How to take care and get the most from your very expensive e-bike battery

Batteries wear and age in use (or even when not used). It's physics, and there's not much you can do about it.

A battery is meant to be used, so use it! It should last well over 500 recharge cycles (and remember, a single recharge cycle is when you use the battery's entire capacity, so if you always recharge when it's at 75%, you can expect to get about 2,000 recharges from it).

A few things that you can do to slow down the wearing process are:

• Store and charge the battery at about room temperature.
• Use a genuine charger.
• Keep the battery away from direct sunlight.
• If you're not going to be using the battery for a few months, store it at around 50% charge.

E-bike batteries are heavy, weighing in at several pounds. While they're quite strong, the plastic and metal construction of the unit is in no way indestructible.

• Be careful when handling your battery — take special care when removing the battery from the bike, as the weight might surprise you.
• Keep the battery away from dirt, dust, and liquids.
• The plastic parts on the battery — such as the clips — are the most prone to damage.
• Make sure to replace the battery protective cover after reinstalling the battery.
• When not on the bike, it's a good idea to keep the battery in a protective carry case.
• Remove the battery when transporting the bike by car or truck.

Take sensible precautions here, pretty much like you would with any other electrical device.

• Check everything for damage before use.
• Use the genuine charger.
• Keep the battery away from liquids.
• Remove the battery before cleaning your e-bike, and even then, it's best not use water to clean your bike. Instead, use a damp cloth.

Two things to keep in mind are that you bought your e-bike to use and enjoy it, and that all rechargeable batteries are consumable items that wear out over time and need replacing. 

However, with the proper care, you should be able to get many years of service from your e-bike's battery. Come the day it wears out, you can then decide to replace it or maybe it will be time for a new e-bike.

So stop worrying and go out and enjoy your e-bike.