Your eBike Battery Guide

Do you have questions about eBike batteries?

We will familiarise you with the basics and show you how a battery works. We also explain how to charge, store and care for it correctly.
If you follow a few tips regarding your battery, you will be safer on the road and will be able to rely on it for many years.

How does a lithium-ion battery work?

The lithium-ion technology in Bosch batteries stores energy efficiently and durably

Lithium-ion batteries from Bosch are storage devices for electrical energy and supply your eBike with power. They are rechargeable and can store a lot of electricity in an extremely compact space. Bosch batteries are protected by an intelligent battery management system and are among the most modern on the market.

How is the power for your eBike generated?

A lithium-ion battery generates the electromotive force by dis- placing lithium ions. While the eBike is in motion and the battery is outputting energy electrodes move from the negative anode, via the consumer (e.g. drive unit), to the positive cathode. The lithium ions provide balance, thereby making the current flow. The reverse process takes place when the battery is charged.

Properties of lithium-ion batteries

Benefits:

Rechargeable
Lots of energy in a compact space
Lighter than other rechargeable batteries
Quickly ready for use – even after long
storage periods

Risks

Sensitive to overheating and short circuit
Danger of gas leaks and risk of fire if damaged or incorrectly handled

Interesting facts

Capacity (charge and energy)

The capacity is given in ampere-hours (Ah). It tells you how much power can be drawn from the battery and for how long.
The amount of energy that can be stored, stated in watt hours (Wh), is the actual working capacity of the battery and is relevant for the achievable range

Easy Charging

Whether full, half-full or empty, batteries with lithium-ion cells can be charged quickly, irrespective of their state of charge, at any time. Interruptions of the charging process do not harm the battery
A "memory effect", i.e. decreasing capacity due to frequent incomplete discharge, as familiar from earlier battery systems, does not occur with lithium-ion batteries

Extremely low self-discharge

Even after long periods of storage, e.g. over winter, the battery can be used without recharging.

Service Life

Batteries are wearing parts. Even when not in use, they age over time due to chemical reactions in the battery cells. This is referred to as calendar ageing.
The battery ages faster when exposed to high temperatures or when stored at low or high states of charge.
The so-called cyclical ageing of the battery is caused by charging and discharging processes. The more intensively a battery is used, the faster it ages cyclically.

Bosch eBike Batteries

Frame Battery

Because it is a frame battery, the PowerPack is easy to access and remove. Thanks to its low centre of gravity, it ensures balanced weight distribution

Rack battery

Thanks to their higher positioning on the eBike, rack batteries can be removed and charged conveniently while standing

Intergrated Battery

The PowerTube integrates perfectly in the frame, creating an elegant, sleek eBike look.

Battery safety

Lithium-ion batteries are complex in structure, have a high energy content and can cause danger as certain constituents are flammable. For this reason, eBike batteries must undergo extensive legally prescribed tests and may only be brought to market once they have passed these

Basic rules for greater safety

One: Do not open. This is reserved for competent persons after qualification and training
Two: Protect from heat, sunlight and fire
Three: Do not immerse the battery in water, transport it on the rear bike rack of the car in the rain or clean it with a direct jet of water or high pressure cleaners
Four: Keep batteries away from small metal objects such as keys, nails or screws. There is a risk that contacts will be bridged, resulting in a short circuit
Five: Do not damage, e.g. due to hard shocks, sharp objects or screws.

How do I handle the battery correctly?

Batteries are highly complex components. If you follow simple rules for handling, care and transport, this will have a positive effect on the durability and safety of your battery – so you can enjoy your eBike for many years.

Charging

Chargers

The charger must match the battery: please only use compatible chargers for Bosch eBike batteries. This helps protect the battery from damage and prevents dangers such as overheating or short circuits. Original Bosch chargers are of course always compatible with Bosch eBike batteries.

Charging Facilities

Charging on the eBike: As soon as you have plugged in the charging cable, the drive unit is automatically locked and the charging process begins. You don't need to do anything else.
Charge separately: If the battery can be removed for charging, it is important that you feel and hear it click into the mount when you reinsert it.
Charging on the go: If there is no charging station on your route, our chargers are so compact and light that you can easily take them with you

Storing

Where Should The Battery Be Stored?

Store the battery in a dry place protected from the weather. Ideally in a well-ventilated room with a smoke detector, away from heat sources or highly flammable materials.
Due to the cool temperatures, storing the battery in a basement or garage is better than storing it in living spaces.
Remove the battery from the eBike if you are not going to use or store your eBike for a lengthy period of time.

How Should The Battery Be Stored?

Ideally, you should store your battery at temperatures between 0 and 20 ?C in a dry environment or between 10 and 20 ?C in a humid environment with dew formation.
Avoid excessive heating and direct sunlight.
Cold temperatures, such as those that can occur in a garage in winter, are harmless. However, a cold battery delivers less power.
A charge level between 30 and 60% is ideal. This corresponds to 2 to 3 lit diodes on the battery display.

Care

Cleaning & Care

If possible, remove the battery before cleaning your eBike.
Use a damp cloth to clean the surface of the battery.
You should clean the plug poles occasionally and lightly grease them with technical Vaseline.
To protect the electronics, you must not clean the battery with direct water jets or even high pressure cleaners.

Winter Use

If you store your battery in a garage: On particularly cold days, move it to a heated area and wait for it to warm up to room temperature before riding.
For longer journeys in cold conditions, it is advisable to use thermal protective covers.