HELP, MY BIKE BATTERY IS DRAINING FASTER!
These days, e-bikes are a staple on the cycle path. Where once people quickly said, "No, I'm too young for an e-bike," e-bikes are now a fully integrated part of everyday cycling. Whether you're colleagues, friends, or family, young or old, you probably know someone with an e-bike or even own one yourself. But why is it that you sometimes run out of battery faster, or feel like your battery is dying much faster than you originally anticipated?
One moment you're feeling like royalty compared to all those struggling riders battling the wind on their regular bikes, the next you're the loser. Your e-bike battery is completely dead! Pedaling without assistance is an option, but it's certainly no fun. Another option is to try and recharge your battery as quickly as possible, but that can easily take up to half an hour before you regain a decent range. It's better to prevent an unexpectedly dead battery. We'll explain how below!
EXTREME COLD OR HEAT WAVE
Batteries don't like extreme temperatures. Have you noticed your e-bike suddenly draining faster? Check if this happens in unusual circumstances. A heat wave or temperatures well below zero? No battery can handle that. Batteries drain faster in winter than in spring, summer, or fall. Our CUBE e-bikes It's possible to remove your battery with a key and take it inside. Your bike can then be safely stored in a cold shed or bike shed, and your battery will last much longer.
DEEPLY DISCHARGED BATTERY
A good reason for a poorer battery performance is deep discharge. Deep discharge means the battery is completely drained. As mentioned above, batteries drain most quickly in the cold. If you, as a recreational cyclist, don't ride every week and leave your battery in your bike and the shed, it will slowly drain. This also happens in warmer conditions, although it will take a little longer.
Do you only take your bike out once a month, properly charge the battery upon return, and then put it in the shed to take it out again for your next ride? You'd expect the battery to still be fully charged and to be able to hit the road with 100% range, since you haven't been cycling since. Yet, every battery slowly drains, even when not in use. Make sure you charge your battery every month.
Also, be careful not to let the battery run completely flat when storing your bike in a shed for an extended period. Batteries don't like being completely drained. In fact, a deeply discharged battery will suffer irreparable damage.
CHARGER
People often think of a faulty battery when their bike immediately quits on the first ride after charging. But that's not always the case. Also, take a good look at your charger. It endures a lot during its lifespan and can fail just as often. The charger does all the work while charging, and it's quite possible for a charger to fail after a few years.
Be careful not to leave your charger plugged in all the time. Especially when not charging, chargers don't like being plugged in. Want to be sure your charger isn't working properly? Try your current charger with a similar Bosch battery from a family member, friend, or acquaintance. Or bring it to our store for testing. If the other battery isn't charging properly, then you know your charger is broken.
Extra tip: Is your range significantly lower than normal? Then take a good look at the condition of your bike. Softer tires always affect the battery's range!
So, if you want to take the best possible care of your battery, follow these short rules:
- Always read the instructions carefully
- Store the battery at room temperature (avoid extreme temperatures e.g. -10 or above +25)
- Avoid a long-term full or empty battery
- Always use the correct charger
- Clean your bike carefully
- Remove your battery during transport
- Never repair your battery yourself
CUSTOMIZED ADVICE
Are you unsure if you're doing the right thing or if your battery or charger is defective? Then contact us or visit our store. At our CUBE Stores, we always have the right expertise to accurately identify the problem.
Or are you still looking for a new e-bike? We're happy to provide you with the right advice when purchasing one! CUBE Stores offers a wide range of bicycles with pedal assistance. Feel free to stop by or schedule an appointment, we'd be happy to help.