Space for e-bikes either during or for the winter implies that you’ll be keeping it in storage for longer than the typical 4–5 days. Winter also carries the risk of harsh weather, protracted rain or snow, and very low temperatures. All of these things need to be taken into account when thinking about e-bike winter storage.
Tips for Storing Your eBike
Extreme temperatures can damage electrical equipment and components in commuter ebike. Your electric bicycle should ideally be kept in a cool, dry location away from areas with high humidity; consider a garage or, depending on where you live, an outside shed. Between freezing and room temperature, is the optimal range for e-bike storage.
Keeping your E-Bike Battery Safe
It is best to remove commuter ebike components like batteries before storing them. Your bike’s batteries are the most delicate component of the entire machine. All batteries eventually experience capacity loss or a reduction in their ability to store a charge. By protecting the charge capacity of your battery, you may extend its life as much as possible.
Batteries need to be kept dry and cool so they won’t freeze; a wood floor in the garage is a good option. Bring your battery inside and store it safely if, however, you live somewhere where it frequently drops below freezing. Batteries are ideally maintained between 32 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, which is near to room temperature. They can withstand severe temperatures in either direction, but only for a limited period of time before the temperature starts to impact their chemistry and cause harm to the battery.
Batteries come in many distinct varieties. Never store lithium ion batteries entirely discharged, as this increases the likelihood that they won’t be recoverable after storage. Your battery should be charged between 75% and 80% before storage. Make sure to check the charge level each month to make sure the percentage doesn’t fall below 75%. Your battery’s life will be increased as a result.
Temperature and the state of charging
While storing an e-bike battery, owners who believe it is too cold to ride in the winter should keep the temperature between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius and the charge level between 50 and 80% to prevent the battery from entering deep sleep mode.
Some tips to store bikes in winter season are:
Be relaxed
It is advisable to relax up a bit as the temperature drops. Choose a lower gear and a faster pedalling pace. It is desirable to have a cadence of 70 to 80 revolutions per minute. More energy is consumed when you start and stop frequently. As evenly as you can, pedal. Hence, the range of the e-bike battery is optimized.
Levels of help
There are many levels of aid on an e-bike. Winter is the time to employ higher modes in particular. Because the motor receives more help due to the larger discharge current, the battery becomes hotter. As we move more in cold weather, we also get warmer.
The proper tyre pressure and a well-oiled chain help to reduce battery stress. Reduced speed results from increased abrasion on hard terrain caused by low tyre pressure. On paved roads, more effort is required to obtain the desired speed, but with a mountain bike, the exact opposite is true. Make an appointment with your expert dealer or perform your winter inspection in the fall.
Powering up the battery
Charge rates for a cold battery are very low. It is preferable to bring the battery indoors to charge it there at room temperature. In order to avoid condensation, you should warm up the battery before charging. Condensation might obstruct the charging cycle or, in the worst case, harm it. To help batteries cool down more slowly, some manufacturers sell neoprene suits.
Conclusion
The cooler temperatures will have an impact on your electric bike if you choose to keep riding. First off, it’s okay to ride your e-bike outside in the cold. The battery may, however, appear to be dwindling more quickly. You will start to notice a modest decrease in battery life as soon as the temperature drops. You might only get half as much battery life after the temperature drops below freezing. The good news is that when the temperatures increase again, your battery will function normally because this impact is just temporary.
