Introduction
As winter approaches, taking care of your E-bike battery becomes a priority, whether you plan to continue riding or store it for the season. It’s crucial to remember that cold temperatures have the same ability to harm electric bike batteries as heat does. Temperatures in certain areas can fall below freezing, which highlights the need to take the right care and safety measures throughout the winter. Low temperatures such as this have the potential to affect battery health. Your battery should be properly cared for to at least last the winter.
Winter is not the best season for cycling, but you can enjoy pushing through on a fat tire e-bike. Its wider tires provide more stability and braking power. If you want your e-bike to keep you fit through the season, you also have to ensure the battery stays cared for and charged to last the winter. We explore different ways to care for your e-bike battery as you focus on the season.
Tips for Caring for Your E-bike Battery in Winter
The battery is the most important part of your e-bike and requires some care to be usable after the coldest time of the year. Whether you intend to use or store your e-bike, here are some tips on preserving battery life and capacity this season.
Avoid Parking in Cold Places
The cold is one of the problems of owning an e-bike and is best avoided unless you are riding through one. When parking your e-bike, a place with extreme cold or outdoors can be terrible for its battery. Whether hot or cold, extreme temperatures are not ideal for the e-bike either. If you don’t have enough room inside, you can detach the battery and leave your e-bike alone in the garage where it is not so warm.
The battery must be kept at room temperature. If not, it may not be ready for your next ride. Place it inside your living room or bedroom on top of an insulator or flat piece of wood. This will preserve the battery and allow you to charge it to completion for your rides. When it is time to get outside, you can always reattach the battery for use.
Clean your E-bike Regularly
Look for ways to keep your e-bike clean as you ride through any season of the year. During winter, your e-bike will be exposed to more dirt and rain as you embark on consistent rides. The battery will be secure from the elements because of the measures in place that ensure its safety. Your e-bike, on the other hand, will be facing all the grime alone if you do nothing to keep it clean.
Wipe with a clean piece of cloth and some water. Avoid using high-pressure water to avoid damaging other components of the electric bicycle while you are at it. Check the battery terminals to see if there has been any exposure to salt. Clean the drivetrain of accumulated dirt and apply new oil to keep it lubricated. Taking the time to clean will help you pay more attention to your e-bike and its battery, prolonging its usage.
Avoid Charging Outside
Fat tire e-bikes are built specifically to allow you to enjoy smooth, long-distance rides. However, it is advisable to avoid embarking on any, especially if you intend to rely on electric power from time to time on your trip. This is because you need to avoid trips where you will be tempted to look for charging opportunities in between rides.
The direct exposure to extreme cold makes charging outside a bad idea. Instead of powering properly, the battery may struggle to attain any tangible charge. Doing this consistently will only keep reducing battery life. Ensure to embark on trips with a total distance around the range provided by the battery. You can use your battery to power your ride and head home to top up the charge. When you get back inside, allow your battery to recover from the cold for a bit before plugging it in to charge.
Store in Room Temperature
Temperature is very important when it comes to batteries. Direct exposure to extreme cold temperatures must be avoided by all means. You are all your battery has when it comes to finding the best temperature to store your battery for winter, so ensure to do it right.
Store your e-bike, and more importantly, your battery at room temperature. This is important because it is the only defense your battery has against the penetrating cold of winter that can freeze the gel inside and reduce its achievable range. Treasure your battery and keep it in the warmest room in your house.
Remove your Battery
This option is best explored if you don’t intend to ride for the better part of the season or use an e-bike with an easily detachable battery. Store your e-bike in a dry place at room temperature or seek professional help to carefully remove your battery if it isn’t the detachable type. Removing your battery is crucial, not only to preserve the charge on it but also to keep its capacity at a peak while your e-bike remains unused.
It is best to allow the battery to attain a charge of at least 70% before removing it for storage. This means even if it loses some charge in preservation, it will not lose enough to affect battery life or range. The total distance you can travel with your e-bike on a single complete charge is known as the battery range. If yours is not a long-range battery, charge it for as long as your e-bike stays unused.
Conclusion
Caring for your battery depends on your ability to cultivate a good maintenance routine. Without the proper etiquette, your e-bike battery may not have the same capacity or range after winter. Avoid parking your bike in cold places, especially if you intend to spend time there. Remember to remove your battery instead. If you want to store your bike for a while, clean it properly and keep it in a warm room.
Using a KBO e-bike means you get to enjoy an extended battery range. The higher capacity provided makes all our products ideal for proper storage, as this will neither affect battery life nor range. With these tips and the others provided, you can get the best of your battery as you ride or store your e-bike through winter.