How electric bike batteries work
An e-bike battery provides that extra power to your ride. Lithium-ion batteries for bikes - as well as electric bike motors - are essentially the components that set your e-bike apart from a regular bike. When you start to pedal, your battery and motor will kick in to give you a boost (up to 250 watts and a maximum speed of 15.5mph).
There are three basic measurements that impact an e-bike's performance and your ride: voltage, amps, and watts. The best way to think about these are:
- Volts tell you the speed potential - the higher the voltage, the faster energy is pushed through the bike motor
- Amps refer to the electrical current - so basically how much power there is in your bike
- Watts is volts x amps. Think of this as a real measure of the bike's power.
It's also helpful to think about amp hours (aH), which is the capacity of your bike. The amp hours reading will let you know how much usable energy current will be delivered per hour. Similarly, watt-hours (wH) are the number of watts that can be expended in an hour.
Even if, like us, you're not necessarily an expert in physics, it's still really useful to understand the basics to make sure you're getting the right battery pack for your desired rides. Moreover, if you experience any battery issues, you'll be better prepared for how to fix them.
If you’re going to be cycling along challenging tracks where you will need a lot of power over long distances and steep hills, you need to know how your battery pack's voltage and amp hours can support you. So, if you’re going to be really pushing your bike for long distances and high speeds, you’ll probably want to go for a larger battery size.
Or let's say, you're a bit low on e-bike battery power and need your bike to eke out an extra mile, then you'll need to be able to manage your amps properly (i.e. use less power and slow down to make it home).
Whilst watt-hours can give you an idea of how much electric energy the motor can handle, it is ultimately up to your cycling style to get the best performance out of the e-bike. To figure out battery capacity and usable capacity, you'll want to look at both amp hours (aH) and watt-hours (wH).
What types of batteries do electric bikes use?
All Raleigh electric bikes use lithium-ion batteries. These (often referred to as Li-Ion batteries) are generally lighter batteries, which is also why they're often used in laptops and phones. Obviously, you don't want a huge battery weighing down your bike when you're out cycling. That's why e-bikes use an efficient lithium-ion battery pack to provide as much energy for as little weight as possible.
Lithium-ion batteries are also great at holding their charge and have long battery life. In fact, a lithium-ion battery pack only loses about 5% of its charge per month in comparison to a 20% loss for NiMH (Nickel-metal hybrid) and lead acid batteries.
This is because lithium batteries have little to no memory effect. This means that the lithium cells can handle hundreds of recharging cycles, even without a complete discharge of the battery between recharges. In other words, you don't have to worry too much about overcharging.
Centre and rear mounted batteries are more common across the Raleigh range, providing better performance and better handling. Rear-mounted batteries, such as on the Captus, provide better handling and traction due to the added weight at the rear of the bike. It adds a smoother more natural feeling of acceleration, and we think it looks neater mounted to a rear rack.
DO ELECTRIC BIKE BATTERIES HAVE FUSES?
Sometimes e-bike batteries stop working as efficiently as they could. You may see a slip in power that comes without any apparent faults or when you know the battery is properly charged.
One possible reason for a drop in lithium battery performance could be the battery fuse failing. The battery fuse is a safety device that breaks electrical currents if they get unsafe. They also can only work once before affecting the battery performance.
If you find yourself wondering why you can't get the power you're used to, the first thing you should do is test your e-bike battery charger and the battery itself. You want to check that there are no faults and that the entire battery pack is properly holding charge. You may also want to use a battery monitoring system; if you do test your battery with a voltmeter or similar tool and it reads '0V', your fuse might be to blame.
If you're a bit uneasy about taking a battery pack apart, take it to your local specialist bike shop for assistance. But if you're feeling keen to do it yourself, you can find the fuse in the centre of the battery. If it's broken or has some burnt links, then there's a good chance the fuse might be the culprit and will need replacing.
It is rare for a bike fuse to go, but it is an easy fix if it does. As you get to know your e-bike and your riding style, you'll be more in tune with any issues that crop up.
