Can I leave my e-bike out in the sun?
The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. You decide to explore nature on your e-bike and feel the wind in your hair. But amidst these summer feelings, it's important to consider how the heat can affect the performance and lifespan of a lithium-ion battery. If you want to enjoy your e-bike excursions to the full extent, then be sure to read on for some useful tips on how to optimally protect your e-bike from the effects of the summer heat.
The effects of heat on the e-bike battery
- Batteries are sensitive energy storage devices that work most efficiently within a certain temperature range. As a rule, this range is between 10°C and 20°C, but the exact temperature limits vary depending on the battery type and manufacturer. While colder temperatures in winter can affect battery performance, summer heat poses an even greater challenge.
- In summer, high temperatures can damage your e-bike battery. The possible effects are:
- Faster ageing: High temperatures accelerate the ageing process of the battery, which can lead to a shortened service life.
- Increased internal resistance: The heat leads to an increased internal resistance of the battery, which in turn can impair the performance of the E-Bike.
- Danger of destruction: At extreme temperatures, the e-bike battery can be damaged and inflate, and in the worst case, it can even cause a fire or explosion.
Protect your e-bike battery in summer - our recommendations:
The heat is usually more problematic when stationary than when travelling, as the wind at least provides some cooling. As specialists in battery storage, we have the following recommendations for the correct and safe handling of e-bike batteries in summer:
- shaded parking space: if possible, place your e-bike in the shade in summer. Avoid direct sunlight, especially during longer periods of non-use.
- remove and cool: On particularly hot days, we recommend removing the lithium-ion battery from the bike and storing it in a cool, well-ventilated place. This can also be useful during a break or when parking the E-Bike for a longer period of time.
- avoid extreme heat: On days with extreme temperatures, it is advisable to avoid travelling with the electric bike in order to protect the battery.
- cool charging: Make sure you always charge the e-bike battery in a cool place and allow it to cool down sufficiently before you start charging.
- bright colours and reflective materials: Use battery packs or bike frames in bright colours or with a reflective metal look to reduce heating caused by sunlight.
- safety container from RETRON: To additionally protect your e-bike battery from heat and external influences, we recommend using a battery safety container such as the RETRON BOX. Thanks to the strong insulation, the lithium-ion battery remains cool inside and the box is fireproof in the event of a fire or explosion.
Conclusion:
Don't forget that heat is a challenge for your e-bike battery. Especially in a parked car, the lithium-ion battery of the electric bike can quickly reach a critical temperature and, in extreme cases, even set the vehicle on fire. We therefore recommend disconnecting the battery from the bike and storing and transporting it in a safety container such as the RETRON BOX. Thanks to the strong insulation, the lithium-ion battery does not heat up so quickly and, if the worst comes to the worst, the box is fireproof.
