How is the battery constructed?

The battery is the most expensive and most sensitive component on an e-bike. The basic structure of a lithium-ion battery is as follows: The accumulator has two different electrodes, one positive and one negative, and these two poles are separated from each other by a separator. This separator is similar to a foil. This foil is permeable to the lithium ions, which migrate through a liquid electrolyte from the positive to the negative electrode during charging. The electrons flow back again when the current is released during driving. In extreme cases, rapid temperature changes could damage the separator in the battery, which is why it is worth getting used to a certain temperature management for the battery in winter.

How to charge?

How to charge?

After a frosty tour, you should only charge the battery once it has returned to room temperature. So take the bike or battery into the house, wait until it has acclimatized from winter to living room temperature and then use the charger. If you connect a battery from sub-zero temperatures directly to the charger, in extreme cases you run the risk of damaging the separator and ruining the battery.

Planning for a lower capacity

A battery has a noticeable loss of capacity at sub-zero temperatures compared to summer temperatures. This is because it is more difficult for the electrons to penetrate the electrolyte and the separator in the cold. This means that you will be able to cover less altitude or range on the winter round of the house than in summer.

Comfortable temperature

Lithium-ion batteries also work at very low sub-zero temperatures, but at some point it comes to an end: At around minus 25 degrees, the e-bike will probably stop working. But (almost) nobody wants to ride a bike in such cold conditions. Batteries prefer room temperature of around 18-25 degrees.

Storage

If you don't pick up your e-mountain bike again until Easter, you can take these tips with you: Charge the battery to around 30-60%. The ageing process and the loss of capacity will then be somewhat less than if the battery is stored full or almost empty. Again, room temperatures are ideal for storing the battery over winter, in a dry place out of direct sunlight.