What is the life span of an electric bike ? Battery, motor, brakes...

You may be thinking ofbuying an electric bike and wondering how long it will last? How long will the motor last? How long will the battery last? What about the brakes?

Good question!

Electric bikes share many of the same components as ordinary bicycles. These include brakes, gears and drive chains. This makes learning how to operate and maintain them very easy and familiar.

With the addition of some key electrical components, such as a lithium-ion battery, pedal or hub motor, and electronic display, there are a few more things to consider to maximize the life of your new two-wheeler.

You surely don't want your investment to last only a few months!

This may vary from one model to another, but the average life of a VAE is three to five years, without replacement of parts or maintenance. Why is this? This is largely due to the failure of electrical components, notably the motor and battery.

However, if you take care of it and make the appropriate upgrades from time to time, you can use it for more than five years, and even up to ten years.

This may vary from one model to another, but the average life of an EAB is three to five years, without replacement of parts or maintenance. Why is that? This is largely due to the failure of electrical components, including the motor and battery.

However, if you take care of it and make the appropriate upgrades from time to time, you can use it for more than five years, and even up to ten years.

The motor is a sealed, closed system that requires (almost) no maintenance. It is designed to last for many years thanks to its robust, high-quality components. It can support you for over 10,000 kilometers. Sometimes less, sometimes more.

The motor does not run all the time and it does not support too much weight. It only works when you press the pedal. Rather than moving the bike forward, the motor simply gives you assistance. You'll probably replace the brakes, chain, battery and most everything else before the motor wears out.

Although problems are indeed very rare, if you experience a malfunction, call your dealer, the manufacturer or an electric bicycle repair shop.

You can extend the life of your EAB's engine by maintaining it properly.

• Avoid driving in puddles and rivers.
• Remember to dry the motor after using it in wet or damp conditions.
• Do not use a pressure washer to clean it. 

The battery is one of the most important components of an electric bicycle. It is responsible for powering the motor.

How long does an electric bike battery last? This is probably the most critical (and most expensive) part of an E-bike. So it's important that you take steps to protect and maximize its life.

The electric bikes use high quality lithium-ion batteries. They are light, compact and safe to use in all weather conditions, including snow and rain.

In general, the wear and tear of other components is proportional to the frequency of use. It's a little different with batteries. They tend to lose capacity over time, even if the bike is not used.

For example: if you buy a new battery today and store it for a year, it will have less capacity than when it was new.

Batteries represent approximately one third of the cost of the bike. If properly maintained, they can last between 3 and 5 years (about 1000 charge cycles) before becoming less efficient. Proper maintenance of your battery will extend its life.

Some cyclists make the mistake of thinking that once the battery fails, they absolutely must replace it. This is not always the case! Batteries can usually be reconditioned.

• Store the battery in a cool, dry place with a temperature with a temperature between 15°C and 20°C. If you intend to store it for an extended period of time, store it with a battery charge between 40 and 60% and not fully charged. Every 2 to 4 months, it should be recharged if not in use (batteries lose about 5% of their charge each month, even when not in use).
  
• Do not use high-speed chargers, which typically charge batteries in less than an hour. The charger that came with the bike is always the best choice.
• It is not a good idea to drain your battery completely. It is best to recharge it when it has about 20% charge left.
• It is also not a good idea to leave your battery on the charger for long periods of time: 6 to 8 hours is sufficient. Excessive and frequent overcharging will start to reduce the efficiency of the battery.
• Do not use a pressure washer to clean the battery or any other electrical component. Even though they are sealed and technically resistant to water, high-pressure water can seep in and cause unwanted damage. 

The tires of your EAB are not eternal. They usually last from 1600 to 4800 km, sometimes even 6500 km. This varies depending on the type of tire, the frequency of use and the terrain you ride on.

As with other components of your electric bicycle, you can extend the life of your tires by maintaining them properly. The good thing is that there is little or no fundamental difference between maintaining the tires of a traditional bike and an electric bike.

• Be sure to keep them inflated at all times.
• Avoid riding in water and mud.
• Consider puncture-resistant tires .
• If you get a flat tire, fix it with glue, patch or sealant.
• Swap the front and rear tires of your EAB to balance the wear; the rear tire usually wears out faster than the front tire . 

EAB brakes are one of the most important components of your electric bicycle. They must be able to stop you quickly and safely, especially when going downhill.

Good news! Most of the braking systems on electric bikes are very similar to those on regular bikes. This means that if you know how to maintain and repair conventional brakes, you should have no problem doing so for your EAB.

However, the life of an electric bike's brakes depends on many factors: rider size, aggressiveness/speed, quality of materials used to make the pads, weather conditions, terrain, and maintenance practices.

Unlike conventional bicycles, they travel at a much higher speed and are heavier. This increases the rate of brake pad wear.

You will need to replace them if you start to hear a rubbing or squeaking noise. Depending on usage, they last from 2 to 5 years. Once the new pads are installed, your brakes will be good as new again.

Chains and sprockets wear out faster on electric bikes, due to the higher speeds and longer distances these bikes travel.

If you find that one or more of your chains are not working properly, it may be time to replace them. You can try lubricating the chain to see if that improves its performance, but that's usually a sign that the chain needs to be changed.

It is recommended that electric bicycle chains be replaced every 1000 to 2000 kilometers. Regular replacement of your chain will extend the life of the sprockets and transmission.

The sprockets should last 2 to 3 times longer than the chain, but this is only possible if the chain is checked and replaced regularly.

• Oil the chain using the proper grease.
• Use the chain wear checker to check the condition and health of your chains. 

The frame is the component you need to worry about the least. It requires minimal maintenance as long as you avoid collisions and fender benders. 

The display screen is the "brain" of the VAE. It is where all other electronic components are connected. It regulates the input and output of voltage and amperage and thus controls all the essential functions of your electric bicycle.

It will tell you how fast you're going, how long the battery lasts, how far you've traveled and many other important measurements.

The display also has a temperature sensor. It will shut down your bike if any of its components start to overheat. In a way, the controller is a major part of protecting your bike. It will give you years of riding.

Several electric bike brands have replaced the display with a smartphone app that you can control via Bluetooth. This is the case for bikes equipped with Bosch motors, for example, such as Moustache Bikes.

• Keep the screen clean, dry and free of physical damage.
• If it is dirty and wet, be sure to wipe it down and dry it.
• Avoid any physical impact to the screen, such as hitting it or dropping it. 

Whether you are looking to buy a new electric bike or already own one, you should know that the life of an electric bike depends largely on your maintenance practices.

Regular cleaning, oiling and maintenance of your electric bike will considerably extend its lifespan, and guarantee optimum performance every time you take to the asphalt.

By taking a few minutes a week to clean the frame, remove debris stuck in the transmission and make sure your electric bike's battery is properly charged, you'll likely extend its life by several years.

It's also important to remember that the life of an electric bike also depends on how often you ride it. The more you use it, the more its components wear out and eventually fail or break.

It can be said that your EAB will last as long as you make it last.

Although it depends on the type, an electric bike motor can be used for up to 1000 hours or so. You will probably have replaced many other components on the bike before you need to replace the motor. 

This metric varies depending on the battery size and type. In general, a fully discharged lithium battery will take between three and six hours to recharge.

A battery will begin to lose efficiency at 500 charge cycles as it begins to lose its maximum capacity. However, batteries can still operate up to about 1200 charges.  

There is no exact answer! It will depend on many factors: the type of bike, its price, its use,... Your electric bike could even last for tens of thousands of kilometers if you maintain it well and replace failing parts as you go along. Replacing the battery or the motor is quite possible, it will simply pull the price of your bike up but it will always remain a good investment in the ratio kilometers traveled / euros spent :).