One of the essential components of an electric bike is the charger. Without power, your e-bike will not be able to function. Choosing a charger for your e-bike can be difficult because there are so many available different types.
In this blog post, we will help you understand what type of charger you need and then review some popular options to make it easier for you to choose one for yourself!
What is a charger for an e-bike?
An e-bike charger is an electronic device that transfers electrical energy to a battery from an external source. Using the correct e-bike charger for your e-bike batteries is very important.
An e-bike comes with extra power, which helps you when the riding gets tough. The energy derived from the battery relieves the strain on your muscles so that you can travel a long distance without being exhausted.
In order to make the most of this vehicle, it’s good to consider not only the battery itself but also the charger. Learn the key rules to follow when buying one!
In this article you will find out the following:
- why a working battery and a good charger are so important for an electric bike?
- what to look out for when choosing a new e-bike charger?
- how to extend the e-bike battery life with a properly chosen charger?
E-bike battery chargers and batteries – why are they so important?
A battery is the key element of an electric bike. The capacity of such batteries affects the distance you can travel with extra power and the longer the battery’s life, the less frequently you will have to replace them.
If you choose batteries with better parameters, you can reduce the cost related to using the bike and maximize satisfaction with every trip. But even the best batteries won’t do the job without battery chargers.
The advanced smart battery charger has stable parameters and protects the batteries while charging. It offers ample protection from overcharging and automatically switches off once the battery is fully charged. As a result, it boosts battery life.
Good chargers also allow connecting the electric bicycle at any time and anywhere. Since it’s small and compact, you can easily tuck it in your sports backpack when heading for the road.
Electric bike chargers – what to look out for when choosing one?
Electric bicycles usually come with efficient Li-Ion batteries placed on the frame, integrated into the frame, or on the carrier rack. The battery life usually ranges from 500 to 700 charging cycles. Available models come with different voltages. There are basically three variants: 24 V, 36 V, and 48 V.
The first criterion when choosing electric bicycle chargers is voltage. The chargers should match the requirements of the battery pack. You can’t use a 24V charger with a 36V battery pack. Make sure you know these parameters before you recharge your electric bicycle.
When looking for an electric bicycle charger, it’s also good to have a closer look at the construction of the bikes. In this respect, it might be advisable to trust one of the well-known manufacturers, because the quality of the material affects not only the durability and life of the bike but also its weight, size, and convenience.
Another important thing is the cable length. An electric bike may be connected to any socket, but due to its dimensions and the nature of the vehicle, you will probably go for a garage, parking lot, or staircase most of the time. It’s good to choose a longer cord to make sure you can conveniently connect your bike to the plug in any location.
Another thing you might consider will be extra functions that enable you to control the battery level and condition. Practical LED lights will show you the charging progress and special safeguards are there to disconnect the power once the battery is full. All this will help you avoid battery damage and optimize the charging time.
Finally, consider where you’ll be charging your e-bike. If you plan to charge it at home, then a standard wall outlet charger will work fine. But if you’re planning on charging it on the go, you’ll need a portable charger that can be plugged into a USB port or car adapter.
You have got your batteries, but they cannot be charged. We have prepared a list of common problems of why you can’t charge your li-ion LEV batteries.
Types of battery chargers available on the market today
The e-bike market is continuing to grow exponentially, and with that growth comes more options for e-bike chargers. While it’s always best to choose the right one for your e-bike, there are six main types of electric bike battery chargers available on the market today:
- Universal charger (for use in any wall outlet)
- Portable (can be plugged into a USB port or car adapter) – Plugged directly into an e-bike battery pack
- At-home charging station (requires installation at home by a certified professional)
- Onboard/removable power sources (some newer bikes allow you to remove their built-in batteries after they’ve been depleted; then simply replace them.
Electric bike chargers account for longer battery life
You already know you have to take proper care of any Li-Ion battery to extend its life. The first thing is to make sure the charging process is regular and timely. This will reduce capacity loss. Do not wait until the battery is depleted before you connect your e-bike to the charger after a long trip.
The battery will need special attention also after a long pause when the bike was not used. You may also want to control the battery level in winter and recharge it, for example, once in three months. You can reach for the charger when the battery level drops below 50 percent.
And there’s one last thing, not related to the charger, but to the battery itself: a Li-Ion battery hates extreme temperatures. Don’t leave it exposed to the cold or heat. It’s particularly important if you normally keep your e-bike outside. If possible, remove the battery and take it home.
Charger safety tips
Now that you know how to choose an e-bike charger, it’s time to learn how to use it. The following are some basic tips for charging your electric bike:
- Charging e-bike batteries overnight is not recommended as it can reduce their lifespan. Try to charge them during the day instead.
- Make sure the battery is completely dry before charging. Water and electricity don’t mix!
- Only use chargers approved by the manufacturer. Using a non-approved charger could damage your e-bike battery or even start a fire.
Charging your e-bike is easy once you know what to do. Just follow these simple tips and you’ll be on your way to enjoying a full-battery awesome ride.
TRITEK is your one-stop partner for high-quality lev batteries for electric bikes, cargo bikes, scooters, motorcycles, etc. We are dedicated to turning customers ’ideas into perfect products, from prototyping to mass production. Need your lev batteries to be intelligent, high quality, and cost-effective? Let Tritek help you achieve business success.
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