LITHIUM
Lithium-ion batteries are the top choice for almost all battery bikes manufactured in recent years in contrast to older models which are often found sporting lead-acid, nickel-metal or nickel-cadmium variants. As far as lithium-ion batteries go, these are the most highly praised for longevity, size, weight and range, not to mention reliability.
Lithium batteries come in multiple variations, with cobalt, polymer and manganese being some of the most popular. Although there are many contrasting opinions over which type is superior, the one element in the equation that always remains unchanged is: get the best quality you can.
Many lithium-based batteries have in-built fail-safes to avoid malfunctions such as combustion, which generally makes them a safer choice to opt for.
LEAD-ACID
Although they have declined in popularity in recent years, the main motivation behind choosing a lead-acid battery is cost; they are cheap and this is reflected in their limited capabilities. First and foremost, this variant of battery is weighty as well as being known for having both a reduced power output and capacity, not to mention an extended charging time.
In terms of bike batteries, lead-acid are the heaviest type and thus aren’t typically recommended as a top choice; they are approximately twice as heavy as nickel batteries and three times heavier than lithium batteries for the same storage capacity.
These setbacks aside, if you are looking for lead-acid batteries to power your bike, it’s common practice to look for SLA (i.e. sealed lead acid) batteries. This is because SLA batteries are made so that they’re sealed in a case made from hard plastic, designating them as safe when rotated or flipped in any direction since they won’t leak acid. This aspect makes them ideal for use on battery bikes in contrast to wet cell lead batteries, which are known to leak when not in an upright position, rendering them unsafe if proper precautions aren’t followed.
Do bear in mind – when attempting to mount a lead acid battery onto a battery bike, their clunkiness means that they don’t tend to come with a specially designed mount. To accommodate them, they usually have to be installed on either side of the rear wheel in panniers or on the rear rack inside an appropriate covering, i.e. a bag. As such, to ensure even weight distribution and avoid issues with handling your bike, it’s best to place them as low as you can.
CHARGING
The range of a battery bike is reliant on how far it is able to travel on one full battery charge. Batteries undergo what’s known as charge cycles, which are the amount of full charges they can endure before their life and capacity tails off, and they lose their functionality.
Depending on the type of battery you choose to power your bike, roughly speaking, the number of charge cycles you can expect it to endure tends to land in the hundreds. For instance:
- Lead batteries are expected to last from anywhere between 200 – 300 cycles.
- Lithium batteries typically last for approximately 1000 cycles.
Most battery bikes can be predicted to travel a distance of between 25 – 70 miles on a single charge but, again, this can vary depending on which type of battery you have and how the features installed on your bike affect it, i.e. throttle power, etc.
In terms of charging your battery bike, you can expect it to reach full charge within 3 – 4 hours, however this is a ballpark figure due to the fact that it varies depending on the type of battery you have chosen to fit your bike with. It is common for your bike to reach around 80% charge after a duration of 1.5 hours, which again, is subject to change.
It’s best practice not to let your battery drain below 30% in order to ensure its longevity. Li-ion batteries typically reach full charge by the 3 hour mark, whereas lead-acid types usually need 8 – 10 hours.
Depending on its specifications, there are some variations of battery bike that are designed to recharge while the rider is pedalling or braking, with the latter being known as ‘regenerative braking’. This works by harnessing the power of kinetic energy, which benefits your bike by extending battery life. It should be known, however, that these features don’t tend to be installed on your average battery bike, so it’s always best to consult the vehicle’s specifications if this is something you’d like to have.