Contents
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
