Make a battery pack last five years

What actually ages a pack

Two things: cycle count and time spent at high state of charge. Cycling is unavoidable. The second one is almost entirely under your control and accounts for most of the difference between a pack that lasts two years and one that lasts six.

A cell held at 100% sits at higher internal voltage, which accelerates the chemical side reactions that permanently reduce capacity. A cell at 50% is close to dormant. This is why a laptop battery that lives plugged in dies faster than one that does not, and why the 80% habit is worth the small range sacrifice.

The four habits

1. 01 Charge to 80% for everyday riding

   You lose about 20% of range and roughly double the pack’s useful life. Our fast chargers do this by default for exactly this reason.

2. 02 Go to 100% only before a long ride

   Full charge immediately before a big day, not the night before, and ride it down within a day or two.

3. 03 Never store flat, never store full

   For anything longer than a month, land between 40% and 60% and top it up every three months.

4. 04 Keep it indoors, and warm

   Charging a cold pack is slow and slightly harmful. A garage in a midwest winter is not a good home for a battery.

Warning signs worth acting on

• Range dropping more than 10% in a season.
• The pack becoming noticeably hot during a normal charge or discharge.
• Any swelling, rattle, or a smell like sweet solvent. Stop using it and contact us immediately.
• Charger behaviour change: no longer cutting off, or taking twice as long.

We cover packs for two years against capacity falling below 70% of rated, tested at no cost to you. If you are seeing a range decline you think is abnormal, measure it before you assume: ride a known flat route at moderate assist from full to flat, and compare against the original figure.

Winter storage checklist

1. Ride the pack down to about half.
2. Wipe it clean and dry it fully. Never store a wet pack.
3. Store indoors, between 50F and 75F, away from anything flammable.
4. Recharge to 50% every three months, then return it to storage.
5. Before spring, charge to 100% and ride gently for the first few miles.