Is It Possible to Repair Electric Bike Batteries?

You love the outdoors, so you go to the store and buy a shiny new e-bike. You love your new e-bike, but after two weeks, it’s not working as well as when you first bought it. The problem? Your battery has died, and now you need to figure out how to repair electric bike batteries or replace them with another one so you can get back on the trails as soon as possible. 

Can you repair e-bike batteries? Most e-bike batteries are proprietary, so replacing them can be complicated and costly. Don’t worry—we’ll tell you everything you need to know about these batteries and how to fix them when they inevitably stop working. Whether you’re just starting or are in the middle of an e-bike project, we’ve got your answers here.

Steps to Fixing Your E-Bike Battery 

Battery technology has come a long way over the past decade, but one thing that hasn’t changed is that it can be repaired. Unless you want to invest in a new battery, you’ll need to learn how to maintain and repair your existing battery. Luckily, e-bike batteries aren’t too difficult to fix if you know what you’re doing.

• Keep Track of Your Charging Cycles – One of the best ways to keep your e-bike battery running smoothly is paying attention to its charging cycles. A charging cycle refers to charging up your battery every time, whether it takes two hours or eight hours.
• Test Out Your Battery After Every Ride – Make sure that you test out how much power is left in your battery after each ride.
• Check Your Connections – The last thing you want is your electric bike batteries not working because they aren't correctly connected. To avoid any mishaps, always check all connections before riding off into the sunset.
• Clean Up Dirt and Dust – Like your smartphone, dirt and dust can be detrimental to your e-bike battery's performance. So make sure that you wipe down any dirty surfaces before putting things back together.
• Make Sure All Parts Are Working Properly – When checking out all parts of your bike, don’t forget about the motor. If anything seems unusual, such as loose wires or missing screws, fix it immediately so that nothing malfunctions while you're riding.
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures – Finally, never leave your e-bike outside during extreme temperatures—especially if it’s hot outside.

What are the most common issues with e-bike batteries?

The most common issue with e-bike batteries is corrosion. Over time, even if you keep your bike dry, humidity can cause corrosion in a lithium-ion battery pack. This happens because of what is called galvanic reaction. The galvanic reaction comes from two different metals reacting to one another when exposed to an electrolyte—in our case, water. We recommend buying a battery maintenance kit from Hovsco e-bikes to help repair damaged cells and prevent future corrosion by coating your batteries after each ride. Hovsco’s Fix Kit is designed specifically for Panasonic EV (Lithium Ion) packs and stops any potential further damage once it has been applied.

Ways to know your battery is dying

Overcharging is another way to kill an electric bike battery. If you’re unfamiliar with e-bike batteries, you might wonder if charging them completely will help prolong their life. It won’t. It could shorten it considerably if you leave your battery on charge after it’s already full. Hovsco sells replacement batteries for almost every model of e-bike that uses lead-acid batteries and includes overcharging. If you suspect your battery is failing, contact Hovsco to learn how to check its charge levels before using it again and whether your warranty still applies should something go wrong during use. Lead-acid battery warranties are generally valid if you store your battery at 40 percent capacity or less when not in use. Be sure to read all manufacturer instructions carefully before buying a new e-bike or adding accessories such as lights, racks, and fenders—they can drain power from your battery even when it’s off.

How can you extend your battery life?

E-bike batteries have a finite number of charge cycles, which will eventually degrade over time. If you know your battery is dying or want to ensure that it stays healthy for as long as possible, you can take steps to protect and maintain your battery. You should first check out your manual; some e-bikes come with unique maintenance modes that help prolong battery life and maximize performance.

Does my local bike shop service e-bike batteries?

It’s important to know if your local bike shop is up to speed on repairing e-bike batteries. Sometimes, they won’t be. At Hovsco e-bike, you can buy replacement parts for your e-bike yourself, but there could be wasted time and effort if you don’t know exactly what parts are needed or how to replace them.

How can I preserve my next e-bike from battery damage?

Most e-bikes come with lithium batteries. Although these power packs are lightweight and highly efficient, they can also be very delicate. Since there's no memory function in a lithium battery, it could lead to a partial or complete discharge if you forget to charge your bike one night. If that happens, avoid charging it until it’s at least 50 percent discharged. When plugged in again, always leave it on an intelligent charger overnight to ensure that you don't overcharge your battery. However, improper handling of lithium batteries can cause them to fail prematurely. It's best to buy a spare battery when you purchase your first e-bike to have something ready when yours needs replacing.

Final Thoughts

Whether a traditional e-bike or e-scooter, the batteries on electric bikes are usually removable. They are usually made up of Lithium-ion batteries, which have a rechargeable life cycle of 1,000 charges before they become unusable. This is overkilled for most people who will only use them a few times a week, but you should be able to take care of your battery without sending it back to the manufacturer or replacing it entirely. To fix these kinds of batteries, you’ll need some device for discharging and charging and a charger. This is important because these cells can quickly explode if not correctly handled by an experienced user. If you attempt to repair your battery, know what you’re doing first.