Electric Bike With Long Battery Life: Beyond One Charge

There are two different aspects of “battery life.”

The first one is the range of an e-bike before it needs recharging. The second is its ability to maintain its capacity over a period of months and years of charging.

Although a battery might be good when new, it can deteriorate rapidly if the cells, Battery Management System (BMS), thermal design or charging conditions are not good. Another battery might have a small capacity, but provide reliable performance for several cycles.

The Zoulaglide e-bike buyer’s guide offers a preliminary introduction to battery range, removable charging, the motors and the bikes' intended use.

 

Different Range vs Battery Life

Normally range per charge is measured in km or miles.

The appropriate discussion of battery life is done through:

lcharge cycles;

lremaining capacity;

lcalendar age;

loperating temperature;

lstorage conditions;

lcell balance;

lHow the battery has been charged and how much it has been used.

A charge cycle is the equivalent of 100% usage of the battery. Two 50% discharges can thus combine to be roughly one full cycle.

Remaining-capacity threshold used should also be reported in a published cycle figure. This doesn't necessarily mean a battery will stop working at this point, but it will slowly offer less and less range than when it was brand new.

Work out the Watt Hours of a Capacity.

NEVER compare separately voltage and amp-hours.

A better measure of capacity is watt-hours:

The capacity of a battery (Ah) is multiplied by the voltage (V) to get battery energy (Wh)

A nominal energy capacity of a 36V 10.5Ah battery is for example:

36 × 10.5 = 378Wh

Batteries can be compared in a more consistent way using watt-hours, which enables voltage systems to be compared. But, nominal Wh is not usable energy. Normally a portion of the capacity is reserved for protection of cells from overcharge or over-discharge by its Battery Management System.

The higher the Wh value, the greater the potential range, which comes at the cost of weight, size, cost and charging times.

 

This is an energy equation: Real-World Range.

The first order way to comprehend electric-bike range is:

It is calculated based on the Usable Battery Energy and Average Energy Consumption.

The amount of energy used is continuously changing during the ride. It is affected by:

lassistance level;

lvehicle mass, rider and goods;

lclimbing;

lacceleration frequency;

lspeed;

lwind;

ltemperature;

ltire pressure;

lroad surface;

lrider pedaling effort.

Cycling on a flat road at a constant pace, with low pedal assistance will take much less energy than cycling on a cold, hilly road with high pedal assistance.

This is why it is important that a quoted range is considered a test condition result. Zoulaglide's real world range guide shows how modifications to battery Wh, test load, terrain, motor efficiency, tires and assistance settings affect the range.

Day	Planned Distance	Terrain	Expected Assist Level	Required Reserve	Charging Available
Monday	___ km	Flat / Hilly	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No
Tuesday	___ km	Flat / Hilly	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No
Wednesday	___ km	Flat / Hilly	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No
Thursday	___ km	Flat / Hilly	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No
Friday	___ km	Flat / Hilly	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No
Weekend	___ km	Mixed	Low / Med / High	___%	Yes / No

 

Useful Range can be extended with motor control!

The amount of energy available is dependent upon the capacity of the battery. How efficiently energy is delivered is determined by the control system.

A torque sensor detects the rider's efforts and adjusts the assistance as appropriate. Can lower the amount of motor activity produced when driving on level ground and boost the motor when going up hill or accelerating.

Cadence sensors work in a different manner. They will identify if the pedals are rotating or not, and use an assistance level if they are. The amount of energy they consume greatly varies from controller calibration to the mode chosen.

Help should be efficient and proportionate – not abrupt. Frequent power surges mean more usage and lower speed riding can be less predictable.

Mechanical gears are also important. When choosing the "right" gear the rider can help the machine without forcing the motor to "pedal" as it were.

 

The Display supports the rider in managing his/her energy.

Batteries are transformed into information with a clear display.

Information that may be helpful includes:

lbattery percentage;

lassistance level;

lcurrent speed;

ltrip distance;

lestimated remaining range;

lsystem warnings.

It can react with a decrease in assistance, gear change, slight deceleration or by choosing a less challenging route.

Estimated range is an approximation only. It adapts based on the new information that the system receives regarding speed, terrain, power usage and available charge. A small battery symbol with a few bars is not as informative as a percentage indication.

Zoulaglide's article on TFT displays and battery management details how information and torque assistance can help make more conscious range management possible. 

Batteries can be adversely affected by heat and cold.

Lithium-ion batteries are best operated between manufacturer's recommended temperature ranges.

In colder weather, the available power and range will be decreased temporarily. Excessive heat will speed up the degradation of cells in the long run, particularly in a hot climate if the battery is kept fully charged.

Good ownership practices consist of:

lNot placing in storage in a very hot car;

lA battery being recharged that was extremely cold being allowed to warm to a good charging temperature;

lEnsuring that the battery is dry;

lKeeping away from sources of heat;

lObserving manufacturer's charging-temperature limits;

lStorage of the battery as per the manual provided.

DO NOT open, modify, puncture, immerse or charge after visible impact damage to the battery.

The way drivers charge their cars can impact their long-term driving capacity.

The number of times the pack is at very high or very low charge will impact battery life.

If for normal use as a car owner:

lCharger: Use the manufacturer-recommended charger;

lStore in an airy, dry place;

linspect for damage to the charger and connector;

lDon't over-discharge the battery;

lNever leave a battery without power for long periods of time;

lFollow recommended storage charge for inactivity for long periods;

lIf there is some unexpected heat, swelling, odor or noise, disconnect and investigate.

The BMS can prevent overcharging, overdischarging and abnormal currents. It will not fix all types of misuse, physical damage, water or storage at extreme temperatures.

 

Long-Term Ownership is Made Easy with Removable Batteries.

A removable battery does not necessarily mean that it provides greater range, but it may make it easier to store, inspect, charge and replace the battery later in life.

Residents of the apartments can charge the battery inside without having to move the entire bike. Removable design also prevents the battery from being kept in freezing temperatures or in the outdoors for a long time.

Before purchasing, confirm:

lreplacement battery availability;

lProper voltage and connectors;

lLocking and mounting security;

lwarranty terms;

lregional service support;

lSafe recycling and/or disposal alternatives.

Don't install an unapproved battery just because it has the same or similar voltage. Parameters may vary such as controller communication, current limits, mounting dimensions, cell construction and charger compatibility.

The battery system for long-range transmission, E13, is designed for this purpose.

The Zoulaglide E13 has a removable Samsung 36V 10.5Ah lithium battery, a 250W brushless motor, torque-responsive assistance, a color TFT display, seven-speed gearing, 700×40C air tires and an approximately 19 kg aluminum-alloy frame.

The nominal battery energy is around 378Wh. Zoulaglide offers a range of up to 128 km in PAS mode under certain conditions and test load 75 kg.

That max should not be thought of as a standard maximum that can be achieved by any rider. Range will be decreased by higher assistance level, hills, heavier loads, cold weather, head wind, low tire pressure and frequent stops.

The key to design is system coordination: The battery provides the energy, the torque sensor regulates the release, the display gives the rider the information on use and the comparatively low weight of the frame minimizes the weight that has to be accelerated.

Select around the normal week

When considering an Electric Bike With Long Battery Life, it is important to choose a model that will be used on a regular basis, not just for a single, outstanding ride.

Approximate the longest normal day, put in a reasonable safety margin and think about the location of charging facilities. Next, determine the battery Wh, control efficiency, removable charging, replacement support and long-term care requirements.

If the battery size is double the route, it will add unessential weight. The battery might be fully discharged many times and cause range anxiety every day when the battery is nearly empty.

The right battery system will have sufficient energy for the actual route, and be safe, serviceable and easy to manage during its service life.

Additional issues regarding charging and battery care can be checked out on the Zoulaglide FAQ.

Inspection Date	Full-Charge Range	Charging Time	Connector Condition	Unusual Heat or Damage	Action Required
______	______ km	______ h	Good / Check	None / Present	None / Inspect
______	______ km	______ h	Good / Check	None / Present	None / Inspect
______	______ km	______ h	Good / Check	None / Present	None / Inspect
______	______ km	______ h	Good / Check	None / Present	None / Inspect
______	______ km	______ h	Good / Check	None / Present	None / Inspect

 

FAQ

Q1. But what does long battery life mean when it comes to electric bikes?

It can refer to long range per charge or long-term capacity retention, from many cycles. Buyers are encouraged to verify both of the characteristics and not just the one that was advertised.

Q2. What is the formula to calculate the capacity of the batteries of an electric bike?

To get nominal watt-hours, multiply voltage x amp-hours. The nominal energy of the 36V 10.5Ah battery is equal to 378Wh.

Q3. Why my real range is less than the advertised range?

The higher the assistance, the higher the hills, colder weather, wind, added weight, low tyre pressure and frequent acceleration are all factors that reduce range. Normally maximums advertised are generated under specific test conditions.

Q4. Do I need to completely discharge the battery before recharging?

Most modern lithium-ion batteries do not need a full discharge, they work better when maintained at 40% charge. Do not leave battery deep discharged for extended periods of time and follow the manufacturer's charging directions.

Q5. Is it possible to change the battery of an e-bike for another bigger battery?

IF Battery is Approved and is compatible with the following: Check compatibility with manufacture/qualified service provider.