Can you repair an e-bike battery?

Short answer : yes,  you can repair an e-bike battery although its better and safter to buy a replacement as fixing a e-bike battery takes a lot of technical knowhow, and if done incorrectly can cause risk of injury.

In general, e-bike batteries can be repaired if the issue is with a specific component, such as a damaged cell or a faulty wiring connection. However, if the battery is old or has reached the end of its usable life, then it may need to be replaced entirely.

If you believe the issue is with a specific component, you may be able to repair the battery yourself with the right tools and knowledge. However, it’s important to note that working with batteries can be dangerous and requires a certain level of technical knowledge and experience. If you’re unsure about repairing the battery yourself, it’s best to take it to a professional e-bike repair shop.

Additionally, it’s important to note that some e-bike batteries are designed to be sealed and non-serviceable, and attempting to repair them yourself could void the warranty and cause additional damage. If you’re unsure about your e-bike battery, it’s best to consult the manufacturer or a professional repair shop for guidance.

Just like any other battery-powered gadget like phones or laptops, an electric bike’s battery is one of its most crucial components. Therefore, its performance impacts the function of other components including the motor of the e-bike. Many lucky electric bike cyclists see their batteries live through the end of their expected lives. However, it is highly likely that they lose their original capacity and performance over time due to normal wear and tear. 

 

So  if repairing the batter is not a option what other options are there when your battery suddenly stops delivering the best performance? Should you change or simply go for a repair when your batteries are nearing their end? If you have the same questions, read on. Our blog will resolve all your queries about when you should go for a repair or switch to a new battery. So without any further ado, let’s get straight into it. 

 

Factors Affecting Battery Life of Your E-Bike

 

Here are the factors that affect your e-bike battery life and develop issues in your e-bike battery:

 

Overheating Issues:

 

When a battery is left outside or exposed to higher environmental conditions for a longer duration, it might get damaged. The batteries can also overheat when its internal temperature rises beyond its normal capacity and gets too high for the battery to withstand. This usually happens when you overcharge your e-bike battery and leave it for charging even after it has reached it has completely charged. In both cases, there are alterations in the chemical composition of the unit. As a consequence, the battery swells and loses its functionality.

 

Some e-bikes come with a battery management system which prevents the risks of overheating. Since not every e-bike battery is equipped with this function, it would be best if you unplug your battery after charging it. 

 

Exposure to cold temperature

 

In the same vein, when you expose your battery to harsh and cold atmospheric conditions, your battery fails. Your battery units are not designed to function in a cold environment. Therefore, your battery freezes and all the vital chemical reactions that occur inside the units that make your battery function come to a halt. In certain cases, even if your battery works, it cannot reach its original charge capacity and render adequate power to the battery to work for a longer duration. 

 

Deep Discharge 

 

Many batteries lose their effectiveness due to deep discharge. This typically occurs when your e-bike battery uses power cells at full capacity more frequently. Riders who use their e-bikes until it only has 5 to 10 percent remaining battery will lose their battery at a faster rate. In contrast, riders who recharge their battery when it has 40 to 80 percent remaining battery power, can expect a longer battery life. Therefore, it is highly recommended to charge your battery when it has a battery power of 40 to 80 percent. 

 

Unused battery

 

When you leave your batteries unused for a longer time period, it might not function or take some time to function.  

 

Repairing E-bike Batteries With Some Quick-fixes

 

Do you want to give your e-bike battery a second chance? If your e-bike battery is not working due to the aforementioned issues, here are some solutions to repair your e-bike battery. Let’s take a quick look at them: 

 

Charge your battery for a 24 hour period

 

When you leave your battery unused for a long time period, it enters a non-existent or negative charge state. Hence your battery does not retain its maximum charging as shown on the display. Luckily for you, we have an extremely simple way to fix this issue. All you have to do is, leave your battery to charge for about 24 hours. 

 

The continuous flow electric charges will clear all the false or negative charges that accumulate inside your battery. In addition to this, this straightforward solution also helps you resolve any issues in your battery management system. 

 

Clean your battery 

 

Since most e-bikes come with detachable batteries, riders frequently remove the battery from its frame to recharge it in the convenience of their home or workplace. Despite being an excellent feature, battery frame ports are left exposed. As a result, dirt and debris in the environment can easily build up inside these ports and prevent your battery from directly mounting on the ports. Many riders think there is an issue with their battery, while the real issue at hand is something totally different. 

 

Therefore, remove your battery and clean your frame ports. As a safety precaution, it is important to use a piece of cloth which is safe to use with electrical components. It would be best to use a microfiber cloth to clean your battery ports. You could even apply a small quantity of cleaning solution to make sure your frame ports are spotless! 

 

Use a multimeter

 

If you have tried all the above methods and still cannot find a way to fix your battery, there is one final way to check if your battery is functional or not. You can use a multimeter to verify if your attempts are worth it or not. 

 

Connect your battery to the voltmeter and note down the voltage reading for your e-bike battery. If your voltmeter reading is within the 80 to 85 percentage range of the recommended voltage as shown on your e-Bike manual, then your battery is good to go. However, if your voltage readings are below 80 percent or too low, your battery is no longer effective. 

 

At times, only some cells in the battery are blown so many users try to replace the damaged cells with the newer ones. However, this method can develop serious issues which include uneven battery charging and battery failure. 

 

Why is replacing your battery better than repairing it? 

 

There are various reasons why you should replace your battery rather than getting a new one. Here are some reasons replacing is a much better option when your battery has developed advanced issues:

Requires multiple equipment 

 

Electric bike batteries are one of the most crucial and complicated components of your electric bike. Therefore, resolving advanced issues in your e-bike battery can be an arduous process. You will require multiple tools to do the whole process right. 

 

Just opening your battery without inflicting any damages on its shell is an incredibly tough job to do even with the help of all the tools and equipment. You need to have proper expertise and experience to undertake the whole process. The whole process is not only time-consuming and difficult, but is very dangerous. Doing it wrong has its own set of safety hazards. You can catch a fire or end up permanently damaging your battery.

Expensive

 

Since e-bike batteries are complex parts of the e-bike, many users directly take a professional or a technician’s help to fix the issue or buy a new battery. Depending on the problem, the cost of repair could be similar to purchasing a new battery. 

 

Even if you try to fix it yourself, you still have to invest in all the tools to fix the issue. The cost of cells, wiring, soldering kit and other professional equipment could add to the cost. While cost is a significant consideration, you will not receive any value for your money. 

 

Repetitive Battery Issues

 

If you try to replace or repair your damaged battery cells with newer ones, your battery management system cannot effectively regulate and balance the performance of the whole battery. 

 

As a consequence, e-bike batteries with mismatched cells frequently experience a variety of recurring issues. Irregular, disrupted and delayed charging are some of the most common issues when you have different cells in the same battery port. In addition to this, users also have to deal with flaring and unforeseen motor issues, particularly when they are trying to use motors with a higher energy consumption. 

 

However, the worst issue one can expect is when older cells might overcharge and explode. New cells often damage the older cells and ignite a fire. Therefore, it would be better to replace all the cells and get a brand new battery instead of trying to make the most of your damaged cells. 

What to look for in your new e-bike battery? 

Here is a product specification table to tell you all the features you should look for in your new e-bike battery:

 

Item	Specification
Type	Lithium
Charge cycles	300 charge cycles
Voltage	36V to 48 V
Ampere	12.5Ah
Temperature Performance	High
Overcharge Protection	Yes
Short-circuit protection	Yes
Automatic Power Off	Yes

 

Tips to Maintain Your E-bike Batteries 

 

E-bike Batteries are highly durable and can give you optimum performance for years if you use them with proper care and maintenance. Whether you get your hands on a brand new battery or have successfully repaired minor issues in your old battery, it is vital to good care of them. 

 

One of the first ways to maintain your battery is by keeping an eye on the battery charging. It is also important to ensure that your battery stays in a cool environment. It should not be exposed to extreme environmental conditions. 

 

If you are planning to take your electric bike for holidays, it would be best to use a trickle charger which can protect your battery from running completely flat or overcharging during your trip. Trickle chargers can help you maintain your charging at 50 percent. 

 

It is highly recommended for all the e-bike users to send their batteries for servicing by a professional. In this way, you will be able to diagnose issues on your battery before they become serious and costly to address. E-bike batteries can give you best performance for over 5 to 10 years without any repair or replacement if you properly maintain them. 

 

Final Verdict- Repair or Replace? 

You can be thrifty and troubleshoot minor issues in your battery with some quick repairs as we discussed. However, if your battery has developed some serious issues, it would be best to get a brand new e-bike battery rather than investing your dollars in repairing them and not getting much value in return. 

 

If you are looking for an e-mobility transportation solution, contact Emotis today!