Do Electric Bike Batteries Cost A Lot?

Electric bikes battery and motor are the most expensive parts of an e-bike price and make up for over 50% of their cost, this makes electric bike batter a hefty investment if you need to replace one or you are looking for one to build with your conversion kit. 

On average, you will likely find battery packs with a price range between £300 and £600, this is based on a battery capacity of 400Wh to 700Wh, but will vary according to the brand of the ebike battery. 

We have composed a short guide below which will discuss how a type of battery of electric bikes work, what Wh capacity you need in your e-bike battery, how prices of these batteries vary according to brands as well as how long they last for and some tips to extend their lifespan. 

Let's get into it! 

What Is On The Inside Of An E-Bike Battery? 

Before we get into the type of e-bike battery capacity you need and their different prices, let's go over what you are getting for your money inside one of these lithium-ion batteries. 

Battery Cells 

Most of the cells inside of an e-bike lithium-ion battery are arranged in a format of 18650 line by line to make up a larger battery and have a 1.5V charge, they are only slightly larger than the cell size of an AA battery.

Total capacity could be anything between 3200 and 350OmAh but this is also dependent on the voltage of the battery. 

BMS (Battery Management System) 

This is the part of your electric bike batteries which is very important. The BMS is responsible for the health of your battery and ensures current is regulated when charging, it also stops the battery from overheating in the electronic bike, improving its overall performance and extending the lifespan.

How Many Wh Should My Replacement Batteries Be? 

The Wh of your electric bike battery refers to the watt-hours it has, this is calculated by multiplying the voltage and amp hours of your battery. On average it is estimated that 1 mile forever 20Wh of energy that your battery has inside the electric bike.

Many factors can affect how far your electric bike goes however such as its tyres, the weight of the rider and even the riding conditions. 

We would suggest looking on average for a 400Wh to 500Wh capacity which will give you a range of around 50km depending on external factors. The higher the capacity of this bike component the more expensive your battery will be. 

The Cost Of E-Bike Batteries According To Brand 

As we mentioned earlier, e-bike batteries don't just change price according to their capacity, but also because of their brand. 

We have listed out some popular brands below with different and similar capacities in their batteries to see how much each type of battery pack replacement costs.

• Bosch Powertube 500 - £650.
• Bosch PowerPacks 400 - £500.
• Shimano STEPS BT-E8020 504 Wh - £400.
• Shimano STEPS BT-E8014 418 Wh - £550.
• Yamaha 500Wh - £600. 

How Long Does An E-Bike Battery Last? 

Since some of the top quality battery packs such as Bosch & Yamaha are very expensive, you might be wondering if they are worth the investment in the long run. 

Most e-bike batteries that are of high quality can last up to 1000 charge cycles (from 0% to 100), this is on average around 5 years before you start to get battery issues. It also depends on how well you take care of the battery too such as the conditions you store it in. 

Avoid buying cheap clone cells which are in batteries that come from China, these are known for having bad quality 18650-format Cells and have a much lower cell quality with a short life expectancy. 

Tips For Making Your E-Bike Battery Last Longer

To make your batteries lithium-ion cells last longer you should be following basic care to make the cell packs last longer and get the most for your money. 

We have listed out some essential tips for extending the life of your battery pack below.

• Charge your battery fully for the first time - Upon buying your ebike battery it is very important to let it charge fully for the first time, don't be tempted to use it straight away, this is where their cells learn the capacity they can charge too.
• Don't let it fully discharge - As soon as your battery reaches less than 10% we recommend switching to a regular bike mode and avoiding using the PAS, this is so as it doesn't fully discharge, even when storing use a trickle charger, storing your battery with no charge for long periods is not ideal.
• Store at the right temperature - Very hot or very cold temperatures can damage a battery and shorten its lifespan, it should be stored at a cool room temperature away from moisture too.
• Keep it between 50% and 80% - When storing your battery it is best to keep it a charge between 50% and 80% to increase its lifespan.
• Unplug when fully charged - Avoid getting lazy and leaving your e-bike battery on charge, set a timer so as you know when to go and unplug it. A charger or input fuse could damage the battery if not, however, most modern batteries have an automatic turn off function when they turn green.
• Let it cool - After riding with your e-bike's battery allow it at least 30 minutes to cool off before you put it on charge as it helps the batter to stabilise itself.

Frequently Asked Questions About E-Bike Batteries & Price

How much does an electric bike battery weigh? 

This is will be different according to the capacity and brand but most weigh around 5kg which adds a fair amount of weight to your electric bike.

What types of e-bike batteries are there? 

The most popular electric bike batteries now use lithium cell technologies, however, there are also lead acid which has a shorter lifespan, nickel-cadmium which are bad for the environment plus Lithium-ion Polymer which is similar to a regular lithium-ion battery except can be moulded into different shapes.

Is a 418wh capacity battery enough for a mountain eBike? 

This depends on the wattage of the electric bike, if your mountain bike had a 750W motor then you might want to look for a 500Wh battery instead to support it, it all comes down to the power of the motor and range you want to achieve. 

What are the best bike manufacturers for e-bike batteries? 

Some reputable brands which make high-quality electric bike batteries are; Bose, Yamaha, Bosch and Shimano.

Is a downtube mounted battery good? 

Downtube mounted batteries give a sleeker and more discreet look to your e-bike, they are best if you want an e-bike that appears more like a regular bike.

What are the biggest factors for a shorter battery life expectancy?

Many factors reduce batteries lifespan but the main ones have to be; not storing the battery properly, allowing it to discharge all the time, tampering with the battery and forgetting to unplug it when fully charged.

You should also be keeping your battery at a optimal charge of around 80% during storage.

Last Words 

To conclude, e-bike batteries can cost anything between £300-£600 depending on the brand that you choose and how big the capacity is for the battery. Battery packs with a larger Wh will always be more expensive, try to make sure your pack always has a BMS system and follow our tips above to prolong its lifespan.