Ebike Battery debate
The Ebike Battery debate is a constant topic of conversation, and many people want to know how long the battery will last and how long it will take to charge it up.
This subject is very complex as it relies on a lot of different aspects which will include:
- Your weight
- The length of your route
- The height gain on the route
- The size of your battery
- What speed you are travelling at
- What power level you use
There could be other factors depending on if you have panniers with you on tour and so on.
Charges of an Ebike Battery
I have a Bosch 625w battery on my bike which is two years old, and I use it a lot. Therefore, it has been charged a greater number of times than someone who only uses their bike now and again. The number of charges of the battery will affect its life of it and how long it holds a charge when in use. My battery holds an average of 90 km of charge based on a fairly flat route with c.a. 400m of ascent. When I do a mountain trip, then I can get a maximum of 800m and an elevation of 10% at a medium pace out of a full charge. This will increase or decrease based on how fast or slow I go, so it varies greatly.
My previous bike was a Haibike with a 400w battery which I would get a 70 km trip with 400m of ascent. I would, however, always charge my battery when I stopped for coffee and lunch to ensure it didn’t drop too low. My biggest fear was running out of battery and having to ride a 25-kilo bike without any help.
Power Levels
Some people come whizzing past me like they are on a scooter. From that, I deduce they are not going that far. The reason being is that speed and level of power influence how much battery power will be used. The weight of the person riding the bike will also have an effect, especially when the route is hilly. Being of the cuddly persuasion, I will use more battery than someone who is 50 kilos.
What are the Power Levels?
I tend to stick to “eco” or “tour”, depending on the path’s steepness. If it gets steeper than 8% – 10%, I will use “sport”. I know roughly how long I have when I am on roads and paths that I cycle all the time. When I am in unknown territory, I will take my charger with me to top up when I stop for coffee or lunch. Better to be comforted knowing you have enough charge rather than trying to ride a bike which weighs around 25 kilos as well as yourself at the end of a hard day in the saddle.
Charging
To charge my battery fully after a day out, it takes about 4 hours. If I want to top it up during the day, the rule of thumb is 30 – 45 mins to get 1 of the 5 bars charged. An hour lunch stop can generally give me enough to see me through the afternoon.
I normally charge my battery when it is on the bike at the end of the day. However, when I am on a 3 or 4-day tour, I will take it off the bike to my room and charge it. I will leave it charging for 4 hours and unplug it overnight. I always put it on for another quick charge in the morning just to confirm to myself that it is fully charged.
Obviously, this is my battery, and for all the points mentioned above is how long it takes my battery to charge or power out. Yours could be vastly different, so if you are unsure, go to your local bike shop and ask a professional.