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Battery

How to test electric bike battery quickly

December 10, 2024

Author:

Anastasiia Chub

Brand new e-bikes don’t need any diagnostic, but sooner or later, the battery becomes less efficient than before.

If you think the battery is no longer as long and efficient as it used to be, it’s time to test it. Not only that your delivery range be decreased, but they may your e-bike battery may be at the risk of catching fire.

In this article, we are going to review multiple ways to test an electric bike battery as a delivery rider.

It's an important task for anyone who’s using an electric bike, not limited to food delivery e-bike riders.

Common reasons why your battery is less efficient

There are several reasons why this might happen, such as:

  • You’ve allowed the charge-discharge cycles to come to an end.
  • The battery’s over it's lifespan.
  • It spent a long winter in the garage in a discharged state.
  • You’ve been overcharging or over-discharging it.
  • It has exceeded the allowable cell currents.
  • Due to inherently poor cell quality.

Related: How to keep e-bike battery warm in winter

How to test electric bike battery quickly

Many people want to know how to test e-bike battery capacity.

This is usually done with a multimeter, a compact device you should always have with you just to stay on the safe side. There are many models on sites such as Amazon, and they all work the same way.

How to use a multimeter for e-bike battery checking?

First, make sure your battery is fully charged but disconnected from the power source.

Some multimeters and e-bike models might even require removing the battery from the bike.

Next, make sure the multimeter is set at the right voltage range.

Most e-bike batteries have their own voltage, typically 24V, 36V or 48V. Always put a higher range on your multimeter.

Then, connect the multimeter probes to the battery.

Each multimeter should come with instructions that explain how to do it.

Turn on the multimeter and read the voltage. If your battery voltage is lower than the range, it might be the time to change the battery.

If your battery has the fast charging option or even wireless charging, check it out, as well.

Sometimes, the battery might have the right voltage, but the charging function can still malfunction.

Even if your results seem good at first glance, compare them to the manufacturer's specifications.

Significant differences typically indicate that something’s wrong.

If all of this sounds too complicated, don’t worry. You can always contact a professional – there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.

How to check an electric bike battery with no tools?

It’s pretty easy to test the battery, even without any tools

There is a basic equation you may follow:

distance*100\battery original capacity

What does this mean?

Take your e-bike to an empty, flat road and ride using full throttle until the battery is completely discharged. This is the distance in the equation. The battery’s original capacity is usually written in the manual.

Afterward, you will have an approximate understanding of how much full capacity varies from the original.

Related: E-bike battery fire statistics

Conclusion

Battery life is a pretty important thing and should be as efficient as possible. The battery has limited charge cycles, and regular measuring is the best way to make sure everything is working properly.

Regular testing can help you monitor your electric bike battery's health and performance. It's advisable to perform a basic voltage check every few months, especially if you notice any changes in your bike's performance.

For a comprehensive test using a battery analyzer, doing so annually or bi-annually can help track the battery's condition over time and anticipate when it might need to be replaced.

Battery quality depends from brand to brand. In the case of Whizz bikes, we use reliable Samsung cell batteries that won’t easily malfunction.

Suppose you want a higher-quality bike rental for delivery.

In that case, Whizz is what you need, and you’re more than welcome to visit our locations with friendly and experienced staff. They will tell you the most important information about electric bicycles and their batteries.

In case you have an old e-bike consider our trade-in program where you may get $600 off on your new e-bike.

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