At What Percentage Should eBikes Be Charged? (We Checked)

If you just got an eBike, you may wonder how to charge it properly.

There are many things to consider, such as how low the percentage should be:

Here’s at What Percentage eBikes Should be Charged:

eBikes should be charged whenever they’re low on battery based on the owner’s riding habits. Sometimes, this means charging every night when the battery hits 50%. But more casual riders may let the battery go lower and only charge it a few times a week.

Is It Better to Charge Up to 80-90% Instead of 100%?

It doesn’t matter how much you charge the battery. In most cases, it’s perfectly safe to charge your battery all the way to 100%.

You can take it off the charger at between 80 and 90%, but that doesn’t mean it is better for your battery.

However, if you leave it on the charger for days, the battery may go into a cycle of discharging and recharging, which can negatively affect your battery’s lifespan.

Most newer eBikes will stop charging once the battery is full, even if it is still plugged in.

Just make sure you know which kind of bike you have before leaving it on the charger!

Do Electric Bike Batteries Get Stolen? (We Checked)

Does It Matter What the Battery Level is When You Start Charging?

The current battery level doesn’t matter when you start charging your eBike.

If it is already at 80% before you start charging, you can fill it up to 100%. Or, if it is at 20%, you can charge it and leave it alone for a while.

However, if you have an ebike that does not stop the charging process once it has hit 100%, you’ll probably want to proceed cautiously.

For example,  if your bike is already mostly charged, don’t leave it charging overnight. Instead, wait until after the next day’s use to charge it.

If it is low on battery and you need it for work tomorrow, charge it overnight and unplug it in the morning.

This will prevent wearing out your battery early and can help you create a good routine.

What Happens If I Often Deplete the Battery Completely?

Like other electronics, you may occasionally want to use up all of the battery in your eBike.

However, doing this often is unnecessary and can make it harder for you to find the time to charge the bike.

The more you fully deplete the battery, the more you’ll go through full charge cycles. A battery can only handle so many charge cycles, and lithium batteries usually last for 1,000 cycles or so.

Now, charging the battery part of the way will be a partial cycle, so it will even out. You’ll have to put the bike on the charger for longer to go from 0% to 100%.

Are Electric Bikes High Maintenance? (We Checked)

What Happens If I Let the Battery Get too Low?

The biggest consequence of letting your electric bike battery get too low is that the motor will stop working in the middle of a ride.

That means you’ll need to pedal like a regular bike to reach your destination.

That may not be a big issue if you primarily ride around your neighborhood. If you use your eBike to commute across town, it could significantly lengthen your commute back home.

Either way, you may have been planning on using the motor to help propel you. Without it, you’ll have to work much harder, especially if you have to go up some hills.

How Often Should You Fully Charge the Battery?

You don’t have to fully charge the battery for your electric bike that often.

However, it can be a good idea to do so every 30 or 40 charge cycles.

So if you usually keep your bike between 50% and 100%, you’ll want to fully deplete the battery every 60 to 80 times you charge it. Then, you can leave the bike on the charger for a full charge.

That can help “reset” the battery in a way to make sure the percentage is accurate.

Don’t worry if you’ve gone longer than 40 charge cycles since the last full charge; you can always do a full charge when you remember.

When you aren’t fully charging the battery, try to only let it get down to between 30% and 60%. Then, you’ll have some extra battery if you need to use the bike before you can charge it.

Do Electric Bikes Charge When Cycling Downhill? (We Checked)

How Much Will Over-Charging Affect Long-Term Battery Capacity?

Overcharging is really only a concern on older electric bikes or bikes with older batteries.

Newer batteries are pretty good at recognizing when they’re full and stopping the charging process when they hit 100%.

However, you don’t want to leave the bike on the charger for multiple days. Even if the battery is new, it could start to discharge and charge repeatedly, thus going through more charge cycles and shortening its lifespan.

But leaving your bike on the charger for an hour or so after it hits 100% shouldn’t be a problem. You can take it off the charger after finishing other tasks around the house.

If it is a problem, you can charge the battery to as close to 100% as you can, but without reaching full capacity.

Is It a Good Idea to Charge Your eBike Every Night?

Whether you’ve had an eBike for years or just got your first one, you may be tempted to charge the battery overnight.

After all, you’re sleeping and won’t need the bike until the morning.

Consider some reasons in favor and against charging your electric bike nightly:

Why Charge Your eBike Every Night

Charging your eBike every night is a great option if you use it as your main form of transportation.

You might ride it to work, the store, or other errands.

If so, you probably go through a good chunk of the battery in a day. Charging the battery every other night might not often be enough.

Another good reason to charge the bike nightly is if you do well with a routine.

As long as you use a good portion of the battery, it might be easy to remember to charge your bike if you do it every single evening before bed.

Why Not Charge Your eBike Every Night

If you don’t ride your electric bike daily, there’s no reason to charge it every night.

Even if you do ride daily, if those rides are short, you may end the day with a battery of around 80% or higher.

It’s better to wait a few days until the battery is closer to 40 or 50% for you to charge it. Then, you won’t risk overcharging if you leave the bike on the charger all night.

Instead, pay attention to the battery percentage before and after every ride. That will give you an idea of how quickly you use up the battery to help you find a charging schedule that works for you.

How Much Do Electric Bikes Help You Pedal? (Explained)

How to Make the Most of Your eBike Battery

Electric bikes and their batteries can get expensive.

Fortunately, you can do a few things to extend the lifespan of the battery so that you can save a bit of money.

Here’s what I would do to keep from wasting the battery of an electric bike.

Charge a New Battery for Longer

When you get a new electric bike or a new battery for your current bike, charge it for around 12 hours the first time.

Doing this can help condition the battery and help it work more efficiently.

The currents will get to run through the entire battery the first time. Once it’s charged and you take it for a ride, it should work just as well as your previous battery or bike.

Of course, this is a great excuse to charge your electric bike overnight. Put it on the charger before bed; it should be ready to go when you need to ride it to work or take it on errands.

Protect the Battery From Extreme Temperatures

I live in an area with all four seasons, including extremely hot summers and frigid winters.

If you live somewhere similar, you’ll want to find a climate-controlled space for your bike.

For one, you can use this spot to store the bike when you aren’t using it. But try to make it a spot close to a wall outlet so that you can charge the bike in a good area.

Ideally, the temperature should be about 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s too hot or cold, the battery may not work properly, and the charge won’t be as effective.

Also, keep your bike inside so it doesn’t get wet in the rain. Water can damage the motor, so even if it’s charged, it will cause issues.

Where Are Electric Bikes Allowed? (7 Places Checked)

Partially Charge Batteries Before Storage

If you know you won’t ride your electric bike for a while, don’t charge the battery all of the ways.

Instead, charge it between 40% and 70%.

You can also store it at a higher charge than that, which is nice if you don’t want to run down the battery.

If the bike is in storage for a while, consider charging it monthly to maintain the battery.

That way, it will charge a bit when you’re ready to ride the bike again. You can get back into your normal charging routine without issues.

Use the Factory Charger

Another thing you must do is only use the charger that came with your electric bike.

There are a lot of cheap knock-offs, which look like good deals, especially if you want to keep a charger at work.

However, these chargers may cause electrical problems or even a fire. Using a cheaper charger is not worth the risk to your bike or anything near your bike.

If you want a second charger, buy one from the manufacturer of your electric bike.

Then, you can safely charge your bike even if you lose the original charger or want to keep a second one in a different location.

Final Thoughts

You can charge an eBike starting and ending at any percentage.

Occasionally, charging the battery from 0% to 100% is worth charging to ensure everything works.

However, don’t be afraid to charge the bike to a level that makes sense for you and your riding habits.

That way, you can set a schedule and avoid forgetting to charge the battery.

Sources

Should I Charge My eBike After Every Ride?

5 Electric Battery Charging Tips for Long Battery Life