Therefore, in electric bicycles, the balance and consistency of the battery pack has a significant impact on battery lifespan. Improving the balance and consistency of the battery pack is a challenge faced by every battery manufacturer. However, for consumers, proper battery usage can also affect the balance and consistency, thus impacting battery lifespan. Based on years of research and practical experience with batteries, the following methods are recommended for consumers to use batteries properly;
(1) Electric vehicle riding speed: not greater than 20km/h.
(2) Cycling distance: 10-30km/day, discharge depth less than or equal to 70% (deep discharge once every 2 months).
(3) Charging frequency: once a day.
(4) Load capacity: Single rider (can carry one child under 10 years old). Following the above method, a high-quality electric bicycle can last 3-4 years, or even 5 years, under normal use, and the battery can last about 1.5 years. This is because lead-acid batteries have a voltage drop inflection point in the later stages of discharge, namely 10.5V/cell. If the battery continues to discharge after this point, the lagging cells will over-discharge, eventually causing poor balance and consistency in the battery pack, leading to the failure of the entire battery pack. The industry standard for battery cycle life requires 70% discharge, i.e., a 10Ah battery discharged at 5A for 84 minutes, with a voltage limit of 14.7-15.0V and a current limit of 3A for 4.6 hours, constituting one cycle. Most manufacturers' batteries can reach 350 cycles, while better companies can achieve over 500 cycles. This indicates that the shallower the battery discharge depth, the longer the battery cycle life and the longer the battery's service life. Therefore, the common consumer view that one charge equals one cycle is incorrect. To extend the lifespan of your battery, you must always keep it fully charged. In a prolonged state of low charge, the negative plate of the battery is prone to saltification, resulting in a loss of battery capacity and affecting the battery's lifespan.
1. Do not change the charger casually, and do not remove the speed limiter on the controller.
Chargers from different manufacturers typically have specific requirements, so avoid changing chargers without proper knowledge. If a longer driving range is required, multiple chargers must be used for charging in different locations. Use a supplementary charger for daytime top-ups and the original charger for nighttime charging. Removing the speed limiter from the controller may increase the vehicle's speed to some extent, but this reduces safety and also shortens battery life.
2. Protect the charger.
Most user manuals contain instructions on protecting the charger. Many users don't have the habit of reading the manual, often only remembering to look for it after a problem occurs, which is often too late. Therefore, reading the manual first is essential. To reduce costs, most chargers nowadays are not designed for high vibration resistance. Therefore, chargers should generally not be placed in the trunk or basket of an electric bicycle. If movement is absolutely necessary, the charger should be properly wrapped in foam to prevent vibration and bumps. After vibration, the internal potentiometers of many chargers will drift, causing the overall parameters to drift and resulting in abnormal charging. Additionally, it's important to ensure proper ventilation for the charger during charging; otherwise, it will not only affect the charger's lifespan but may also cause thermal drift, affecting the charging status. Both of these can damage the battery. Therefore, protecting the charger is also very important.
3. Charge it every day.
Even if your range requirements aren't long, and a single charge lasts 2 to 3 days, it's still recommended to charge it daily. This keeps the battery in a shallow cycle state, extending its lifespan. Some early mobile phone users believed it was best to charge the battery only after it was almost completely drained, but this is incorrect. Lead-acid batteries don't have a strong memory effect. Frequently discharging the battery completely has a significant impact on its lifespan. Most chargers, after the indicator light changes to show full charge, may only have the battery at 97% to 99% charge. Although a mere 1% to 3% undercharge has a negligible impact on range, it can accumulate. Therefore, even after the indicator light changes to show full charge, it's best to continue float charging as much as possible, which also helps prevent battery sulfation.
4. Charge in a timely manner
After the battery discharges, the sulfation process begins, and noticeable sulfation appears after about 12 hours. Timely charging can remove minor sulfation. If not charged promptly, these sulfide crystals will accumulate and gradually form large crystals. Ordinary chargers are ineffective against these large crystals, leading to a gradual decrease in battery capacity and a shortened battery lifespan. Therefore, in addition to daily charging, it's important to charge the battery as soon as possible after use to keep it at a fully charged state.
5. Perform deep discharge periodically.
Performing a deep discharge periodically can also help "activate" the battery, slightly increasing its capacity. A common method is to periodically perform a complete discharge. A complete discharge involves riding a bicycle under normal load on a flat surface until the first undervoltage protection signal is triggered. Note that we emphasize the first undervoltage protection signal. After the first undervoltage protection signal, the battery voltage will rise again after a period of time, returning to a non-undervoltage state. Using the battery again at this point can severely damage it. After a complete discharge, fully charge the battery. You will notice an improvement in battery capacity.
6. Develop some good habits for saving electricity.
Make the most of coasting. When going downhill, try to coast by cutting off the power early to slow down. Enter coasting mode before approaching traffic lights to minimize braking. A friend told me he'd rather make an extra turn than brake too often, and there's some truth to that.
When starting, it is best to use riding assistance, which can not only improve the starting speed, but also reduce battery power loss and shorten battery life.
7. Pay attention to the charging environment.
The optimal ambient temperature for charging is 25℃. Most chargers nowadays lack automatic temperature control systems, so they are designed for an ambient temperature of 25℃. Therefore, charging at 25℃ is preferable. Otherwise, issues like undercharging in winter and overcharging in summer are inevitable. However, ambient temperatures rarely reach 25℃, leading to overcharging in summer and undercharging in winter. Fortunately, most homes now have indoor temperature control, so it's best to place the battery and charger in a well-ventilated and temperature-controlled environment when charging.
A special note: When bringing a battery from a cold outdoor environment into a warm indoor environment during a northern winter, frost or condensation may form on the battery surface. To avoid battery leakage caused by frost or condensation, the battery should only be charged after it has warmed up to near the room temperature and dried out.
8. Make full use of maintenance conditions
Many electric bicycle dealers offer battery inspection and repair services, which should be fully utilized. Some brands even offer battery inspection services. For example, regular battery inspections can reduce battery damage. Restoring the battery's state of charge can alleviate "battery lag" failures, which is easily accomplished by dealers with repair capabilities. Regarding water loss, adding water when the battery capacity is 70% is more effective than adding water when the capacity is 40%. Some brands even state that failing to have the battery inspected at a specified time is equivalent to forfeiting the battery warranty, causing consumers unnecessary losses. Therefore, consumers should take full advantage of battery inspection opportunities to extend battery life.
It is not advisable to charge the battery immediately after riding it: The lifespan of a battery is determined by the number of charge-discharge cycles. The number of charge-discharge cycles should be correctly controlled. The more charge-discharge cycles, the faster the battery lifespan will decline. The cycle life of a lead-acid battery pack is generally one to two years before it needs to be replaced. Therefore, you should not charge the battery immediately after riding it. You should charge it when the battery is fully discharged.
Charging time should not be too long: Many electric vehicle users believe that the longer the charging time, the more battery power they will have. This is a big mistake. The optimal charging time is generally no longer than the time after the charger indicator light changes. Overcharging for a long time can easily lead to battery deformation and water loss, which directly harms the battery life.
Do not drive with a low battery: Some users wait until the electric vehicle can no longer be driven before charging, which seriously damages the battery performance. Repeated deep discharges will greatly shorten the battery life. If the battery is not fully charged while on the road, it is best to pedal in advance to avoid deep discharge. Always charge the battery fully. Using the vehicle before it is fully charged will reduce the battery's lifespan. Try to avoid charging at fast charging stations as much as possible.
Do not charge at excessively high or low temperatures: During charging, the battery itself generates a small amount of heat. Charging at excessively high temperatures will cause the battery temperature to rise, damaging the battery performance; if the temperature is too low, the battery's ability to accept power will be poor, its activity will be weakened, the battery power will be insufficient, the number of charge and discharge cycles will increase, and the battery life will be shortened.
Do not overload the vehicle: especially do not overload on uphill sections, as a sudden increase in current can damage the battery and easily burn out the motor controller.
Do not leave the vehicle parked for extended periods when it is low on power: If you are not going to use the electric vehicle for a period of time, fully charge it and leave it there; recharge it once a month.
Perform a deep discharge of the battery once every 1-2 months: After a period of use, some active materials will inevitably accumulate in the battery. If the active materials are not activated in time, the battery capacity will inevitably decrease.
Regularly check the condition of the charger: New batteries usually charge in a short time. If the charging time is too long, check if the charger's voltage protection device is damaged. Prolonged charging can cause battery deformation, which is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Prevent batteries from being exposed to direct sunlight: Do not charge batteries immediately after they have been exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the batteries may crack or deform. You must wait until they have cooled down before charging.
