Before buying an electric bike, what factors do you consider fundamental?

Let's find out!

Did you mention cost, need, warranty, or range? 

You're so predictable. I wish I had known better.

How can you not mention charging compatibility?

Did you not think about when you'll probably lose your bike charger?

Imagine yourself on a tour, cycling your ebike with full vigor, but looking at its display does not bode well. While you are still far from the destination, your battery is running low.

What should you do?

Never assume that artificial items are 100% effective. In an emergency, getting a new charger isn't the best option. Therefore, you should prepare for all eventualities.

What are other options for charging an electric bike besides a charger?

No worries.

How come? We've got you covered!

Let's go! Keep reading for some new insights!

How to Charge an Ebike

Disregarding the battery and power capacity type, the principle for charging electric bikes is relatively easy.

1. Turn the battery switch off.
2. Detach the battery pack from the e-bike.

• Connect the original charger to the battery pack and plug it into a power outlet.

1. Switch on the plug to begin charging
2. Once the battery indicator shows full, restore the battery to the bike.

Believe it or not, that is easier said than done.

But you don't have to be distressed about a lost/malfunctioning charger or perhaps the absence of an immediate power source. A handful of options are available to maneuver about to get a lifeless battery up and running without any hassle.

Remember, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Aren’t you curious to discover them?

Let’s get right into them!

Alternative Ways of Charging an Ebike Battery

1)   Charging with a car battery

A removable 12V DC charger is commonly used for electric bikes. The most interesting aspect of this feature is that it can be plugged into anything with a compatible receiver. That includes cars!

Let's say your car has a 12V DC outlet. Your e-bike's battery should be in the car and the ignition should be on. Plug the battery into the socket for a few hours.

A 1000-watt inverter can also be used to charge the battery of your hovsco ebike using a car battery, a solar panel, a battery bank, or another electrical system. Attach an inverter to the car battery and connect the inverter terminals to the power supply. Connect the cable to the battery to complete the connection.

2)   Pedal charging

There is an inbuilt pedal charging feature in most, but not all, ebikes. Regenerative braking (or pedaling) is used in models with this feature.

Describe how it works.

The process is pretty straightforward.

While pedaling, kinetic energy is often lost through the heat produced by brake pads and wind resistance.

Is it possible to convert this energy into something more useful?

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but rather converted from one form to another according to the principle of energy conservation. Regenerative braking on electric bikes makes this principle possible. As a result, they are able to capture the energy that would otherwise be lost and convert it into electric power to recharge the batteries.

3)   Using an alternative battery

Have you ever heard of series, parallel, and series-parallel connections? If you haven't, they are methods of connecting two or more batteries to increase the voltage, ampere-hour capacity, or both.

Let’s borrow some knowledge from parallel battery connections.

To increase the ampere-hour capacity, you can connect your ebike's battery in parallel with another battery(or multiple batteries) of a similar voltage profile. This video explains how to achieve such a connection.

Both batteries will charge and discharge simultaneously, and their outputs will add up, giving you the desired charging setup.

4)   Using a variable power supply

So far, this method is proven to be the safest for recharging an ebike's battery without using a charger. All you need here is a direct current.

When the batteries are excited with DC power, electrons in the direct current will flow back into the battery cells to establish an electric potential that the batteries are supposed to have when fully charged.

Do you know how to make the connection feasible?

This video may help!

5)   Though a solar panel

Who doesn’t like renewable energy?

It can never be me:)

Solar energy is cheaper, Eco-friendly, and versatile. You should give it a go! You only need to connect a 100-200 watts solar panel to an inverter and channel that solar energy to power your existing ebike charger.

Sounds easy. Right?

Probably not.

But this guide can make it look like a piece of cake!

6)   Using a generator

If you can’t find any best method for charging your electric bike’s battery without a charger among those five we’ve already discussed, then a generator may be the one for you!

A generator is quite simple to use. It's just a subject of plugging one end of a charging cable into the generator outlet and connecting it to the electric bike's battery. But before that, you need to ensure that the generator has more power output than your ebike's battery. Then, you can run the generator for a while to charge up your bike's battery.

A portable generator with the correct wattage will guarantee a smooth, uninterrupted adventure with your hovsco ebike!

7)   Using a portable charger

It is impossible not to consider a portable charger when there are so many options in technology today?

The portable charger, or power bank, works by drawing power from an external source. This power is then converted to electrical energy and stored in batteries. When you plug in your electronic device, the energy is transferred.

An electric bike can draw up to 15 amps. Use a portable charger that meets these requirements (or any other bike's requirements) to power up the internal battery of your ebike.

8)   On a charging station

Entrepreneurs have found a gap in electronics - a lack of charging stations for electronic devices. You can't go more than two miles without seeing a bike-energy charging station.

Check for charging stations along your route using apps such as open charge map, nextcharge, and eBIKE charge station app.

Don't forget, however, to check if your bike's battery is compatible with a higher voltage outlet before plugging it in.

Have You Made a Decision Yet?

A battery is often worth half of the ebike's value. If you tend to it well, you will get the best out of your ebike. Always be conscious of your bike's battery charging tips to ensure longevity.

If you have read this piece this far, I’m confident that you and I can get along nicely. Let's have a chit-chat in the comment section!