How to recharge your electric bike?

Electrically assisted bicycles are becoming increasingly popular. Whether it's for touring, commuting, or taking on steep hills, EABs are a great companion, as long as you can handle the load. 

Although battery life is improving all the time, the fear of running out of power can be an obstacle for many users. However, they can be easily recharged from an electrical socket using the battery charger supplied by the manufacturer, or outdoors at charging stations. 

Which charging system should I use? How to charge your electric bike when traveling ? How to charge your electric bike in an optimal way? Nothing could be easier! Discover our explanations and advices to take care of your battery in order to improve its efficiency and its life span. 

Electric bike batteries are equipped with a small LED light to indicate their operating status. The LED usually turns red when the battery is completely discharged. 

When connected to a charging source, the LED turns yellow and continues to flash. This means that the battery is charging successfully. 

The small light turns green when the battery of the electric bicycle exceeds a certain charge threshold. 

The table below shows the different colors of the lights and their respective charge levels: 

Electric bikes without removable batteries often have no LED light. You can check the battery charge using the built-in meters. 

Integrated meters are usually connected to the handlebars of the electric bicycle or to the frame. They indicate the battery's charge level, its autonomy and whether the battery is too hot or too cold.

You can recharge your electric bike's battery at home, and the process is simple! Each electric bike comes with a battery and a chargingcable.

The battery of an electric bicycle functions as its heart, providing power to its electrical components. Without a working battery or sufficient charge, an EAB will become a conventional bike whose weight will quickly deter you from taking long trips. 

EABs are equipped with different types of batteries. Their design, characteristics and specificities determine the way they will be charged. Generally, they have a removable battery that can be removed with a simple push. 

Charging an electric bike battery at home, at the campsite or at work is like charging any other battery-powered device. To charge a removable battery, you must:

In the case of an electric bicycle that does not come with a removable battery, you must : 

In general, the battery of an electric bicycle can be fully charged in 3 to 7 hours. However, the charging time and speed depends on the size, type, charging cable used and quality of the battery. 

For example, a standard size lithium-ion battery takes 3-6 hours to fully charge. At the same time, a lead-acid battery of the same size can take more than 10 hours. 

The cable used also affects the charging time. The cable supplied by the manufacturer is designed to provide optimal charging without damaging the battery. 

It's a solution that's becoming more and more widespread in Belgium: charging stations. They are multiplying on the territory, even if their number and their conditions of use are still to be improved. However, this is a solution that should not be neglected for bicycle tourists or for urban trips. 

These stations are ideal for recharging and can provide enough power to quickly charge your bike's battery. On average, it takes 1h20 to recharge your bike and get 60% of battery charge. 

However, they are not so widespread that you will find them on every corner. Before you cycle the Belgian roads, make sure that your route has charging stations. It's a good thing that some regions have maps with them.

The terminals can take the form of a rack where you have to put the battery (provided you have a removable battery) or of plugs on which you can connect thanks to a cable. In this case, it induces to carry it with you. This allows you to recharge the battery while securing the bike (with a lock or an anti-theft device). The terminals can be located in the street, in bike shelters or in a parking lot. 

Of course, all brands and types of EVs can be parked at these stations. 

Other ways to recharge an electric bike battery away from home: 

First of all, read the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer carefully. This will allow you to better understand the type of your battery, its optimal voltage, its limits and the estimated charging time. 

Precautions to take:

Several factors influence the performance of the battery and therefore the autonomy of your electric bicycle: the mode of driving, the pressure of the tires, the terrain, the weight of the user and the temperature. Time is also a factor when it comes to battery health. Over time, all batteries degenerate, whether you use them or not. 

The question remains, how do you extend the life of your battery? Just follow a few practices! 

After purchasing a new battery for your electric bicycle, consider charging it for at least 12 hours. This initial long charge will get the battery in good condition right out of the box. It also allows enough current to flow through all the cells in the battery. 

Most batteries use lithium-ion. They last longer if they are used and charged regularly. In general, you should not let your electric bicycle battery run down completely before the next charge. 

Instead, always try to recharge your EAB battery when it has about 30-60% energy left. However, you can occasionally do a full discharge every 25 to 35 charges. You should get out and ride regularly. Most batteries require regular use. 

We can't say it enough, avoid extreme temperatures. To prolong its life, avoid leaving your bike in direct sunlight and use a cool shelter (if possible). During each charge, the battery should be placed in an environment that is neither too hot nor too cold. It is preferable to maintain a temperature of about 15 to 20°C during the charge. 

Do not store the battery at 0%. Always try to store the battery at about 40-60% of its total capacity. 

If you're not sure how long your battery will last on a long trip, buy an extra battery for a better experience. You won't run out of power! 

Several solutions are available to you to recharge your electric bike, depending on your needs and desires. The electric plug for daily use and the charging stations for urban routes or bicycle touring. But keep in mind that the territory is unequally equipped, so plan your trip in advance to avoid running out of juice. 

Most electric bikes have a lithium-ion battery. You can disconnect it before full charge or charge it to 100%. We'll give you a quick overview of how it works: it charges in 2 cycles. The first cycle is where the battery charges quickly and restores about 90% of its capacity. Therefore, if you disconnect the battery at this point, it means you have "charged" the best part of the battery.   

Pedaling does not allow you to recharge the battery of your electric bike. There are nevertheless some EABs that have this feature, but they are rare on the market. 

No, you don't have to wait for the battery to discharge completely. In fact, some manufacturers even suggest that it's best to recharge the battery before it runs out of power to optimize its life cycles. 

In this case, it is probably a good idea to simply recharge the battery after each use. 

Yes, it is replaceable at any time. Electric bikes are designed to allow you to remove the battery for easier charging. It is also ideal for E-bike owners to have a spare battery for long trips. You can replace the battery in your electric bike if it becomes damaged or loses its effectiveness. 

In general, most electric bike batteries have a life span of up to 500 full charge cycles. This figure is of course only an indication! Some batteries can last up to 1200 cycles. Not to mention that most EAB manufacturers offer a 2-year warranty to each user.