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Like any lithium-ion battery, your electric bike battery will degrade over time, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying it for years to come.
These days, everything runs on a battery that we have to recharge, from phones and electric cars to electric bikes. If you’re getting ready to buy your first electric bike, you probably have a lot of questions. If you’re wondering, “how long do electric bike batteries last?” the answer is a bit complicated.
Just like your phone or an electric vehicle, most electric bikes have a lithium-ion battery that helps turn the wheels, so you don’t have to pedal as hard. Lithium-ion batteries are ideal for an electric bike, rather than a lead-acid battery, as they are lightweight, provide plenty of power for increased range, and have good longevity.
As a result, that lithium-ion battery should last several years, if not longer. However, the manufacturer, quality and other factors will affect its lifespan. Here’s what you need to know.
Battery life and degradation
Before we discuss potential lifespan, it’s important to remember that all batteries will degrade over time. Lithium ion battery packs have a charging life cycle, and after you have recharged the battery hundreds of times, it will start to degrade and hold less charge.
According to most online sources, lithium-ion battery packs are good for 300 to 1,200 charge cycles. On an electric bike, when you charge it to 100% and take a few rides to the supermarket or up a dirt road until the battery dies, then recharge it, counts as one charge cycle.
Over time, these charge cycles degrade the battery and its total capacity decreases. We’re all familiar with this process, just like how a three- or four-year-old smartphone doesn’t hold a charge as long as it did the day you bought it.
That does not mean that your ebike will stop working. Eventually, it will degrade and won’t hold a full charge. Instead of getting 50 miles per charge, you’ll be closer to 40 miles, or around 80% full.
How long does the battery of an electric bicycle last?
So how long do electric bike batteries last? Unfortunately, that’s a difficult question to answer. Going off of the above information on battery degradation and charge cycles, your electric bike battery should last at least 300 to 500+ charge cycles. And since you probably won’t be charging it daily, you can expect years of bike enjoyment.
A reasonable rough estimate is that your electric bike battery should be good for 3-5 years, if not longer. Even after charging it once a week for six years, it barely gets over 300 charge cycles. And considering that many high-end battery packs can withstand more than 1,200 charge cycles, we’re nowhere near the limit. By then, you’re probably already thinking about buying a new bike.
But again, this does not mean that the battery will stop working and prevent you from using your electric bike. It simply means that the battery may no longer charge to 100%, so performance and range could decrease.
The battery life of your electric bike will depend on a number of different factors. Some of them include the type of battery, the quality of the manufacturer, how well the owner maintains proper charging and storage habits, not to mention the temperature of the place where it is stored. But more on that below.
How to make an electric bike battery last longer
If you use and charge your electric bike on a daily basis, the battery will degrade faster than a casual cyclist. Then you’ll also want to consider charging habits, temperatures, storage location, and other things to extend the life of your bike.
Using a smartphone again as an example, you’ll notice the battery drain if you leave your phone in a hot car during the summer or in a cold vehicle during the winter. Lithium ion battery cells like to stay in the same temperature range as humans. Storing your electric bike in a hot or cold garage will affect the charge and life of the battery.
You’ll also want to consider battery level and insufficient charging. You should not leave a battery nearly empty for long periods of time, such as not using it during the winter. Instead, charge the battery to 80% and store it inside your home.
The same can be said for overcharging, and one of the easiest ways to reduce the life of an electric bike battery is to leave it on the charger too long (overnight) each time you charge it. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommended charging time to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
So, to recap, charge your electric bike battery regularly and store it indoors if possible, especially when not in use. Only use the recommended charger that it came with. And while your bike probably has a smart charger, we recommend disconnecting it once you reach 100%. Consider charging, overcharging, and storage to make it last longer.
Replacing the battery of an electric bicycle
E-bikes can be expensive, and many users ask, “can I replace the battery on an e-bike?” Again, this all depends on the style and manufacturer. E-bikes from popular brands including Super73, Rad Power Bikes, Velotric, Trek, Specialized, and many others all have removable battery packs.
If your electric bike has a removable (or user accessible) battery, you can probably replace it. However, just because it’s removable doesn’t mean you’ll be able to find or afford a replacement battery. Some manufacturers do not offer replacements, which makes the situation a bit iffy.
For example, Super73 offers replacement battery packs for their RX electric bike, but they’re $1,000 and often out of stock. Fortunately, replacement battery packs for my Velotric Nomad 1 electric bike with fat tires are only $399.
Buying an electric bike with an internal battery complicates things. And what happens if the brand does not exist in 5 or 6 years? Sure, you can get a third-party battery and plug it into your bike, but the average owner doesn’t want to mess with all of that. Just know that for many e-bikes you can technically replace the battery, but don’t rely on that for the future.
In closing, your electric bike battery should easily last 3-5 years, if not longer. And that’s being on the cautious side. It’s worth looking for brands with a good warranty, not to mention the steps mentioned above to keep your battery healthy for as long as possible.
On the plus side, electric bikes are still relatively new and battery technology is rapidly evolving thanks to electric vehicles. In the future, we might see smaller battery packs with better performance and longer life or even solid-state batteries at some point.
E-bikes are a blast to ride, so don’t let battery life stop you from trying one out.
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