How to reset an electric bike battery?

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Comment réinitialiser une batterie de vélo électrique ?

To troubleshoot performance issues or calibrate your e-bike's battery management system, it's sometimes necessary to perform an e-bike battery reset . How to reset an e-bike battery? That's what we're interested in in this article.

How should you proceed and under what conditions? How can you properly maintain your bike by adopting the right daily habits to extend its lifespan?

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The Battery of an Electric Bicycle

The battery is the central component of an electric bike. It's the essential element that determines the bike's range, power, and overall performance. There are different types of batteries for an electric bike, including :

  • Li-ion (lithium) battery,
  • Lithium Iron Phosphate or LiFePO4 batteries,
  • lead batteries.

The differences often lie in the price and weight of the battery, with lead-acid batteries being the least expensive but the heaviest. How do you reset an electric bike battery?

The battery determines the range of your bike, the range of batteries depends on their capacity , measured in amp-hours or watt-hours. A higher capacity generally means a longer range. If faults are detected, it is sometimes necessary to perform a reset to try to re-boost the battery.

Battery maintenance and lifespan

To extend the life of your electric bike battery, the first thing to do is never let it completely discharge; it should be kept at least 20% charged. Next, make sure to store your battery at a moderate temperature.

When the battery shows signs of fatigue, reduced autonomy, rapid discharge or when the battery no longer supports a full charge, it is time to change it. Obviously, the lifespan of a battery depends on the use you make of your bike and the maintenance you reserve for its battery. Also, if the bike is not used, it is always better to disassemble and store the battery. Sometimes, resetting the battery can give it a little more punch!

When to reset the battery?

When should you reset your electric bike battery?

When signs of fatigue begin to be felt, if performance begins to decrease, in the event of poor electric bike battery contact, it may be wise to reset the battery of your electric bike.

Also in case of:

  • Performance issues
  • Charge holding problems
  • Difficulties with a full load
  • Communication problems between the bike's control system and the battery
  • Prolonged period of inactivity.

In these cases, you may want to consider a battery reset.

How to reset the battery?

To reset your electric bike battery, you should follow the steps: how to reset an electric bike battery, you must:

  1. Turn off the electric bike.
  2. Disconnect the battery. If it is removable, it is recommended to remove it.
  3. Check the battery connections and clean them if rusty or dirty.
  4. To reset: Leave the battery disconnected for at least 15 minutes. The system will reset.
  5. Reconnect the battery, reconnect to the bike and check that all connections are secure.
  6. Charge the battery. Perform a full charge.
  7. Turn on the electric bike. Check operation.

Additional tips

With your electric bike's user manual, you can follow the procedure that best fits your bike model. If resetting your bike doesn't resolve your issues, you should contact the manufacturer or a professional directly, who can better diagnose the fault or problems you're experiencing.

Maintenance and precautions after reset

After performing the reset, the battery needs proper care.
It must be properly maintained and stored in a suitable location. Here is what you must do:

  1. Charge regularly and do not let your battery discharge below 20%.
  2. Always use the original charger, or if you need to replace it, a compatible charger.
  3. Store your battery carefully if it will not be used for a long period of time: store it in a dedicated bag, maintain a constant, moderate temperature, and avoid humidity. Ensure it is at least 50% charged before storage.
  4. When using in cold weather, remember to preheat. Charge at room temperature.
  5. Protect your battery from water and moisture. Clean it regularly with a dry cloth.
  6. Avoid overcharging and do not leave it on charge longer than necessary. Unplug the charger after charging.
  7. Do not overuse your battery, reduce the power.

Legal and security considerations

The law requires proper waste management and if you need to change your battery, you must therefore entrust the old one to a professional who collects defective batteries.

You must take the necessary precautions when working on your electric bike and battery.
Please note:

  • Wear gloves to protect your hands
  • Work on a dry, clean surface
  • Avoid contact with metal
  • Respect the battery rest time for its reset
  • Carefully and visually inspect your battery

If you have removed your battery, make sure it is securely fastened when reassembling.

  • Monitor the charging process, avoid overcharging.

How often should you reset your bike battery?

A reset should not be performed too frequently, as this may damage the battery rather than improve it.

Ideally, this operation can be done if you notice a sudden drop in performance or abnormal behavior.

It is therefore important to get into the habit of good practices for storing the battery in a temperate place and, above all, avoid deep and repeated discharges of the battery. Remember to never let a battery completely discharge if you are not going to use your bike for a long time. Before any handling, you must carefully follow the steps for removing the battery and then replacing it. 

FAQs

How to reset an electric bike battery?

To begin this reset, you must discharge the battery until it shuts down. After discharging, recharge your battery to 100%. This operation aims to rebalance the cells in your battery and reset the BMS (Battery Management System) data.

How do I reset my e-bike battery BMS?

To reset the BMS of the internal battery of the electric bike, follow these steps: Turn off the battery, Remove the screws from the battery box, Place the opened battery on a wooden table for safety, Wear electric gloves, Disconnect the battery from the BMS chip, Start charging the battery, Reconnect the battery to the BMS chip while charging.

How to wake up an electric bike battery?

The best way to “wake up” your battery is to fully charge it before first use.

How do I reactivate my electric bike battery?

Once the battery is charged, disconnect it from the bike and let it rest for about ten minutes. This time allows the internal components to fully discharge and reset some parameters. Then, reconnect the battery and turn on your e-bike.

Conclusion

To reset an electric bike, it is sometimes necessary to reset the battery.
Most often this operation occurs when the electric bike loses its performance and/or if you have not used your bike for a certain time.
A battery reset will restore the original battery to working order. Throughout the process, it's essential to proceed methodically, using the right tools and following safety guidelines.

Batoobike offers a 720 Wh battery on its Colibri cargo bike model , for between 50 and 100 km of autonomy depending on the use of electric assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us for any necessary information on the battery of your Colibri bike.