What is the lifespan of a new e-bike?

What is the lifespan of a new e-bike?

You might probably be thinking of buying a new electric bike. However, one question may disturb your mind. Well, you aren’t alone. Those who buy a new e-bike wonder how long it will last. And they think about how long the motor and battery of an e-bike will last. Not only that but the brakes and tires are also on this list.

 

So this article will answer all your questions. We hope to take you through each of these areas. In addition, you can learn how to maintain an e-bike well to last a more extended period.

 

The lifespan of an e-bike battery

An electric bike battery is the most commonly asked component of an e-bike. And the speed of expiration of e-bike components depends on how you use them. For example, the number of miles you cover is a relevant factor. Accordingly, the electric bike battery is a part that wears out with time. So this is a disadvantage. And get a new e-bike battery today and store it for about a year. It won’t work like a brand-new one.

 

Moreover, electric bike batteries are expensive. You will have to pay 1/3 of the entire cost of an electric bike to buy a battery. Therefore, if you protect and take care of the battery, it will last longer.

 

The following list of things to perform to keep the e-bike battery healthy.

  • You have to be careful when you store the battery. So, could you keep it in a cool and dry space? The temperature should be 15OC -20OC. Moreover, if you hope to store it for an extended period, don’t charge it fully and keep it. Instead, charge it up to 40-80%.
  • Even though you might be in a hurry to charge the battery, don’t use high-speed chargers. They can charge the electric bike battery in less than one hour. But this isn’t good for the battery’s health. The reason is that it gives the battery unnecessary stress. As a result, the battery will reduce its capacity.
  • Moreover, if you charge your battery every day, this is not also good for the battery. If you want to charge it 100%, avoid doing it regularly. When you charge the e-bike battery regularly, do it partially.

 

The lifespan of an E-bike Motor

Usually, electric bike motors have a long lifetime. And there are e-bike motors that last even 1000 miles or more. Moreover, people tend to replace and maintain other components of an e-bike, like chains, brake pads, and cassettes. And the battery is also another component that you tend to return often. However, the motor of an e-bike is as vital as these things. Sometimes it will be worth more than other things. Therefore, maintaining the engine properly is also essential.

 

The following is a detailed analysis of maintaining an e-bike motor well. The explanation explains all three types of e-bike batteries.

 

Direct Drive Hub Motor

 

This motor lies on either an electric bike’s front or rear wheel. And it gives the needed to push through magnets. Moreover, these magnets are located on the hub’s inside surface. And the motor receives a push from stator windings. They are fixed to the axle. Moreover, there are no moving elements in this motor. But there are bearings, and they are an excellent benefit for durability.

 

And two crucial things can badly influence the lifetime of direct drive motors. They are too much heating and rust. If you let too much power operate through this type of motor, it can reach an extreme heat level. And sometimes, this heat level will cause the motor to melt. So this won’t happen if you carefully set the engine.

 

Apart from that, water also can be a problem. This happens mostly in wet climates and when the riders travel under bad weather conditions like rain. So the healthiness of your bike’s other parts depends on the maintenance of the e-bike motor. Therefore, you must keep the motor dry as much as possible. If not, ensure to dry it after it gets wet. And there is an exciting way to dry a wet direct drive motor. You can drill some holes in the motor casing. As a result, more water will go out quickly when you ride the electric bike.

 

Geared Hub

This motor spins more rapidly than the motor type we previously looked at. And the energy thus created is sent to the bike’s wheel. To that end, the gears are used. Moreover, this is helpful when you start the e-bike and climb hills. Moreover, because of these gears, there may be friction in the e-bike. As a result, the motor will have a shorter lifetime. And you will have to replace the gears. According to estimations, it will be 3000-10000 miles. Moreover, if you are a serious rider, riding many miles on your e-bike, you will have to change the motor 2-3 times during the e-bike’s lifetime.

 

Mid-Drive

 This motor is attached to the crank of an e-bike. Moreover, this motor gives power straight to the bike’s chain. And this motor stresses the drive chain more. In addition, it puts significant stress on sprockets. Moreover, there is extra stress on this motor. It causes the components of the e-bike to wear out more quickly than they usually do. Because of this issue, retail e-bikes with mid-drive engines come to the market with updated chains.

 

Tires

Usually, bike tires have a long lifespan. But it depends on the tire group. Accordingly, it can vary from 1000 miles to -3000 miles. This distance is 1600-4800 in Kilo Meters.

The following tips will help you to get the best from your e-bike tires.

  • There are puncture-resistant tires on the market. These tires will decrease flats. And you won’t have to bother constantly about flat tires.
  • And using a tire liner between the tire and its tube will help to keep the tires in good condition.
  • Moreover, if any punctures happen, seal them using super glue. Or else you can use flat sealant.
  • Besides, try swapping the front and back tires. This will help you to keep a balance of wear of tires. As a result rear tire won’t wear out before the front tire.

Brakes

Brakes are also a crucial part of an electric bike. And the lifetime of electric bike brakes can depend on several factors—for example, the rider, the condition of brake pads, and environmental facts like the weather. And the weather becomes a factor because rain and dust can increase the wearing of brake pads. Moreover, the land on which the e-bike rider rides is also essential. And the care you put into the electric bike is also vital.

 

Moreover, you may have to change your electric bike’s brake pads more often. The reason is the added weight and the extra speed. And if you have brakes of high quality, they can run about 5000km.

 

Chain and Sprockets

These two elements of an electric bike wear out fast if you ride the bike at high speed. Moreover, the same will happen if you ride long distances on your e-bike. Usually, you should change and install new chains every 2000-3000 miles. However, this number may reduce even more if your electric bike has a mid-drive motor. And also, the same will happen when there is more pressure on the bike’s chains and its sprocket.

 

And if you replace the bike’s chain every day, the lifetime of the sprocket will prolong. So will the lifetime of the drive train. Moreover, there are chain checkers if you want to check the chain health.

 

Besides, the lifetime of sprockets should last longer than the bike’s chains. Remember that these numbers are average, and your mileage will differ according to the condition of the e-bike parts, the e-bike setup, and the speed.

 

Controller and Display

The controller is considered the brain of an electric bike. The reason is that the rest of the components link to this controller. And it can read every input given by each element of the e-bike and create signals. After that, it decides the signal to return to each component. This controller comes with a circuit board. And it controls all the essential functions of your electric bike. Moreover, this control system is like a security system for the bike. The reason is it protects the electric motorcycle from abnormal changes in voltage.

 

Moreover, this controller system comes with a temperature sensor. It can shut down the electric bike in case it has overheating issues. So you can understand that the controller is also an essential component of an electric bike. It helps to keep the cycle in good condition.

 

Moreover, the lifetime of a controller depends on how much care you show to it. So, don’t let water spill on this controller. 

 

When it comes to the display is the e-bike’s information system. You can see the speed you are riding on this display. In addition, you can see the remaining battery percentage also. Moreover, it shows the pedal assist level you use to ride.

And recent electric bikes come with the technology to use a smartphone to display all these details. You can control it through Bluetooth. So to prolong the lifetime of the e-bike’s display, you must clean and wipe it off. Moreover, avoid any physical shocks as much as possible on display.  

 

The E-bike as a Whole

Maintaining your electric bike with due care will last as long as a regular bike. And the estimated lifespan of an electric bike is ten years unless you neglect bad weather conditions.

 

To enjoy a long e-bike lifespan, you must replace and repair various parts of an electric bike. Those parts include the battery, motor, brakes, tires, and chains. Now you may think that there are many replacements and it will cost you a lot. However, don’t stress yourself much about that. The reason is that with regular maintenance, you can reduce the money you spend on replacements. These maintenance steps include adding some lubricants to the bike’s chain and checking the electric bike from the service shop.

 

Moreover, you don’t have to worry if you are a leisure rider and don’t ride your electric bike often. The reason is that you don’t have to replace components as a regular commuter does.

Usually, if you ride 10 miles daily, it is better to get consultations from the local service shop. Besides, ensure that you perform your part of the maintenance process well. So your e-bike will be a reasonable period.

 

Tips For Prolonging the Lifetime of an Electric Bike 

Keep the Electric Bike Battery Cool 

Your e-bike battery can be badly affected by environmental factors. Accordingly, the temperature level decides the shelf’s life, the battery’s charging, and the voltage. So don’t expose the bike’s battery to extremely high temperatures. It lessens the life span of your electric bike battery

 

So don’t let direct sunlight fall on your battery for long. The ideal temperature to store the e-bike batteries is 65-90oF. 

 

Charge the Battery Partially Before Storing 

 

It is a myth if you think you should charge your electric bike battery 100% before you store it. If you do so, it can badly affect your battery’s lifetime.

Moreover, doing so brings some irreparable damage to the battery. So please don’t charge the battery 100% before you store it. However, please don’t leave it without charging either. Charge it up to 40-60%. 

 

Keep your Electric Bike Clean 

When you keep your electric bike clean, its life span becomes longer. And who doesn’t like a clean bike? If you keep it clean, it says a lot about your personality too. However, cleaning with too much pressure isn’t suitable for your e-bike. For instance, a high-pressure washer isn’t a good tool when cleaning the bike. So a good scrub is OK after a ride on mud. However, please don’t often ride in rainy and wet conditions either. 

 

Maintain the Tires Inflated 

If you keep the tires poorly inflated, they will catch punctures easily. Therefore, inflate the tires well. 

 

Checking Bolts 

With time, the bolts of your electric bike can loosen. Bolts are the parts of the motorcycle that hold other components together. So after loosening, they will release pressure on different elements of your e-bike. And this can cause wear your e-bike faster. 

But you can avoid this issue if you regularly check the bolts. Once you find any loose bolt, fix it by tightening it. 

Lubricating the Moving Parts 

 

Lubricating your electric bike’s necessary parts helps you avoid any friction. 

Proper Storage 

 

That isn’t a good idea if you intend to store your e-bike outdoors. The reason is that sunlight and dampness can directly affect your electric bike. As a result, the life span of the e-bike decreases. 

 

So the best option remaining is to store your electric bike indoors. 

 

Final Words 

When people buy electric bikes, they have a question about the life span of an e-bike. Usually, the average lifetime of an electric bike is 3-5 years. However, with proper maintenance, you can extend this time. The lifespan of your e-bike depends on you.  

 

So you have to be careful about the way you store your e-bike. Moreover, you have to clean the bike. But remember, a thorough scrub is sufficient to clean the electric bike. Don’t let the components reach incredibly high temperatures. And check the joints and bolts and see whether they need any replacement. 

 

Moreover, features like chains, brakes, displays, and sprockets are also important. Accordingly, you have to examine every part of your e-bike. And the speed of wearing your electric bike depends on how often you ride the bike. The care and maintenance you need are higher if you are a regular rider. But you can avoid the burden if you are just a leisure rider who takes the e-bike out on rare occasions. But you also still need to maintain the bike according to the distance and frequency you go out.