6 Ebike Battery Problems And How To Fix Them
Ebike battery problems can be quite frustrating. Unfortunately, they’re not uncommon at all. In fact, ebike batteries are notorious for failing after a short amount of time, which can leave you stranded or without your electric bike. Here are some tips on how to fix ebike battery problems and get back on the road.
What are the major Ebike Battery Problems?
The battery is the heart of the ebike. Without a good battery, it’s just a regular bike. So it’s important for you to learn the battery problems and how to fix them. Let’s check out the problems of ebike.
- Swelling Of The Battery Pack
- The battery Isn’t Charging
- Battery Losing Its Efficiency
- Ebike Not Speeding Up
- Ebike Not Turning On
- Takes Longer Time To Charge
1. Swelling Of The Battery Pack
Problem:
Lithium-ion batteries provide power through a chemical reaction. As the battery cell gets old, this reaction mechanism no longer entirely completes, which might cause gas to be released and cause the battery to swell.
Solution:
When batteries get swollen, they are no longer functional and you must replace them. Old, worn-out, or defective batteries may be to blame for the battery failure.
As a result of a considerable amount of the electrolyte inside the batteries evaporating, they may have overheated if they were old or had undergone numerous discharge and recharge cycles.
When the electrolyte is depleted, the batteries can overheat. The electrolytes help to keep the battery packs cool during recharging. The batteries may possibly contain an internal short circuit as a result of an earlier accident or rough handling, which has led them to overheat while receiving a recharge.
It’s less likely, but still conceivable, that the charger has a problem and is producing an excessive amount of voltage. You can test the battery charger’s output voltage to see if it meets standards. For each battery it charges, the charger’s output voltage should be close to 13.8 Volts.
Batteries shouldn’t overheat if the charger’s float cycle malfunctions and it continued to run on charge mode after the batteries had fully charged since this voltage of the battery pack and the charger’s output voltage would equalize and both would stay at a safe level.
2. Battery Isn’t Charging
Problem:
If the battery in your e-bike isn’t charging, there may be a number of possible causes, including a switch on the charger, a bad charger or charging port, or a problem with the battery itself. While many problems may be fixed, some could cost you buying a new charger or battery.
Solution:
If your ebike battery isn’t charging, you should look for the issues below.
- Check if the electrical outlet is providing electricity
- Check all the switches
- Check the charging port
- Check the charger
If you’re still unable to solve the issue then it’s possible that the battery’s BMS has problems or your battery is fully discharged.
If the battery is fully discharged then it will take some to start charging. If the problem still occurs then there is a high chance that the battery is fully damaged.
3. Battery Losing Its Efficiency
Problem:
The typical lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is 700-1000 charge cycles. Over this threshold, they typically start to lose their original charge capacity.
Solution:
If your battery is discharging quickly, there may be a short circuit somewhere, or you may be working with a battery that is defective. Both of these scenarios are possible.
You can determine what the problem is with the electric bike by removing the batteries and charging them on a bench before reattaching them to the bike.
If the battery is able to keep a charge, the issue is with your electric bike, and the likely culprit is faulty wiring or a short in the motor. If the battery is unable to maintain its charge, either one of the lithium-ion cells within is defective or there is a short circuit.
4. Ebike Not Speeding Up
Problem:
There might be other reasons which lead ebike to not speed up as usual. However, the battery is the prime reason for not getting the proper speed up.
Solution:
If your electric bike won’t start, check the main switch and the fuses. If the main switches and the fuses are fine then check the speed controller. Water dropping might damage your bike’s speed controller.
Also, check all the cables to your battery especially if you ride an electric bike on mountains and dirt roads. Because these types of bumpy roads might damage the connections.
5. Ebike Not Turning On
Problem:
When you push the power button, your bike might not turn on due to a low charge or a loose battery connection.
Solution:
If you’re facing such issues then you must check your battery and connectors by removing it. You may follow radpower’s technique to check the battery and connectors.
6. Takes Longer Time To Charge
Problem:
Either you’re using a less amp charger or your charger has lose efficiency that’s why it’s taking much more time to be fully charged.
Solution:
Before using any charger you should check if it’s provided by your manufacturer. You shouldn’t use any other charger than your provider.
If you’re using a manufacturer-provided charger and suddenly you’re facing such an issue then it’s possible that your charger is getting damaged and you need a new one.
Why Is The Bosch E-Bike Battery Not Charging?
If the charger malfunctions, a Bosch e-bike battery may stop charging. Additionally, it occurs when a battery’s charging is stopped by a battery management system (BMS) due to security concerns. On top of that, it may happen if the battery runs out of power.
How Do You Check A Bosch E-Bike Battery?
A Bosch ebike can be checked like all other ebikes. The most reliable way to check the battery’s health is to use a multimeter.
How to keep your e-bike battery in top condition? Watch Video!
FAQ
What Is The Lifespan Of An Ebike Battery?
An ebike battery usually lasts 3 to 5 years.
Can Electric Bike Batteries Be Repaired?
Yes, electric bike batteries are repairable for minor issues.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An E-Bike Battery?
Depending on the brand and capacity of the battery it costs around $500-$900 to replace.
Where To Find New E-Bike Batteries?
You can find a new battery in the nearest outlet of your ebike brand. Besides, you can buy from Amazon and Walmart which is the most convenient way.
Conclusion
Maintaining your battery should be your first job as an ebike enthusiast. Now that you know the problems of e-bike batteries, surely now you will be able to better care for your battery. Besides, now you can easily troubleshoot battery problems without help from a professional.
