Everything you need to know about the life of an electric bike battery
Now that we've told you all you need to know about lithium batteries, we're going to give you some advice on how to find the right VAE battery for you. Lifespan, maintenance, price difference: these decisive factors will help you make the right choice!
Electric bike battery cells
The lithium cells that make up a battery pack are the battery's most important component. As a reminder, the main lithium reserves are in Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Bolivia), China and the United States. Contrary to popular belief, it's not the country of origin that determines the quality of the cells, but their brand and model. At Doctibike, most of our cells come from China, but we only work with well-known brands such as Samsung, LG, Panasonic and Sony.
Each cell has its own voltage and amperage, and once soldered together they form a battery pack with a certain voltage and amperage defined by the number of cells used. So pay particular attention to the cells used in your battery, because a low price often indicates a battery of very average quality.
You have the right to ask for your battery to be reconditioned, giving preference to the most expert brands. At Doctibike you'll find batteries made to measure!
How long does a lithium battery last?
You can find the estimated life of your battery in "number of cycles", a cycle being a charge and discharge of your battery.
Doctibike uses Panasonic and Samsung cells in its battery packs, notably for Easybike, Giant, Matra, Decathlon and Eveobike battery reconditioning. In the case of Samsung, the manufacturer claims a 10% drop in capacity after 300 cycles, then 30% after 700 cycles, for daily use. The average lifespan of the battery, by which time it will have lost much of its performance, is between three years (for intensive use) and five years, under these maintenance conditions.
Another factor to take into account, which also affects the life of your battery, is storage conditions. We recommend that you store your battery in cool or ambient temperatures (between 10°C and 20°C) and not in damp conditions.
The charge level is also important: a battery charged to 40% will considerably reduce the self-discharge phenomenon, and thus its lifespan.
The role of all the players in the life of a lithium battery
The lifespan of a lithium battery is highly variable, and is directly related to the actions taken by the assembler, the distributor, the manufacturer and finally the user of the battery.
Each of the players in the circuit has a different role and an influence on the battery's lifespan. For example, a major manufacturer like Panasonic can guarantee the purity of the electrolyte, the gel solution used in batteries. The better the quality of the cells in a battery, the longer it will last.
Some manufacturers do not guarantee the purity of this electrolyte, which is essential to the battery's longevity. If the cells are not completely "pure", there may be a significant loss of capacity over a short period of time.
The assembler is also partly responsible for the battery's lifespan. The assembler must follow very precise specifications, such as the cell production series, which must be the same.
There are other elements in this specification, such as the internal resistance, which must be the same for all the cells in the pack, so as not to result in any loss of performance, or a BMS adapted to the battery. On top-of-the-range batteries (Bosch, Flyer, Shimano, Impulse, Panasonic compatible batteries), the BMS can check the temperature of the cells, to avoid overheating. A standby mode on this electronic card will also be a plus, as it will allow the battery to be discharged too much during storage.
The distributor also plays an important role in extending the battery's life. Storage conditions prior to sale are also important, as most batteries sold in cycle shops are stored by the seller for up to a year before sale. Occasional charging and storage under voltage are part of these storage conditions, which can affect the longevity of the battery.
Finally, the user must comply with the recommended battery maintenance conditions, i.e. regular charging and correct storage temperatures.
Why different prices for lithium batteries with the same technical characteristics?
First and foremost, it's important to remember that an electric bicycle battery, especially a lithium battery, is made up of cells and a BMS, which regulates the battery. The components inside the battery will determine the price. Samsung cells can accept a discharge current of 50A, while most cheap cells accept around 15A. The product is equivalent, but the quality influences the price, which explains the different prices for batteries with the same characteristics. A good example would be the top-of-the-range Panasonic Next Generation 36V 12Ah battery and the entry-level Hilltecks 36V battery.
The lifespan will also differ, depending on the electrolyte contained in the battery, as will the capabilities of the BMS, which will determine the regulation of the battery.
Doctibike's advice
Before doing anything else, we advise you to :
- Choose a brand you can trust when buying your battery (transparency on the quality of the cells and the electronic board).
- Take into account your daily use of an E-Bike when purchasing (range, power)
- Choose your batteries based on recommendations from cycle professionals or from our team.
A good after-sales service can also be a determining factor in the event of a breakdown of your lithium battery.
Doctibike guarantees you quality products and a repair service that enables us to solve many of your battery problems.
Finally, you should know that good maintenance of your electric battery will considerably optimise its lifespan. Although some shops limit the life of a battery to 3 years, a well-maintained battery can last up to 6 years!
With reconditioning, you can also extend the life of your battery pack and, above all, your bike!
