With the continuous rise in the price of electric vehicle batteries, learning how to properly maintain them becomes even more important. Proper battery maintenance can significantly extend the battery's lifespan, which is equivalent to saving money!
1. Do not change the charger casually, and do not remove the speed limiter on the controller.
Chargers from different manufacturers generally have specific requirements, so don't change chargers arbitrarily if you're unsure. If you need a long driving range and must have multiple chargers for charging in different locations, use a supplementary charger for daytime top-ups and the original charger for nighttime use. Removing the speed limiter from the controller, while increasing the vehicle's speed slightly, will reduce both vehicle safety and battery lifespan.
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 arises, 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. In special circumstances where movement is necessary, the charger should be properly wrapped in foam to prevent vibration and bumps. After vibration, the potentiometers inside 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 over time. 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.
After a battery discharges, sulfation forms rapidly. Tests have shown that after 24 hours of storage, white sulfides are visible on the plates. These sulfides crystallize very easily, a process known as sulfation. Failure to recharge promptly accelerates this sulfation process. Regular charging methods cannot eliminate sulfation, and over time, it becomes a significant cause of capacity loss and shortened battery life. Ideally, users should purchase a pulse desulfation and anti-sulfation device, such as a "lead-acid battery capacity restorer," to prevent and eliminate sulfation on the plates.
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 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; several such recharge cycles could potentially render the battery unusable. 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 in advance to slow down. Enter coasting mode before approaching a traffic light 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 taken full advantage of. Some brands of electric bicycles also offer battery inspection services.
For example, regular battery maintenance can reduce damage to the battery. 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 serviced at a specified time is equivalent to forfeiting the warranty period, causing consumers unnecessary losses. Therefore, consumers should make full use of battery maintenance opportunities to extend and increase battery life.
These methods can significantly extend battery life. Some users have shorter driving ranges, resulting in relatively longer battery lifespans, but some problems are also more difficult to detect. Therefore, the "deep discharge" measure mentioned in point 4 is also an effective way to detect battery problems in a timely manner, preventing them from becoming too severe to handle later.
=========
Electric vehicle maintenance precautions
1. Charge frequently – Lead-acid batteries should be charged as needed, not left completely drained, as this will shorten battery life. If the battery is not used for an extended period, charge it once a month. Please use the dedicated charger that comes with the battery.
2. Regular maintenance: In case of rain and water accumulation, do not allow water to submerge the center of the wheel hub; turn off the ignition when getting off the vehicle; keep the tires fully inflated at all times; use pedal assist when going uphill or under heavy loads such as headwinds; and promptly take the vehicle to an authorized service center designated by the manufacturer for repairs in case of any malfunction.
3. Frequent Lubrication – Depending on usage, the front axle, rear axle, bottom bracket, freewheel, front fork, and shock absorber pivot points should be cleaned and lubricated every six months to one year (molybdenum disulfide grease is recommended). The transmission components inside the electric wheel hub are already coated with special lubricant, so users do not need to clean and lubricate them themselves.
Extend the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries
1. Charge frequently and avoid "deep discharge". Develop the habit of charging your electric bike on the same day you use it. No matter how far you ride each day, make sure the battery is fully charged before recharging. After a battery discharges, sulfation forms quickly. Tests have shown that after 24 hours of storage, white sulfides are visible on the plates. These sulfides crystallize easily, a process known as "sulfation." Failure to charge promptly accelerates this sulfation process. Regular charging methods cannot eliminate sulfation, and over time, it becomes a major cause of capacity loss and shortened battery life. If possible, purchase a pulse desulfation and anti-sulfation device, such as a "lead-acid battery capacity restorer," to prevent and eliminate sulfation on the plates.
2. When charging the battery in the vehicle, the ignition switch should be turned off. Do not charge the battery upside down, and try to charge it fully in one go. If you smell any unusual odor or the battery temperature is too high during charging, stop charging immediately and send it to the Luqing Technical Department for inspection. When removing the battery for charging, do not touch the two ends of the electrodes with wet hands or metal objects such as keys to avoid burns.
3. If the battery is not used for a long period of time, it should be charged once a month. The battery should be fully charged before storage. Never store the battery when it is depleted.
4. Use the dedicated charger for charging. Due to differences in battery formulas and manufacturing processes, the technical requirements for chargers also vary. Different chargers can fully charge different brands of batteries, so do not mix and match chargers.
5. To protect the battery, users can charge it whenever needed, but should not use the boost voltage to ride, to prevent serious battery depletion. When the battery is dead, the power should be turned off before riding.
6. When charging, do not stop charging immediately when the charging indicator shows that the battery is fully charged. You should continue to float charge for another 2-3 hours.
