How do you repair an e-bike battery?

Here are our tips on taking care of your battery and knowing when and how to repair it!

Are you the proud owner of an e-bike who wants to make their precious battery last for as long as possible? Or have you noticed that your battery is showing signs of slowing down and not assisting you as much as it used to? Here are our tips on taking care of your battery and knowing when and how to repair it!

Good habits to get into to extend your e-bike battery's lifespan

Before repairing or replacing your battery, there are a few simple things you can do to slow down wear.

⚠️ HOW LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES WORK

Lithium-ion batteries are actually composed of several individual batteries – or cells – that are linked together. The number, layout and size of the cells determines how much energy can be stored and therefore how far your bike can travel. To store electricity and provide it when needed, the battery has a positive electrode and a negative electrode, between which electrons flow. These parts are submerged in a conductive ionic liquid known as an electrolyte. In a lithium-ion battery, the electrolyte contains lithium ions (L+). Each time you charge or run down the battery, the electrons flow in one direction (from positive to negative) or the other. The battery lifespan quoted by the manufacturer is generally 500 complete charging cycles. After that, the battery will still work but may have lost around 20% to 30% of its storage capacity.

How do you know when an e-bike battery is dead?

Over time, your battery's components will wear out and its storage capacity will fall. But even if its storage capacity is decreasing over time, this doesn't mean changing your battery at the slightest sign of weakness. If your battery is no longer charging, or if it isn't retaining its charge for as long as it used to, you should take it to a workshop to diagnose the problem and find out how to improve its performance.

You'll have several options after this diagnosis: either the battery can be repaired, or it should be completely replaced. Sometimes, you may also be able to have it reconditioned.

How do you repair an e-bike battery or get one repaired?

If your battery isn't working but tests indicate that it can be repaired, we recommend visiting a specialist workshop to have any faulty parts replaced. Before you do this, check with the manufacturer that the battery isn't still covered by a warranty. If it's still covered by the warranty then, depending on the warranty conditions, the manufacturer may be able to repair or replace it free of charge. If it's no longer under warranty and you therefore have to pay to have it repaired, don't hesitate to get quotes from several different places and compare the price of the spare parts.

Even if you're a dab hand and you've got all the right tools, we recommend taking your bike to a professional to have it repaired: if you open your bike's battery case, you'll void your warranty. And don't forget that batteries are electrical components that could catch fire, so it's not worth taking any risks.

A much safer bet is to take it to your local Decathlon workshop!

What is e-bike battery reconditioning?

Reconditioning is a bit like resetting your battery. You'll hand your battery over to a reconditioning specialist who'll open it up, test the various parts and change whatever needs to be changed. It's particularly useful if you were an early adopter of e-bikes and can no longer get hold of a new battery for your beloved bike. It's the cheap, eco-friendly option that keeps your bike working for longer. Much better than buying a whole new battery!

What should you do in the following cases?

Your battery won't charge

Check that there are no problems with the charging cable or the socket you're plugging it into. Have you tested it with another cable and another socket, and found that it still isn't working? Then book an appointment to visit one of our workshops and get your battery assessed.
Do you always have to change an e-bike battery when there's something wrong with it?

As mentioned above, buying a new battery isn't the only option on the cards. Having your battery repaired or reconditioned can extend its lifespan without the need to replace it altogether.
How do you reset the battery?

If your battery is no longer working as well as it used to, or if it has stopped working entirely, try taking it to a repairer to have it reset. You could also take a look at your bike's instruction manual to find out how to restore it to factory settings. Resetting the battery can sometimes resolve issues with it. Smart e-bikes may also need software updates. You can do this by connecting to the corresponding app.

Are you wondering how to optimise your e-bike's battery and keep it working for as long as possible? Explore our tips on getting the most out of an electric bike battery!

Tips: how to optimise the battery life on your electric bike

Are you wondering how to optimise your e-bike's battery and keep it working for as long as possible? Explore our tips on getting the most out of an electric bike battery!

And if you have other any questions at all about e-bike batteries, pop down to your local Decathlon workshop, where our technicians will be happy to help!