Ebike Battery Charger: How to Charge an E-bike?

About Ebike Battery Charger, Nowadays, using electricity to charge your vehicle is becoming common.

It would be best to have electric batteries, chargers,  and power cords for such vehicles to charge them on time and not lag on your rides.

This article will teach you about eBike battery chargers and how to use them. 

Basics of an Electric Bike Battery

Electric bike battery is the same as the one found in other vehicles, with a slight change in charging capacity and time since it has to support a smaller system. 

Ebike Battery Types

Sealed Lead-acid Battery

Lead acid is one of the oldest yet most common types of battery that you can find in vans, cars, and other large automobiles.

They are heavy and less durable and may take more hours to charge fully than the newer types.

Still, these batteries might be your best solution if you are low on budget.

Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery

Next on the list comes Nickel-Metal Hydride or NiMH batteries.

This battery emits fewer ions when in use than the Lithium Battery.

Still, it is not as popular due to larger charge cycles of up to 10 to 12 hours. 

Moreover, NiMH batteries do not work under harsh conditions like hotter or colder temperatures and cannot regulate higher voltages.

NiCd or Nickel Cadmium batteries can be a good alternative to them. 

Lithium-Ion Battery

Lithium Ion batteries remain one of the top choices for most eBike as their performance remains high quality.

These batteries give the best charging densities with longer life and lower discharge rate. 

On average, Lithium Batteries can give you around 400-600 charge cycles before you face any problems with them.

Additionally, you can find several combinations of Lithium batteries suitable for different use cases.

Among them, the common ones are Lithium Magnesium Oxide (LMO) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), etc. 

Charging Equipment

With every new bike, you should expect the following set of charging equipment.

• A battery pack that has the battery of the bike inside
• Battery bay that connects the battery to the eBike
• Charger with a power cord and two slots to connect
• Two cables for connecting the power supply

How to Charge an Electric Bike 

Electric bikes with charging station

Since every bike has its specifications, they will also differ in the charging method.

To learn the process, you can read through the product manual that came with the bike at the time of purchase or search it online on the company’s website. 

There are two ways to charge a battery, depending on whether it is removable or intact in the eBike body. 

Battery Removal Method

You will opt for the following method if you have removable batteries. In this option, you will,

• Power off the bike and deactivate the battery for safe removal. 
• Release the battery lock using a key or remove any clips and slide them off the bike frame. 
• Plug the power cord into the charger adapter, and fix the adapter’s connector to the battery’s charging slot. Then, connect the other side of the power cord to the nearby electrical outlet. 
• If the charger has a light, see that it’s turned on to ensure it works. Also, observe that the light on the battery is also blinking. 
•  Leave the charging on for 3 to 6 hours, and disconnect it from the charger when the battery changes its color. Remember, do not leave your battery with the system after fully charging.
• Connect the battery back to the bike frame; here, you have a full battery for a day or two.

Direct Plug Method

You will opt for the direct plug method when the batteries are not removable.

In this process, 

• Park the bike in a standing position and check for its charging point. Standing the bike in a stable position will ensure it will not fall easily during a charge. 
• Take the charging cord of your bike and plug it into the electric outlet nearby. Then check the lights on the charger to make sure it’s working.
• Plug the connector into the bike’s inlet and check for its light to ensure it is charging. 
• Wait for at least 3 hours and check the light on the bike to see if it has changed its color. If not, let it be connected for another 30 seconds and check again. 
• Unplug the charger and get your bike on the road as the light indicator changes. 

How long does it take to charge an electric bike?

Charging a car battery will usually take longer since it has a larger capacity.

However, the story would differ if you had a new electric bike. 

Generally speaking, fully charge it before going on to your first ride, which can take up to 24 hours or more, depending on the company and model of your bike.

Also, you can check out the instruction manual that came up with the bike to see its average charge time, which the company may have fully charged.

After the initial charge, your bike’s battery will not take 3 to 8 hours for a full charge.

To keep the battery running longer, you can use high gears and change them earlier than needed.

Moreover, you can pedal quickly and set the bike on lower assistance so that it uses your energy and not the batteries. 

How to take care of your battery?

Li-Ion Battery in Electric Bike

Taking care of your battery requires some effort and mindfulness.

Thus, follow these tips for a longer battery lifespan. 

• Charge your batteries after every long ride to ensure the levels do not get low anytime. 
• Replace the batteries after 1000 full charge cycles since they lose power capacity. Replacing them at a time will help you get good potential for your vehicle.
• If you plan to keep the bike inside the garage for a few weeks or more, store it with 50 to 60% charging since storing it empty will damage the battery’s health.
• Focus on cleaning your batteries every once in a while with a damp cloth. If there are any stubborn stains, use a little soap and dry them immediately with a dry cloth.
• If the indicator of the battery shows low charging, immediately plug it in with the power socket. Also, unplug it as soon as it is fully charged to save the battery from prolonged damage.
• For first-time use, fully charge the battery once, which is critical for the overall life. Thus, having such a long charge pushes the electricity through the cells, making the battery flow better for the entire span. 
•  Keep the temperature of the battery at a normal level. Also, extreme heat or cold could severely affect the battery, which can die faster in such an environment. The optimal temperature in such cases is around 50 to 77 Fahrenheit.
• Using a good charger is as important as considering all the above points. It is because a good quality charger will protect the battery while charging it. Also, due to their compact design, you can use them anywhere.

Ebike Charger Options

What to look out for when choosing an eBike charger?

Foldable electric bike

Usually, the eBikes have efficient Li-ion batteries that are fixed in the frame or carrier rack.

Their battery life ranges from 500 to 700 charge cycles while the voltage range is 24V, 36V, and 48V. When choosing the bike charger, look out for the following criteria. 

• Voltage: Your charger should be compatible with the battery of your electric bike. For instance, you cannot use a 24V charger for a 36V battery as they both will not work with each other. 
• Charger Design: Only trust the same manufacturer for the charger if they offer any, or look for other high-quality companies because the charger will affect the durability, weight, size, and convenience.
• Cable length: Mostly, the charging stations are far from where you park your bike. In such a situation, you will need long cables to charge the bike’s battery without issue. 
• Additional Functions: Anything with extra features is a source of ultimate joy for the buyer. For example, look for chargers with extra functions like LED lights to tell you about full charging.

Conclusion

Ebike batteries work just like other vehicle batteries.

And choosing a good quality charger and charging wire can have a huge impact on the system’s performance.

At Cloom, we strive to give you the best solution regarding battery cables. To contact us, click here.