring..... Dangling charge port - only used on dry days until I fixed that.
I had the same issue ... not from dropping the battery but the locking ring on the male plug on the battery. I secured it with a little set screw. You might want to make sure there is no other damage to the cells caused by the drop. Thanks for the info.
Really helpful, thank you
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.
Glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. I really do enjoy making them. Thanks
Thank you.
Thanks for watching
how do we charge an ebike while out in the wild bike packing?
Thanks for the comment. When planning a multi-day eBike ride I generally don't have enough time in one place to rely on a solar charger, so I try to plan my trip with recharging locations along the route. In addition, I pull a cargo trailer so I can carry up to 4 batteries. Then I only need to plan for 1 or 2 charging locations. Or worst case, pedal like heck with no power. This isn't an option for me though.
Thanks for your good advice. I look forward to match your range
Thanks for watching and the comment. Keep me updated as to how your battery range is performing. 😎
Great video! Thank you so much for your important tips to save a battery!
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. ruclips.net/video/gZS6VpvrKY4/видео.html
@@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!
@@banyanstudio Thanks for the kind words. Best advice I can give is go for the most amp-hour battery your budget will allow.
@@GreyBeardEBiking Gotcha. Thank you!!
Excellent tips.
Thanks Ricky. I tried to make the video as easy as possible to follow. What did you think of the Mileage and the life cycle formula that I used?
@@DanBronk Seems about right too me. 👏🏼
@@rickyn1135 Glad you enjoyed the video. Positive Vibes to you foor this Holiday Season.
I really enjoyed the video, really informative and precise, without bullshit and straight to the point.
Not annoying at all.
Thank you
Think your info is 100% correct,, I deal with Lipo batteries for remote control planes and basically same info ,, THANK YOU,,Sure will help many with new bikes owners,, I shall ride em down to 60% or so to store inside,,, charge up when gets lower now and them,, COLD , heat is the enemy,, ,,,
Thanks for the comments. Sounds like you are taking good care of your batteries. Yup, COLD and HEAT are enemies of batteries. Stay safe out there.
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.
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.
when current drops it's near full... 90% or so... a tiny bit below max voltage (depends on pack size and charger size)
Great advice, thanks!
Thanks John.
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?
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
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
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.
This is great, I commute part time and I use 2 batteries for convenience and wondered how long they would last
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.
Thanks for the great advice, I have friends who got their own ideas about battery care and I am forwarding this u tube video,I listen to the pros.
Thanks for the complement. I have been using this charging pattern for over 2 years and have had great success. I haven't had any power or range issues. What is your eBike and battery set up?
@@GreyBeardEBiking My e- bike is a Biktrix Kutty X 2 with a 48Vdc 14Ah Bafang 13INR19/66-4
@@richardmigneault9411 That's a great eBike. What kind of range can you get out of it?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Haven’t had a lot of chance to ride it, but in our mountainous terrain the way I ride I would guess close to 50 kms. I have only had to charge the battery 3 times and yes I charge it to 100% which only takes a couple of hours, I got it on a timer.
You are as gray as I am, and truth allways hurt. Thankyou for putting together all this knowlege. Best Regards....
Yes, gray, but no hurting. Gray just means wisdom. Sounds like we both have acquired a lot of wisdom. Thanks for the comment.
@@GreyBeardEBiking Yes my friend, we really appreciate you shere your knolege and experience. Thank You.
@@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.
REALLY THANK YOU 👍
Thank you for your comment. I am looking forward to hearing from you on some of my other videos. Would you like to see a video on a particular eBike subject?
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.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I totally agree with you. The best and safest way to charge is a slow charge.
good practical knowledge with experience, and using repetition when making strong points, thanks brah
Thanks for the great comments. Have you had good luck with your batteries?
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.
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.
@@GreyBeardEBiking
Almost 6 months. Is there any fuse inside the casing….?
@@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?
Good info! Thank you!
Thanks for the comment. Do you run a spare battery of just one?
The bike is brand new I will be getting a spare to ensure no waiting around. Its for my brother who is a senior.
@@Five0 Have fun on your eBike. Thanks again for the comment.
I've got 2 batteries that are 12 Yeats los and have 45'000 miles on them. Never fully discharge . I do my ride let it Cool for 1 hr before i charge then let it Cool after charging .
Thanks for the comment. Sounds like you have got some quality batteries, and you are doing a great job charging and maintaining them. What kind of eBike do your run these batteries on and how much range are your getting now?
hey there, thanks for very informative video. I was actually trying to figure out about extending ebike ride with another battery or a battery pack. I am first year owner. By accident my ebike was in a storage shed in cold Indiana area during the end of winter. I wrapped the battery in some clothes, but one time left it on bike. I was riding it to work and traveling out of state a lot. I was surprised that the battery roughed out a few cold nights dipping to 10 degrees or so. The battery has been doing very well since. It is June now. I now take it in apartment with me and charge: unplug when done charging every time. First time I heard of not charging to 100 percent that threw me off my bike seat!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, you are correct, both extreme cold or heat are not good for eBike batteries. Not only for storage but for charging also. If you are planning for long term storage, like say for the winter, then yes, store the battery with a 60-70% charge and if possible, remove the battery from the eBike for the storage time.
Thanks For the Words of Wisdom👨🏫
Thanks. What kind if battery and eBike set-up do you ride?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Lectric 3.0 Long - Range🔋
@@SteezyMcCheezie Sounds like a great set up and lots of fun. Are you a trail rider or city streets?
Nice video, cut overs, added images-shows a lot of work. Thank you. Looking forward to getting my first ebike.
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.
Is there any type of battery other than Chinese batteries? If so plz list them
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.
I suffer from battery imbalance right now.. battery will go off even when it has 80% charge... I heard charging it over night for 12 hours should fix it, making the battery balance again... Have you tried it? Will it work?
Thanks for the question. Battery cell imbalance can cause the issue you are describing, however, there may be other causes as well. I would recommend that you charge your battery to 100% then disconnect the charger. Let the battery rest for a few hours then reconnect the charger and let the charger run for an hour past when it shows full charge. Do not leave your battery unattended while charging. If this does not solve your issue, then you may have other problems. The battery could have been or be damaged, the charger could be defective, the controller on your eBike could be defective, or many other issues. You may need to bring or send your eBike and battery to an eBike battery specialist for evaluation. I don't know how old your eBike and/or battery are, so it could simply be the battery is worn out and a new one is needed.
@@GreyBeardEBiking thank you for the reply ❤️ the ebike battery is only 1 year old.. i did bring it to a battery technician and he said all battery cells are fine, bms also fine... He said its a balancing issue... After the technician balanced it, it works fine... But after i charged it again, the same problem occured ... I assumed the charger is faulty... Ive bought a new charger and will try to implement the trick you mentioned above. Thanks!
@@harizbadrulhisham3805 Thanks for getting back to me with that information. Keep me updated and let me know what happens. Thanks
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thank You for all this great information.
Thanks for watching.
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.
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. ruclips.net/video/xVhG7Y7OFiI/видео.html
@@DanBronk Great idea. Thanks.
@@pedalingpete626 Good luck. Let me know when you decide how you're going to carry your spare battery. Love to see it.
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
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.
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.
@@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.
@@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.
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!
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?
Hi Grey, new to your channel very helpful video thanks 👍
this is just another reason I ride bosch, they have a very good BMS!
Yes, Bosch is a very good brand. And good maintenance is also good for any brand. Keep on riding my friend.
Way to go buddy!
Thanks for watching. Ride on my friend.
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)??
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?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you for your time.
@@Jhpc399 You are very welcome. I invite you to watch some of my other battery videos..
Good points. Many people only have experience with the old NiCad and NiMH, Lithium is much different care.
Hi can batterys be stored at 100% for a few days the od time?Or store them at 40-60 percent all the time?
Hi, thanks for the question. Yes, eBike batteries can be kept at 100% for a few days, even a few weeks. Storage means more like months, like winter storage.
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?
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.
I'm also skeptical of the high current rapid chargers.
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.
Great video…. Keep it up, love your videos!
Thanks. Do you have any favorite eBike subjects or do you like to watch for entertainment?
Good advice bro.
So, if you are only charging to 80% that leaves a gap of 20% x 1008wh to full or about 200wh.
Your charger is 48v x 4a or about 200watts, so if you suddenly decide on an unexpected long ride, you would only need about 1hr notice to do a last minute top-up to a 100% charge - give or take a bit. (reality is that the last 20% probably takes longer to squeeze into the battery). Of course, if you are already on the road when you decide to extend the ride that doesn't work. This is just me working out how to handle the charging of an electric car where the value tied up in the battery is rather more :)
Thanks for the comment. You are correct. Most people don't realize that the last 20% of the eBike battery takes longer to charge than the first 70%. And as you noted, if you only charge to 80%, you are losing that much power to your motor. This really affects the higher wattage motors. I'm like you, I like to charge to 100% every charge for many reasons, which includes the fact that I never know how long of a ride I'm going on and I want to have the options when I'm out on the road. Are your rides generally of longer distances?
After you remove the battery do anything to protect the electrical connection points on the bike with anything? If so, what?
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.
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
@@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.
Should I unplug the cord to the battery on my bike between uses or leave it plugged in
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 👍.
Thanks. Glad you liked the video. I've charged my batteries this way for years and it's worked great for me.
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.
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?
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.
Most of these tips apply to all similar batteries, like GoPros etc….great tips, many I need to start using….
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.
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
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.
@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you !!
This guy rocks!
WOW! Thanks. What is your eBike set-up and what type of riding do you prefer?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Bafang Mid drive 750w and i like to go fast and long
@@Stanima68 Sounds like you have a great set up. Ride safe my friend.
What brand, what chemistry and what price
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.
great video
Thanks for the comment. Are you maintaining your batteries this way?
@@GreyBeardEBiking I bring my battery inside and try to not instantly put it on the charger, my intuition told me that was good, this video confirms it so ill be always doing that now.
Also i didnt know keeping it on the charger was bad, i knew storing them somewhat discharged was ideal but the keeping on the charger, even for a day being bad i wasnt aware of. Makes sense though XD
@@naomi10260 Thanks again for your comment. Most new batteries and chargers have safety features that will keep the battery from being overcharged but, as we know, batteries tend to discharge little by little when not in use for a while, so when the battery loses it charge the BMS system will try to charge it to full. And if this happens over and over it can shorten the life of your battery. This is not common, but it can happen. In addition, I'm a big fan of turning off and unplugging my equipment when not in use to eliminate any possible electrical malfunctions or issues. I'm a retired engineer and some things just stay with you even after you retire. Thanks again.
@@GreyBeardEBikingYour explanation makes perfect sense, i appreciate that a lot. i now have one of those old dial like light timers on my charger with only the red off pin in there.
Also you definitely have the EE vibe and your videos have a specific format that just works great, not sure how to explain it well but im loving it. its just right to the point. very well done.
I just started tinkering with electronics a few years ago, wrapped my head around kicad recently, its just a hobby for me but i can see it turning into a career, i like messing with lasers and teslacoils. ive made some simple drivers for stuff like that and wind my own coils. fun stuff, the electronics hobby seems infinite lol
Thanks again friend, take care.
@@naomi10260 Thanks for the great comment. I will be looking forward to some of your comments on some of my other videos.
I like your recommendation. Are you using battery balancer or you wire them all parallel direct?
Thanks for the comment and question. I use only 1 battery at a time, so they are not wired together. Do you run multiple batteries on a ride?
@@GreyBeardEBiking I am running them as stand alone. Maybe I get the balancer.
@@precisionlaser2158 If I was running multiples I would use the balancer
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
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.
very informative video!
Thanks, I tried to make it easy to understand.
This is a fabulous vid Sir and I just have one quick question if you'd be so kind. I just bought an Aventon Soltera 7 on sale and love the thing. Took it for my 2nd ride early last evening here in southern PA. I can go most everywhere as fast as I want on power level 3 out of 5, and usually ride about 15 miles or so each time. When I get back home from riding, the battery capacity is usually down to about 80% from the near 100% that I start out with. I charge the battery off the bike. Should I charge it back up fully to near 100% after each ride or run it down to near 10% or so capacity left...then give it a full charge to near 100%. Thanks much. Regards, Frank
H Frank. Thanks for reaching out. The Aventon Soltera 7 is a nice eBike. If your normal rides are only using 20% battery with no problems, then I would charge to 100% on every other ride. Keep in mind that when your battery gets to 50% charge or less, you will have much less power than when at 100% charge. However. your 350-watt motor doesn't "eat-the-power" like bigger motors do. In my situation, I live in a very hilly area, and I am a heavy rider. My usual rides are 20 - 25% charge left so I try to keep a full charge all the time. Even if I do a "Quickie ride" and use only 10 - 15%, I charge to 100% because I will need the power for my next ride back to home, which is all up hills. I also sometimes carry a second battery so I can have fresh power for that last steep hill climb to home. What kind of riding do you mostly do?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Can't thank you enough for responding and happy to hear you approve of the Soltera 7. I was shopping around damn near a year for an e-bike that I really liked, had a good rep, and in my price range. Aventon had them on sale a few weeks ago plus a $80 online discount coupon, free shipping, free rear basket. I'm in Amish Land....southern PA. Looks exactly like southern Germany where the Amish emigrated from. There are a few short, very steep hills that you can ride if you choose or stick to the flats which have no more than an average of 5% grade or so. I blend in 1 or 2 big hills on my typical evening ride but mostly flats. Typically 15 miles or so each ride. I never use the thumb throttle and usually on power assist level 3. Just like you said, the 350W motor doesn't consume much juice. I'll do exactly what you said and charge to 100% every other ride.
@@frankcastle5294 Glad to hear you are enjoying your new eBike. I love to hear that you put in your due diligence before making your eBike selection. A good choice has to fit many different categories that matches your individual riding style, typical riding area and style, and of course your budget. I've been through Southern PA and it's a beautiful are to ride. Do you ride solo or in a group?
@@GreyBeardEBiking Thank you Sir. I typically ride by myself or with neighbor lady who also has an e-bike. Would really enjoy a group outing sometime that's sponsored by local bike club. I believe most of those folks ride conventional bikes but I'll check into it. I'm an old guy and own approx 20-25 motorcycles at any one time but this Soltera 7 is my favorite new ride. Just very relaxing and pleasant and peppy speeds if I choose. Southern PA really is beautiful and we've managed to keep most of the builders and developers out of the bulk of Lancaster County, so riding is still pristine. Let me know if you ever return to southern PA and would be great to meet and take a long ride together. Many thanks Sir.
@@frankcastle5294 I'm sure if you check online, you will find some eBikers in your area. I kind of like the slowed down pace of things and that's why I'm planning a move from Southern California to North Idaho. Beautiful country up there also. Plus way less crowded. 20-25 motorcycles, WOW! How did you happen to acquire all those motorcycles?
I keep battery at 50-80% and only charge 100% the same day i ride. Thanks for the tips
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.
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...
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.
Glad to see you are wearing your ppe for the video
Thanks for watching. As a retired engineer I like to be prepared for anything. Thanks again.
my ride 66 r5 has the battery in the center bar,,kinda tricky gettin out,,,but worth the trouble
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I agree. I think charging the eBike battery off of the eBike is safer.
Hey guys recently got an ebike i noticed the charger can get a little hot so I put a ice pack on it seems to really keep the charger at room temp
Hi. I don't really recommend an ice-pack over your charger to keep your charger cool. I would recommend using a fan blowing cool air over the charger. Make sure your charging area is well ventilated and at room temperature. Thanks.
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.
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?
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.
I typically ride one of my e-bikes (fat) in the snow so by the time I get back, the battery is pretty cold. Will the BMS recognize that and slowly charge or should I wait until it warms up to begin charging?
Thanks for the great question. You should always let your battery rest and adjust for an hour or so before you begin to charge after any ride. When you have extreme temperatures, hot or cold, you should allow your battery to get to or close to room temperature before you begin to charge. Where do you ride your eBike in the snow?
We may disagree on many things, but this is the best basic primer on battery care I have seen.
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?
@@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.
@@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.
@@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.
@@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.
it might last 5 years but what is the percentage degraded each year.
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?
Hi sir can I use 48v 17.5ah battery in my 48v 500w ebike
Depending on the battery to eBike connection ... yes. I use a 48 volt 21 ah battery in my 500 watt eBike. Works very well.
@@GreyBeardEBiking thanks