The short answer is “years and years”. Like any piece of machinery, an electric bike is only as good as its last service. Regular maintenance is important to keep the wear and tear in check, and to nip any mechanical or electrical issues in the bud before they become too big to repair.
At least four of the staff members at Energise E-bikes have electric bikes that are over 10 years old and still running on the original battery.
What will wear out an e-bike/battery quickly?
- Leaving the battery flat for long periods of time
- Storing the battery in very cold places
- Allowing dirt to accumulate along the drivetrain (chain and gearing)
- Riding the bike with below-pressure tyres
- Battery Storage
Improper battery storage can lead to the battery’s cells to degrade. This means that when you come to charge the battery, it can’t take a full charge again. In some cases, a battery that has been stored without charge, and/or in a very cold place, will simply stop taking charge at all.
The most common cause of ‘death’ in an e-bike – at least among our customers – is that they stop riding for the winter and haven’t put charge into their battery while it is stored away. If you don’t ride during the winter, charge your battery to 50-70% full, and then store the battery at room temperature. A cupboard in the main part of your house would be fine.
Clean the Drivetrain
Keeping the drivetrain clean is a quick and perhaps slightly boring task but it makes the ride itself so much smoother and easier, and at the same time gives the bike more longevity. When dirt on the drivetrain mixes with the chain lubrication, it forms a grinding paste which wears out the chain and gears. For the same reason, it’s important not to put too much oil on your chain, as dirt will simply stick to this.
Pump the Tyres
Riding the bike with underinflated tyres will put strain on the bike as the bike will ‘drag’ as you pedal along. The motor and battery will be forced to do a lot more work, and this can impact your bike’s longevity.
A few minutes every now and then adds years to your e-bikes life
It doesn’t take long to take care of your e-bike. It’s two minutes to pump up tyres before a ride, 5 minutes wiping dirt of a chain after a ride, and one minute to put the battery on charge. After that, you just need 3 minutes to give us a call to book in a service after 1000-1500 miles, or once a year; whichever comes first.