With the rise in popularity of electric bikes, more and more people are looking to buy an ebike. But with so many brands and types, it can be difficult to know which electric bike battery is right for you and the motor you’r ebike is equipped with.
Your electric bike is essentially a conventional bike with a battery, a motor, and an acceleration mechanism. However, knowing how the bike works goes beyond understanding the basics; you need to know your bike’s power train details.
In this blog post we will discuss about the particular battery size required for ebike motor & offer a buying guide for those interested in purchasing a battery for their electric bike.
We will discuss how batteries work, the different types of cells used by most manufacturers, what factors should influence your decision when choosing a new battery pack (such as cost and performance), and our best recommended choices for ebike riders.
FAQs regarding battery size required for ebike motor :
What battery do i need for a 48v 1500w motor
If you are looking for a battery pack to power a 1500 watt motor with a 48 volt system, then you are going to want a higher amperage battery like a 36V 12Ah battery pack. The reason why we recommend a 36V 12Ah pack over a 24V 8Ah pack is because the 36V 12Ah pack will provide a longer range than the 24V 8Ah pack.
What battery do i need for a 48v 1200w/1800w/2000w motor?
You would probably want an 15 Ah battery pack if you were running a 1200 watt motor. If you wanted to run a 1800 watt motor, then you would need a 18 Ah battery pack. If you wanted to go up even further, you could get a 20 Ah battery pack for a 2000 watt motor.
All this being said, make sure your controller can handle whatever Ah you throw at it. Also there are some things you should consider when choosing a battery pack for your ebike. These include:
1. How often do you plan to ride your bike?
2. What kind of terrain do you expect to encounter?
3. How far do you plan to travel each day?
4. Are you planning to use a hub motor or direct drive?
5. Will you be using a throttle or pedaling to control speed?
6. How much money do you want to spend?
What Is the Cost of Bike Battery?
Whether you plan buying a new battery or replacing an existing one knowing the price of a battery is critical.
That said, how much do the electric bike batteries cost?
Typically, new electric bike batteries cost anywhere from $250 to $900.
The variation in the costs depends on the type of battery, capacity, performance, and brand.
The less expensive electric bike batteries tend to come with 400 wh to 700 wh capacity, while the more expensive electric bike batteries tend to come with above 2,500 wh.
And yes, the brand plays a crucial role in the pricing of a battery.
Generally, established brand names like Bosch and Shimano have their batteries highly placed than other brands.
Finally, like any other product, you get what you pay for.
You should always avoid the low-priced batteries because, in most cases, they’re flimsy, and don’t have the reliability and sustainability of the premium options.
Why Are E-bike Batteries So Expensive?
Most of the electric bikes use lithium batteries.
Here’s the thing with lithium batteries; their design requires a lot of sophisticated technology.
In particular, the batteries have to be managed by a complex internal electronic system, known as BMS or battery management system.
The BMS regulates the charge on this battery to allow balancing the cell state during charging and ensure the batteries have a good life.
The BMS is also responsible for cell voltage control, temperature control, contractor control.
The BMS is generally a sophisticated hardware and software system, and often, the development and costs can run into several thousand dollars, which is why the individual e-bike batteries are quite expensive.
Which Battery Brand Is Best for the E-bike?
Shimano and Bosch probably have the best e-bike batteries in the market currently.
This might partly because both brands have been in the bicycle manufacturing domain for a long time.
The bike design, including the componentry, speaks quality and is reliable, too.
However, take note that the batteries from both brands are a tad more expensive than the other brands.
Which Battery Is Best for Bike Dry or Liquid?
Photo created by freepik
The dry cell battery is an intriguing option for e-bikes because it has several benefits over the liquid battery.
However, the real benefit for the dry cell battery, especially for the electric bikes, is a better performance.
The dry batteries are durable, and it’s not a surprise they used in many applications, including flashlights, remote controls, and other handheld devices.
Liquid batteries, on the other hand, are maintenance-intensive, requiring regular maintenance of the liquid electrolyte to the recommended levels and, at the same time, avoiding acid spills.
Unfortunately, the dry battery is more expensive than the liquid battery.
The dry batteries also run out faster than the liquid battery, meaning for the same amount of charge, a dry battery will last for a shorter period.
However, they’re worth it because of their performance and durability.
Are Electric Bike Batteries Interchangeable?
Photo created by freepik
Eventually, the lifecycle of your electric bike battery will come to an end, needing replacement.
When this happens, you need to contact your electric bike manufacturer for a replacement.
Now, while it’s possible to perform a DIY replacement, you should let the electric bike manufacturer do it for you to avoid voiding your electric bike warranty.
But what if the e-bike manufacturer is no longer in business?
Well, you’ve no option but to visit a local dealer to get a replacement. Ideally, the replacement should have similar specifications to those of the original battery.
Also Related:
How long will a 48v 20ah battery last?
You get your estimated battery time by multiplying the volts by the amps. In this case, the multiple is 48*20 to yield 960 watts for one hour. How long your battery lasts depends on what kind of battery and how you ride the bike.
You should be able to get at least 57.6 minutes on a 48V 20ah lithium-ion battery with continuous use. A lead-acid 48V 20ah battery will only give you about 288 minutes of riding. That is because lead-acid batteries should not discharge below 50%.
Going by the same formula, a 48v 10ah lithium-ion battery will last 28.8 minutes, while a similar lead-acid battery will offer 14.4 minutes of riding time.
How Do You Get the Most Value Out of the Battery You Buy?
There are four major factors that will affect your battery’s longevity. These are charging patterns, frequency of use, bike maintenance, and bike technology.
Charging patterns
You might be tempted to charge your bike to full capacity when you’re about to head out for a ride. It is completely understandable considering the very real concerns around charge anxiety. You want to have that power when you need it.
But you would be wrong.
It is recommended that you charge your battery to about 80%. That allows you to avoid completing a discharge cycle. A discharge cycle happens when your battery moves from 100% to 0%.
All batteries have a finite discharge cycle count. That means a battery with 1000 cycles will break down after 1000 100% to 0% discharge cycles. To avoid getting to 1000 cycles, for example, avoid charging up to 100% every time.
That stated you need to charge the battery fully every once a while to balance the cells.
You also need to avoid letting your battery be discharged completely. When the battery hits 30%, it is okay to recharge it to about 80%. Again, hitting 0% completes a discharge cycle, thereby affecting your battery’s longevity.
Frequency of use
It goes without saying; the more you use your bike, the more you degrade the battery. If you want to enjoy that battery for long, go easy on the throttle. Cycle via pedals until it’s absolutely necessary to hit that throttle.
Bike maintenance
Think of the bike and its load (you) as a burden for the battery. When you use the throttle, you are asking the battery through the motor to move that load. To make it easy for the motor, the bike should be efficient.
An efficient bike has its moving parts well-lubricated and its tires inflated to the recommended pressure, for example. Maintaining your bike to ensure that all mechanical parts are not only lubricated but clean will extend the battery life.
The battery through the motor will be running an efficient machine. Power will not be lost compensating for losses such as friction or sub-optimal wheel rotations.
Bike technology
Earlier, we discussed regenerative braking. Now, if your bike has regenerative braking technology, it is likely that you will get some marginal gains on the battery’s longevity. A bike that recharges its battery in small quantities as it moves is more efficient than a bike that does not.
Another impactful technology is pedal assist. If your bike has a pedal-assist, it uses more power than the typical bike. Every time the pedal assist kicks in, the battery is asked to power the motor.
