With advantages like being eco-friendly and convenient, the electric vehicle has become a common everyday transport. But do you charge it correctly: only when the power is gone, or after every bit of use? The Xupai team tells you!

1. Keep the battery fully charged. If you ride the electric power-assist bicycle every day, whether for 10-50 km or not, top up the charge the same day so the battery stays well fed. Using the battery flat and leaving it idle for days before charging easily causes plate sulfation and capacity loss.

2. Perform a periodic deep discharge. We suggest a deep discharge after two months of use, that is, riding a long distance until the low-voltage indicator flashes and the power runs out, then recharging to restore the battery capacity. This also lets you learn the battery’s current capacity level and whether it needs maintenance.

3. Never store the battery discharged. Storing a lead-acid battery in a low state of charge seriously hurts its life; the longer it sits idle, the worse the damage.

4. Check regularly. If your new vehicle had a range of 50 km and within three months the range falls drastically to a dozen kilometers, use a multimeter to check the voltage at the battery’s external terminals. Fully charged it should read 39-42V. If it is several volts lower, or if you open the battery box and one block reads below 10.5V, an internal cell short may have occurred; go to a repair station for repair or replacement so as not to damage the other good blocks. Also check whether the charger is at fault.

5. The electric power-assist bicycle is designed for a load of 75 kg, so avoid carrying overly heavy objects, and pedal to assist when starting and climbing. At such moments the motor current grows, making the battery discharge too fast and the voltage drop quickly. The shallower each discharge, the longer the battery lasts. Reducing large-current discharge extends battery life and increases the range. In addition, whatever capacity of battery pack you use, develop the good habit of charging whenever it has been used.

6. In winter the battery capacity falls with temperature; this is normal. Taking 20 degrees Celsius as the reference, at -10 degrees Celsius the capacity is generally 80%.

7. Keep the battery surface clean at all times. Never leave the vehicle in the sun when parking; put it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.

8. The life of the lead-acid battery on an electric power-assist bicycle depends greatly on daily use and maintenance. In general, pay attention to the following:

(1) The shallower the discharge of each use, the shorter the distance ridden, the longer the battery life. Keep the habit of charging after every use so the battery is usually fully charged.

(2) Charging time should vary with the distance ridden: the longer the mileage, the longer the charge; the shorter, the shorter. Keep charging time within 4-12 hours and do not charge for excessively long.

(3) If the battery must sit for a long time, charge it fully first, and top up about once a month.

(4) Large-current discharge damages the battery, so pedal to assist when starting, going uphill, carrying loads, or riding against the wind.

(5) When charging, use the matched charger, place it in a cool, ventilated spot away from heat and damp, and never let water enter the charger, to prevent electric shock.

These are the correct methods for charging an electric vehicle battery. Mind the points above and your battery will serve you much longer than usual, so your electric vehicle can ride even farther!