How to charge an electric bike

It’s straightforward to charge an electric bike battery, both at home and on the go. Handily you can charge electric bikes using regular UK three-pin plugs and domestic wall sockets. This means you can charge your electric bike pretty much anywhere and you won’t need to install a specific wallbox, as you might with an electric car.
Many electric bikes have removable batteries, which makes charging even more flexible. It is very easy to remove the battery and charge at work, at home or if you see a plug socket when you are out and about. Always read the charging instructions that come with your electric bike for the specific guidance from the manufacturer about the best practice for that particular model.

The charging time for your electric bike will depend on the capacity of the battery and the charging rate. In general, charging an electric bike with an empty battery can take anywhere between three hours and five and a half hours to reach full charge.

To charge your electric bike you'll need to find your charging port and keep your charging unit and cable to hand.

The charging port on an electric bike is usually located on the frame of the electric bike. If your electric bike has a removable battery, the port will be on the battery. The charging point should be marked with a charging symbol.

Connect one end of the charging unit’s cable to the charging port on your electric bike and the other end to a domestic three-pin plug socket. If your electric bike has a removable battery, plug one end of the charging cable into the charging port on the battery and the other into a plug socket.

Once plugged in, let your battery charge.
The charging time for your electric bike will depend on the capacity of the battery and the charging rate. If your battery is empty it should take between three and five and a half hours to charge. Most electric bikes come with a charging indicator, which will show you the charging status of the battery. Keep an eye on the battery to check it is charging.

Once your electric bike’s battery is fully charged, unplug the charging cable from the electric bike and the power source. While most electric bike chargers will automatically switch off when the battery is fully charged avoid leaving it plugged in for prolonged periods of time.
Following these steps will ensure that your electric bike battery is charged and ready for your next ride.

Battery life is measured in charging cycles, which is to say the number of times it has been depleted and recharged. The number of charging cycles your battery will deliver varies on its type, the way you use it and various other factors but, typically, you can expect up to 1,000 charging cycles before performance starts to drop off. If you’re concerned about the longevity of the battery it is worth checking if the electric bike you want to buy comes with a warranty that covers the battery.
There are also steps you can take to look after your electric bike battery and give it as long a life as possible. These include:

Charge your electric bike inside, in a dry space at room temperature. If you keep your bikes outside in a shed and you have a removable battery it makes sense to take it off the bike and bring it indoors to charge and for storage. Batteries are temperature sensitive so avoid extremes of cold and heat to keep them working their best.

When cleaning your bike avoid getting the battery wet, and be especially careful when using hose pipes or pressure washers. A wipe with a damp cloth is the best option for your battery.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific guidance for your electric bike’s battery but, to preserve its life and maximise charging cycles, most recommend keeping it at around three-quarters charged unless you’re doing a long ride and really need every last mile of range. Running the battery from fully charged to fully depleted is best avoided as well, though some manufacturers recommend you fully discharge it at least once a quarter. As a general rule ‘little and often’ is the best charging policy to stick by when it comes to charging. Battery managers on the charger can help you monitor and control the status and sticking to the manufacturer’s specified care instructions will maximise the performance and charging cycles for the maximum life.

You can browse lots of different electric bikes on Auto Trader bikes here.