E-Bike Winter Care
Like any battery, the e-bike battery also wants to be cared for so that it works properly again in the spring.
What special features does the cold season bring with it for the care, maintenance and storage of the electric bike and what must be observed? How do I properly care for the battery in winter and how do I properly handle the battery in winter?
These questions are answered here.
Cleaning
Clean the e-bike after each tour/excursion to prevent dirt from settling and to prevent corrosion. That is, clean as often as possible and necessary preferably with water and a suitable bike shampoo or care products from the specialized trade, as they do not attack plastics and seals. Sharp cleaning agents are to be avoided, since they can lead to the change of the surface. Soapy water or washing-up liquid can also be used. However, these should not be too aggressive or too strongly degreasing.
In any case, take out the battery and, if possible, remove displays. Permanently mounted displays should be covered with a cloth or foil. The mount is designed to allow water to run off and the contacts to dry. To ensure this, one should keep the receptacle and connector area clean. The contacts have a coating that protects the surface from corrosion and wear.
Whether the chain needs to be greased depends entirely on the use. Basically, no more and no less. A chain is especially stressed when it goes off-road or when not shifting smoothly enough. With lubricating agents, you should make sure that the brake discs do not get anything off or the sprocket gummed up.
Important: To protect the electronic components, cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner should be avoided. Water could penetrate into the bearings of the motor, hubs or rear triangle. Before cleaning, remove the battery and, if possible, the display and then spray the e-bike with a special bike shampoo or care product and clean it with a garden hose and brush. The plug terminals of the e-bike should occasionally be cleaned and lightly greased.
In winter on the road
The range and performance can be reduced in the colder months of the year. It is best to always charge the battery at room temperature and only attach it to the e-bike directly before setting off.
To keep heat loss as low as possible during the Fhart, there are covers made of neoprene. These protective covers also protect the battery from moisture, dirt, stone chips and impacts. With fully integrated batteries, the frame of the e-bike takes over a large part of the protective function.
Do not leave the uncharged battery in storage for any length of time after your last ride. The battery could fall into deep discharge and thus become damaged or possibly unusable. If you store the battery for a longer period of time, you should pay attention to the following...
Storage
You do not use your e-bike in the cold season? The bike itself does not mind standing outside or in the cold garage and in the short term the batteries can withstand storage at sub-zero temperatures, but in the long term the battery could be damaged. Therefore, it is important to store the battery at room temperature in winter and make sure that it is charged to 60%.
Winterizing the e-bike & battery
What to do.
Never leave the battery outside on the bike in freezing and sub-zero temperatures.
Remove the battery and display and store them in a dry place at room temperature, ideally between 10 and 20 degrees. The optimal charge level of the battery before a longer storage is between 30 and 60%. Check the charge level of the battery beforehand.
If the battery cannot be removed, the recommendation applies to the entire bike and its winter quarters.
Only before the next big ride after the winter break, the battery must be charged properly, that is, fully.
Generally speaking:
Cold reduces the performance of the battery. In winter operation at temperatures below zero degrees, it is advisable to insert the battery pack, which has been charged and stored at room temperature, into the eBike only shortly before starting the journey. If the eBike is not in use for a longer period of time, the battery pack should be stored in a dry, cool place with 30 to 60 percent of the charging capacity. Even during storage, the battery slightly decreases in storage capacity, so the right storage conditions should be selected.
Read more about this topic in our blog post.
Here are the 5 most important tips for the proper care of e-bikes - regardless of the season:
- Clean the e-bike regularly from coarse dirt.
- Before cleaning, remove the battery and displays or cover them if necessary.
- Use bike shampoo, soft sponge or brush. Do not use steam jet or high-pressure cleaner.
- When greasing the drive chain, make sure that no lubricant gets on the disc brakes.
- After washing, perform a brief function check: Is the battery properly engaged? Does the drive work properly? Does the system respond correctly to button presses?