Electric Bicycle Battery Storage And Safety Knowledge

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Time to read 5 min

When we own an electric bicycle battery, there are some storage and safety issues we need to know. Overcharging and over-discharging batteries can cause permanent damage or even cause a fire.


Additionally, the charger designed for your e-bike is very important, not all chargers are suitable for your e-bike.


Electric bike batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place away from any extreme temperatures.


Now, let’s talk about electric bike battery storage and safety, especially how to store electric bike batteries in winter.

What are the components of an electric bicycle battery?

What Components Does An Electric Bicycle Battery Consist Of?

There are several components that make up an e-bike battery, including cells, cell holders, BMS, busbars, connecting wires, connectors, insulation plates, and fasteners.


Most of the battery cell materials on the market are composed of ternary 18650 2400mAH-2500mAH capacity. They mainly use micro-power-grade batteries, which are not the automotive-grade batteries that everyone promotes (one possibility is automotive-grade screening batteries). The price of automotive-grade batteries The price of EB lithium batteries is unaffordable. It’s not that micro-power cells are bad. In fact, A-grade micro-power cells are more than enough to make EB lithium battery packs to meet EB performance.

Why Is E-bike Battery Storage And Safety Important?

To design safety, first of all, the PACK design concept needs to fully consider safety factors and analyze where the unsafe factors come from in order to effectively prevent them.


From the analysis of current safety accidents, 90% are caused during the charging and discharging process. The main thing produced during the charging and discharging process is the short circuit 0.1‰ caused by the battery core heating and thermal runaway. It may be less caused by the storage process, and some are caused by It is caused by vibration, impact or water immersion during use. Generally speaking, it is basically caused by short circuit.


From a PACK perspective, we need to:


① Electronic and electrical short circuit, overcharge and over-discharge protection;


②The battery core connection and fixation method prevents impact and vibration;


③Choose batteries with appropriate magnification ratio to avoid the calf pulling the cart and increase the heat generated by the battery;


④The design is based on the overall idea of reasonably designing the safe distance of the battery holder to provide a heat dissipation path for the battery core (how to dissipate the heat generated during charging and discharging) or other heat dissipation methods.


Safety in use, accident analysis shows that very few production plants have safety accidents during production or storage. The main reason is that they have good safety precautions. Problems that are likely to occur during consumer use are:


① The charger is used improperly. Use a high-voltage charger to charge a low-voltage lithium battery. For example, a 72V charger is used to charge a 48V lithium battery. The upper voltage limit of the charger exceeds the upper voltage limit of the protection board, causing the protection to lose its protective function. This use Concepts can be changed by popularizing the methods.


② Caused by soaking in water during use. Nowadays, lithium batteries are generally waterproof IP54 (water level), and better ones are IP55. If you don’t pay attention to storage, soaking in water for a long time will still cause short circuit due to water ingress. Some people say why It is okay not to achieve IP67 rating. If I have the opportunity, I will talk about some designs from the perspective of operation and balance.

How to store electric bike batteries in winter

How To Store E-bike Batteries In Winter?

As winter approaches, you may find that your e-bike battery has less mileage and less time to ride. Even you feel less powerful. For e-bike suppliers, they face the thorny issue of safely storing these e-bike batteries during the winter. As you can imagine, both individual users and e-bike suppliers must adopt effective e-bike battery storage technology to protect battery lifecycle and performance during the winter.


We’ll take a closer look at how to store e-bike batteries during the winter to meet the needs of both individual users and e-bike battery suppliers. Whether you are an avid e-bike rider or a supplier looking to maintain battery quality and sales, it will guide you with the knowledge necessary to safely store e-bike batteries during the winter.

The Impact Of Improper Storage Of Electric Bicycle Batteries In Winter On Battery Performance

Lithium-ion batteries, materials commonly used in e-bikes, are sensitive to extreme temperatures. This is why we must pay attention to the safe storage of electric bicycle batteries in winter. Don't worry! We have a guide for individual users and e-bike suppliers on what to do!


1,Winter electric bicycle batteries for individual users

If you're an e-bike owner looking for guidance on how to best store your bike and its battery during the colder months, here are some key guidelines:


①Clean and check the battery: Before storing the battery, please remove dirt from the battery and check it for damage.


②Charging or discharging: For short-term storage, please keep the power between 30-60%. When electric bicycle batteries are stored for a long time, the battery should be discharged by about 30%. Storing a fully charged or depleted battery may cause damage. Therefore, you should keep your capacity between 30-60% for a few months.


③Choose the best electric bike battery storage temperature: Make sure to find a suitable and dry place and control the temperature between 50°F-77°F (10°C-25°C). Avoid wind, sun, rain, severe cold or high temperature range fluctuations.


④ Disconnect the battery: The battery is disconnected from the e-bike and stored separately in a protective e-bike battery storage box or e-bike battery storage bag. This prevents unexpected power outages and possible damage.


⑤ Check batteries regularly: Check stored batteries regularly for any signs of physical damage or leakage.


2,Store e-bike batteries in winter as a supplier

As an e-bike supplier, large warehouses storing e-bike batteries require more care to protect them from damage and ensure battery efficiency. Proper storage techniques not only help maintain battery quality but also prevent battery performance degradation. This can have a significant impact on sales by increasing customer satisfaction and trust.


As a supplier of e-bike batteries stored during the winter, please follow these guidelines for proper care:


① Use temperature-controlled storage: Make sure your warehouse or storage facility is equipped with climate controls to maintain a stable temperature. Keep storage temperature between 68°F (20°C) and 75°F (24°C).


②Regulate electric bicycle battery chargers: Prevent overcharging and undercharging problems by installing chargers that support optimal charging conditions.


③Regular charging and discharging: Rotate stored batteries through regular charging and discharging. Prevent capacity loss due to long-term storage.


④Implement BMS: Use an advanced battery management system (BMS) to monitor multiple batteries to prevent issues such as thermal runaway or overcharging.


⑤Record and track battery health: Keep a comprehensive record of battery performance, including details such as initial capacity, discharge rate, and charge cycles.


⑥Pack carefully: Use appropriate packaging materials and techniques to protect the battery from damage caused by shock or vibration during transportation.


⑦Train warehouse staff: Educate your employees on battery storage best practices, including awareness of proper handling, packaging, and safety protocols.

A man installing an electric bicycle battery

How To Safely Charge An E-bike?

If you want to ride your e-bike safely, there are a few things you should keep in mind when operating your e-bike.


① Use the correct charger for charging, try to use the original brand charger;


② Develop good charging habits and try to charge at night. Do not charge electric bicycles indoors to avoid fire hazards.


③It is equally important to understand the functions and uses of each component of an electric bicycle .

A woman installing an electric bicycle battery

Conclusion

When you find that the electric bicycle battery is charging abnormally and the voltage changes, please ask a professional to test the battery to ensure the safety of riding. The correct storage and use of electric bicycle batteries can extend the service life of your vehicle and ensure the safety of your family.

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