In sub-zero temperatures: Riding an e-bike in winter
Many riders store their e-bike in winter. This may be because the dirty weather spoils the fun of riding, as the risk of accidents increases, or because they want to protect their electric bike. In principle, however, you can also ride an e-bike in winter - although the bike battery prefers it warm.
When riding an e-bike in winter, you must of course pay attention to everything that also applies to bikes without electric assistance. Among other things, you should pay particular attention to a cautious riding style, your own visibility and bike maintenance. Slippery roads, poor visibility, wet conditions and road salt can otherwise quickly become a danger for both rider and bike. However, good e-bikes are at least protected from rain and splash water.
With electric bikes, there is also the fact that the e-bike battery does not like sub-zero temperatures. As long as the temperatures are not arctic, the bike battery will not be directly damaged by the cold, but riders must pay attention to a few things:
- In cold weather, both the usable capacity and the currently available power of the e-bike battery are reduced. This means that you can ride less far and often less fast.
- The battery must not be charged in the cold. This can damage the separating layer between the electrodes and lead to short circuits. In winter, e-bike batteries should therefore be charged indoors. The charging process should only be started when the battery has warmed up and is dry. You should pay particular attention to safety, especially if the battery has been exposed to extreme conditions. In addition, you should never heat the battery artificially, e.g. on a radiator or in the microwave. Heat also damages batteries.
- The e-bike battery should not be stored outside.
- It is best to keep the e-bike battery warm while riding. To do this, you can fit insulation, at least in very cold temperatures. Secondly, you should switch on the assistance right from the start and not just on the first climb. This way, the battery itself generates some heat as soon as you set off.
Our fireproof RETRON BOX is ideal for safely charging and storing e-bike batteries indoors.
