Charging an electric bike battery will differ depending on the manufacturer, but there are some general guidelines you can follow that will help you get it right most of the time.
When you purchase an electric bike, it will have a battery pack including the battery. The electric bike will also include a charging bay where you can connect the charger and the battery to the bike. The bay can be located in a variety of positions depending on the e-bike; however, they are most often found in the middle of the bike or directly behind the seat. Furthermore, most electric bikes will come with a charger, which is made up of a power source and two cable slots. Connect one end of a wire to a power outlet and the other end to an e- bike’s battery.
4 Alternative ways to Charge an E-Bike Battery
E-bike batteries, like any other electronic device such as a laptop or phone, can be charged at home with electricity. E-bikes are typically taken away from home for a ride, and the battery power will deplete during the journey. The e-bike rider’s first thought will be; how can I recharge my e-bike battery when I am not at home? The e-bike rider should be prepared and equipped with a good charger of the right voltage such as 54.54 volts if he has 48 volts, amperes rating of either 2Amps or 3Amps. A three (3) pin charger is better.
The charger should be set according to the power rating of the country e.g. 110 volts in some countries, while it is 240 volts in other parts of the world. The e-bike rider would also need a power extension cable to enable a connection from the PowerPoint to the e-bike. This is very important if the batteries are not easily detachable from the e-bike for charging at any charging point outside the home.
Charging of e-bike can be done in various ways, which we shall discuss below.
Let us now look at four (4) different methods for charging an e-bike battery, namely: charging an e-bike battery with an inverter, charging with a generator, charging with a car battery, and a solar power system.
1. Charging e-bike battery with inverter
The capacity of our e-bike batteries, as well as the capacity of the alternator we want to use to charge the e-bike battery, must be considered. For example, if we have a 600watt inverter, we could wonder if it is the more expensive pure sine wave inverter or if a non-PSW inverter would do for this task. There are numerous contradicting notions on the internet; what do you utilize if you follow in my footsteps? You should think about this. An e-bike battery has an average capacity of 400Wh.
If you charge using an inverter and charger, you will lose a considerable amount of power owing to efficiency losses, which will be about 20% in the best-case situation, forcing you to draw 480Wh from your battery. At 12V, this amounts to 40Ah. You should not drain your battery below half capacity, which implies that even in excellent condition, you only have 67Ah, which is insufficient. It should be sufficient if you only ride for ten or fifteen miles per day, but if you flatten your bikes’ batteries, you will run out. Getting a small generator to charge them is far more convenient and reliable.
2. Charging e-bike battery with a generator
A generator that can charge an e-bike battery should have a higher power rating than the battery to be charged. Also because the chargers bear the brunt of the incoming power’s abuse, the e-bike battery and bike should be sound. The generator we are considering should have an inverter, which is good for stable power, and the e-bike rider should get a good brand and model. To get the desired result the generator should not be overload, by trying to run too many items for charging at the same time. A generator of an average rating would do the job and not necessarily the high-end brand types, that are considered here. However, other factors of the generators to be considered are the voltage and frequency of generators, which are determined by the speed at which they spin. The larger the generator, the more stable it will be, due to its rotating mass and the fact that a larger load change will be required to affect it. Smaller generators can struggle to maintain stability because they lack the rotating mass or extra capacity to deal with changing loads effortlessly. We believe the Honda brand was the first to address this issue by incorporating an inverter.
The inverter’s value cannot be overstated because it allowed the generator to run at a slower speed, reducing noise and increasing fuel efficiency. Inverter generators do not have to operate at a certain voltage or frequency. They might be generating 72 volts and 40 hertz instead of the standard 120 volts and 60 hertz. The inverter, like the 12dc inverters, transforms the output to 120/60. This is advantageous because, as long as the input is within the inverter’s range, the inverter will always provide a rock-solid 120/60 output, even if there is fluctuation in the road, causing the generator speed to change somewhat.
Though employing an inverter decreases efficacy marginally, it is worth it for the reduction in noise and stability, which are important to the generator’s owner.
3. Charging e-bike battery with a Car battery
Another alternative power source for charging e-bike batteries is to use a vehicle’s battery. To charge the E-bike battery on the go, all the e-bike rider needs is the right setup. The battery could be damaged, if the setup is wrong from the start, and this is the last thing the e-bike rider expects.
The e-bike rider should ensure of the following: An inverter that converts power from your car battery to the voltage needed by your E-bike battery should be very sound.
When your E-bike battery is fully charged, use an alternator tester to turn off the power. That a power energy monitor that displays the amount of charge flowing into the E-bike battery is in place. The rider must also have a suitable charger with power factor adjustment. The power factor of a charger should be at least 80%. Anything between 50 and 79 (%) percent is acceptable but may be ineffective, and anything less than 50 percent may take a longer charging time for the E-bike battery, which is not good for the e-bike rider that is always on the go. The e-bike rider should also avoid charging a completely dead E-bike battery cell if the car’s engine is turned off. Once you have assembled all of the components, connect the inverter to the car’s battery and thereafter, the alternator tester is plugged into the inverter, and the charger is connected. Connect the charger’s other end to the battery. The charging should be complete after some time.
4. Charging e-bike battery with Solar
The sun is a source of dynamic energy (solar power) that can be harnessed in most parts of the world throughout the summer for household, industrial, and commercial usage. Another option for charging an e-bike is to use solar power. Solar energy has the added benefit of being both environmentally benign and renewable. All the e-bike user needs to do when camping is bring a solar charging kit, such as a Solar Generator and panels. The e-bike owner should have a charger, preferably one with a capacity of up to 2000 watts. A solar panel with an output voltage of 18–21 volts and a voltmeter are also required.
This generator is commonly paired with solar panels, which help absorb and convert solar energy into electric power that may be used to charge E-bike batteries. The solar panels should be installed in an area of the camp that is clear of trees or other objects that might obstruct direct sunlight from reaching the solar panels. The solar panels should be positioned at an angle to get the maximum amount of heat from the sun in order to provide the necessary solar power output to charge the e-bike batteries.
We recommend that before departing for a ride or camping trip, the e-bike rider charge the batteries completely from a domestic power source at home. The solar panel is intended to charge the battery in the event of a power outage, and the risk of bad weather affecting solar panel power production should not be disregarded.
E-bike battery charging Tips
1st Tip: Charge a New Electric Bike Battery for 12 Hours.
When you first purchase a new electric bike, you should fully charge the battery for up to twelve (12) hours. This prolonged first charge makes sure that current flows through all of the cells and supports the immediate acclimatizing of the battery.
2nd Tip: Overcharging an Electric Bike Battery is not recommended.
Do not just charge your electric e-bike battery for a few days; charge it for several days or more. When you do this, the battery will discharge, leaving it at around 95% of its capacity. Then the battery begins to charge. This cycle of minor discharges and topping off continue indefinitely, resulting in a series of poor charging cycles. Rather, use your phone to set a timer to remind you to take the battery out of the charger.
3rd Tip: Charge Your E-bike Battery Regularly
Most electric bikes’ lithium-ion batteries should last longer with regular use and, consequently, regular charging.
Most of the time, you do not need to completely discharge your electric bike battery. Rather, try to charge the battery when it has between 30% and 60% of its original capacity remaining. Some battery experts, however, recommend a full discharge once every 30 to 40 charges. Otherwise, follow the 30-to-60% rule of thumb.
To charge your electric bike battery regularly, you must ride it regularly, so consider this another incentive. Most electric bikes’ lithium-ion batteries should last longer with regular use and, consequently, regular charging.
Most of the time, you do not need to completely discharge your electric bike battery. Rather, try to charge the battery when it has between 30% and 60% of its original capacity remaining. Some battery experts, however, recommend a full discharge once every 30 to 40 charges. Otherwise, follow the 30-to-60% rule of thumb.
To charge your electric bike battery regularly, you must ride it regularly, so consider this another incentive.
Conclusion
We have discussed so far that it is possible to put a 48 volts’ battery on a 36 volts e-bike, for a reason to boost the e-bike range, boost the performance of the e-bike and protect the battery life that a second battery could be added to an e-bike provided some technical parameters are adhered to. We also listed and discussed four (4) alternative sources of power to charge e-bike batteries when the rider is away from home riding or camping.
Potential or existing e-bike owners, will no doubt find the hints useful;
Perhaps there may still be other questions in the mind of the e-bike owner, user, or rider. Hence we attempt to answer some related questions below.
Related Questions:
Question: How Long Does take to Charge an E-bike Battery?
Answer: It will take 3.5 to 6 hours to recharge a fully exhausted lithium-ion e-bike battery. When you start charging a partially charged battery, it will take less time. Furthermore, the last hour or so of a charge is used to give additional power to the battery’s cells, so there is no need to wait for that process to complete. As a result, some batteries can be fully charged in as little as 2.5 hours. Is advisable to charge e-bike batteries to 90 percent of its power capacity.
Question: How Do I make my e-bike battery last Longer?
Answers:
Avoid Temperature Extremes
The weather has the same effect on an electric bike battery as it does on the majority of electric bike riders. Temperatures in the upper twenties are ideal.
Avoid riding and charging in extreme temperatures to extend the life of an electric bike battery.
Like the rider, the e-bike electric battery prefers cool temperatures, especially when charging.
Some experts have recommended that e-bike batteries, should be kept at a temperature between freezing and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during a charging cycle. But do not go into trouble? It would be even better if the charging temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not Store an Empty Battery
At times, you may need to store your electric bike battery. Maybe you are about to embark on an adventure. Maybe it is too cold to ride outside. In any case, avoid storing the battery empty; instead, aim for 40-70 percent of its full capacity. At times, you may need to store your electric bike battery. Maybe you are about to embark on an adventure. Maybe it is too cold to ride outside. In any case, avoid storing the battery empty; instead, aim for 40-70 percent of its full capacity.
Question: Where can I charge my electric bike?
Answer: Fortunately, electric bikes can be charged virtually everywhere. All e-bikes include standard three-pronged connectors that are compatible with wall outlets, allowing their batteries to be charged while riding.
E-bike batteries, like laptop batteries, may be charged in several public venues, including cafés, bars, libraries, and even at work. If you are not going to use a gas station or a restaurant, you may need to get permission to charge your e-bike battery there. If you live in a more remote location, it is a good idea to have a backup battery in your backpack to avoid humiliation.