E-Bike Summer Battery Care

Summer is some of the best time to ride and riding in the rain (and in the mud!) is great fun. Don’t let the fact your bike is electric slow you down. If you keep these tips in mind, you can expect an enjoyable life with your Barletta E-Bike.

Your E-Bike battery is one of the most expensive components on your bike, so taking good care of it is a rather good idea. With the Australian summers reaching soaring temperatures and torrential downpours hitting suddenly, this quick guide on how to take good care of your E-Bike battery will help you keep your bikes on the road longer.
TOO HOT = NO BATTERY

Lithium-ion, the substance your bike is made from is the same used in mobile phones and tablets. When these are left in your car on a hot day, looks something like this when you try to use it. That’s because the cells overheat and the system turns itself off.

E-bikes are no different. So if you leave your bike parked somewhere in direct sunlight then you run the risk of your bike not turning on when you go to use it.
E-BIKES & RAIN
Our E-Bikes are designed with our climate in mind. The batteries are fully sealed units and have been comprehensively tested in our wet & humid climate. We still recommend taking on some common sense in what conditions you’d ride in. We really don’t recommend submerging the motor or electronics.

Transporting your E-Bikes we always advise removing the battery as this will prevent damage from falling off or bird strike. When it’s raining your bikes on a car are travelling double or triple the speed they usually experience and water is more likely to ingress through the seals.

WASHING E-BIKES
Any bike, no matter which of our models, appreciates a good clean and as a result will function better. If you are a mountain biker then you will appreciate how muddy your bikes can get after
even a short ride!

So how do you wash an E-Bike... NOT WITH A PRESSURE WASHER. Washing an E-Bike correctly takes time and cannot be rushed. That’s a big no-no as these will push water into the electronics, which never ends well. You are best advised to clean your E-Bike’s batteries with a soft cloth or brush and a bucket of warm water. Some of our stocked Tri-Flow cleaners always helps too.

Most situations we clean or E-Bikes with the batteries installed and then remove the battery to wipe down by hand with a soft cloth and leave the cradle to dry.

A soft damp cloth can clean almost any build-up of grit or grease on your terminal connections. Grit can interrupt contact and no contact = no power. We live in a country where things are prone to rust so wipe a (very!) small amount of grease (grease is a grit magnet so be sparing in your application so not to attract too much grit and grime).

PRESERVE THE BATTERY LIFE

• Only use the charger supplied with your E-Bike or a replacement from Barletta. Using the incorrect charger is dangerous and could damage the battery or even cause a fire.
• Do not drop your battery. This may damage the battery’s cells. Battery cases that have been damaged are not to continue to be used unless we or our service agents have checked it and have declared it safe to use.
• It is recommended that you do not fully deplete the battery. If possible, just keep topping up the charge rather than fully depleting each time you ride. This keeps your battery healthy and always available for longer rides.
• Keep your battery and ideally, your E-Bike stored somewhere dry, weatherproof and between 15o to 30o Celsius.
• During long periods of storage and non-use during holidays or travel, keep the battery about 2/3 charged and top up for two hours every 2 to 3 months.

Summer is some of the best time to ride and riding in the rain (and in the mud!) is great fun. Don’t let the fact your bike is electric slow you down. If you keep these tips in mind, you can expect an enjoyable life with your Barletta E-Bike.If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact our Supply Team on 1300 720 622.

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