E-Bike Battery Dying? Replace It, Rebuild It, or Neither
Your e-bike used to get you to work and back on one charge. Now it barely makes it one way. Or it cuts out on hills. Or it just won't turn on.
Most people assume that means a new battery, and sometimes a new bike. Often it means neither. Here's how to work out which situation you're in.
Step one: make sure it's actually the battery
A dead bike and a dead battery are different things. The fault can be the charger, a connector, the controller or the throttle. We recently had a Puri XL series in the workshop that turned out to have two separate faults, and fixing only one would have left it dead. Read how we revived John's Puri.
So before you spend money on a battery, get it tested. Guessing is the expensive option.
Signs the battery really is on the way out
- Range has dropped a lot compared to when it was new
- The bike cuts out under load, like hills or hard acceleration, then comes back
- It won't charge to full, or the charger goes green almost straight away
- The case is swollen, cracked, or has been wet or dropped. Stop using and charging it and bring it in.
Option 1: replace it
If a compatible pack exists for your bike, replacement is usually the quickest fix. We stock replacement batteries by voltage and by mount style, including downtube and in-frame packs with Samsung cells, plus packs made to suit specific systems.
Voltage, connector and mount all have to match your bike. If you're not sure, send us a photo of the battery label and the mount before you order.
Option 2: repair or rebuild it
Sometimes there's no replacement to buy. The brand has moved on, or the pack is an odd shape. We're happy to look at battery repairs and rebuilds. What's possible depends on the pack, so bring it in and we'll tell you straight. A rebuild is what saved John's Puri.
Don't forget the charger
A charger has to match the battery's voltage and connector. The wrong one can damage the pack or simply not charge it. We carry chargers by voltage, so ask if you're unsure.
Get it looked at
We work on brands we don't sell. Bring the bike, the battery and the charger to 2 Wingrove Street, Alphington, call (03) 8542 9500 or email info@graceandpace.com.au.
