The revolution in electric cars and consumer electronics (phones, laptops) has happened because of the developments in lithium-ion battery technology. It is the exact same technology that led to e-bikes becoming mainstream. Batteries were, and are, the bottleneck when it comes to realizing fossil fuel-free transportation and the cost of Li-ion battery is continually coming down.To get more news about ebike battery charging, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.
With companies like Uber, Ford, GM getting into the business of pedal-assist bikes, year 2018 marked a turning point in the e-bike industry. Companies like Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano are leading the way, producing very sophisticated drive systems. As more and more e-bikes get into the hands of consumers, we thought an in-depth article on the best practices of caring for your bike’s battery would be helpful.
REMEMBER WHEN…?
Just 15 years ago most of us did not have a phone that had GPS, WiFi, 16MP camera and eight-core processor. Such power-hungry features need enormous power, and the crucial factor that enabled such electronic revolution are the Li-ion batteries. They pack a lot of energy in a small form factor, can last a couple of years with good care and deliver reliable power in a lightweight package.
“You can double the cycle life of your battery by charging it only to 80 percent.”
Given that we are all cut from the same cloth and, similarly, most e-bike batteries are made of 18650 cylindrical cells. These cells are manufactured by companies like Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, etc. Just like any other battery, they have an anode, a cathode and electrolyte. The capacity of these anodes and cathodes to host the Li-ions and the engineering design accounts for a long cycle life and high-energy density of modern-day batteries used in cars and phones.
For example, Nissan Leaf has manganese oxide-based cathode, while Apple’s iPhone has a cobalt-based cathode. The energy densities differ based on what kind of chemistry you end up using. For example, let’s say you just purchased a Trek bike with a Bosch PowerPack 500 battery. The battery consists of 10 cells in a series, and four of those modules are connected in parallel. Each cell has a jelly roll of anodes and cathodes that produce the desired voltage and current required of the cell.
Have you ever wondered why your phone or laptop battery dies after a year, while some electric cars and hybrid car batteries seem to last 8–10 years (Prius battery lasts about 250,000 miles or more, and the Tesla Model S has an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty), whereas our phones and laptops need constant recharging? If you take proper care of your e-bike batteries, it will last four to five years instead of one or two.
WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON?
Fun fact: It’s the tiny Li-ions that shuttle back and forth between anode and cathode. They constitute < 2 percent of the cell weight (this ratio is comparable to the amount of salt in a salad.) This misnomer has stuck, and we continue to call them Li-ion batteries, but in reality, nickel, aluminum and other materials constitute the bulk of your battery.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BRAND-NEW BATTERY
Most e-bikes run on either a 36-volt or 48-volt drive system. First, make sure you have the right charger and it works fine. If you purchased an e-bike online, then you may want to be more cautious, as batteries end up in shipping containers and in warehouses for a long time and do not receive proper care.
Plug in your battery to the charger and let it charge all the way. Once fully charged, your charger should indicate this in some way (e.g., an LED will turn from red to green). Once fully charged, you may want to test ride and make sure there is no unexpected voltage sag.
BATTERY BEST PRACTICES
The e-bike industry is rapidly evolving and, unfortunately, most manuals are outdated except for a few leading companies like Bosch or Yamaha. On your e-bike manual, or your dealer who may not have the scientific background, may say to top it off after each ride. Well, yes and no. If you don’t care about the longevity of the battery, just charge it after each ride, the high-voltage cutoff (HVC) in the battery-management system (BMS) shuts it off after it reaches 100 percent (42 volts for a 36-volt battery system or 54.5 volts for a 48-volt battery system).
The revolution in electric cars and consumer electronics (phones, laptops) has happened because of the developments in lithium-ion battery technology. It is the exact same technology that led to e-bikes becoming mainstream. Batteries were, and are, the bottleneck when it comes to realizing fossil fuel-free transportation and the cost of Li-ion battery is continually coming down.To get more news about ebike battery charging, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.
With companies like Uber, Ford, GM getting into the business of pedal-assist bikes, year 2018 marked a turning point in the e-bike industry. Companies like Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano are leading the way, producing very sophisticated drive systems. As more and more e-bikes get into the hands of consumers, we thought an in-depth article on the best practices of caring for your bike’s battery would be helpful.
REMEMBER WHEN…?
Just 15 years ago most of us did not have a phone that had GPS, WiFi, 16MP camera and eight-core processor. Such power-hungry features need enormous power, and the crucial factor that enabled such electronic revolution are the Li-ion batteries. They pack a lot of energy in a small form factor, can last a couple of years with good care and deliver reliable power in a lightweight package.
“You can double the cycle life of your battery by charging it only to 80 percent.”
Given that we are all cut from the same cloth and, similarly, most e-bike batteries are made of 18650 cylindrical cells. These cells are manufactured by companies like Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, etc. Just like any other battery, they have an anode, a cathode and electrolyte. The capacity of these anodes and cathodes to host the Li-ions and the engineering design accounts for a long cycle life and high-energy density of modern-day batteries used in cars and phones.
For example, Nissan Leaf has manganese oxide-based cathode, while Apple’s iPhone has a cobalt-based cathode. The energy densities differ based on what kind of chemistry you end up using. For example, let’s say you just purchased a Trek bike with a Bosch PowerPack 500 battery. The battery consists of 10 cells in a series, and four of those modules are connected in parallel. Each cell has a jelly roll of anodes and cathodes that produce the desired voltage and current required of the cell.
Have you ever wondered why your phone or laptop battery dies after a year, while some electric cars and hybrid car batteries seem to last 8–10 years (Prius battery lasts about 250,000 miles or more, and the Tesla Model S has an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty), whereas our phones and laptops need constant recharging? If you take proper care of your e-bike batteries, it will last four to five years instead of one or two.
WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON?
Fun fact: It’s the tiny Li-ions that shuttle back and forth between anode and cathode. They constitute < 2 percent of the cell weight (this ratio is comparable to the amount of salt in a salad.) This misnomer has stuck, and we continue to call them Li-ion batteries, but in reality, nickel, aluminum and other materials constitute the bulk of your battery.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BRAND-NEW BATTERY
Most e-bikes run on either a 36-volt or 48-volt drive system. First, make sure you have the right charger and it works fine. If you purchased an e-bike online, then you may want to be more cautious, as batteries end up in shipping containers and in warehouses for a long time and do not receive proper care.
Plug in your battery to the charger and let it charge all the way. Once fully charged, your charger should indicate this in some way (e.g., an LED will turn from red to green). Once fully charged, you may want to test ride and make sure there is no unexpected voltage sag.
BATTERY BEST PRACTICES
The e-bike industry is rapidly evolving and, unfortunately, most manuals are outdated except for a few leading companies like Bosch or Yamaha. On your e-bike manual, or your dealer who may not have the scientific background, may say to top it off after each ride. Well, yes and no. If you don’t care about the longevity of the battery, just charge it after each ride, the high-voltage cutoff (HVC) in the battery-management system (BMS) shuts it off after it reaches 100 percent (42 volts for a 36-volt battery system or 54.5 volts for a 48-volt battery system).