Electric vehicles are the future. With rising fuel prices and growing environmental concerns, the automobile market turns its gaze towards these vehicles. Although charging infrastructure and battery technology place some hard limits on an e-bike's functionality, they are still a viable alternative to fuel-based vehicles in the here and now.
There are plenty of owners of electric powered bike already. As such, this article aims to guide users of said vehicles to keep their vehicles in peak conditions to maintain a hassle-free experience. Remember that these tips are not a substitute for professional servicing but rather a more generalized how-to guide.
HowElectrical Bikes Should Be Maintained
- Avoid overloading the vehicle: This is a precautionary tip but crucial nonetheless. All electric bikes and mopeds have a specified payload capacity, which should be adhered to. Overloading the vehicle with unnecessary cargo/andor passengers will pressurize the engine and tyres and increase the power consumed by the vehicle. An occasional overload from time to time is acceptable, but frequently burdening the vehicle with heavy weights can take a toll on its performance.
- Maintaining the brake pads: Brake pads must be regularly inspected from time to time, as a faulty or damaged brake pad could (surprise, surprise) lead to a severe accident on the road. You can also replace brake pads if you have bike insurance or do it yourself. Do not skimp out on this step unless you wish to have a first-person view of a crash or a potential vehicular pileup.
- Avoid parking your electric bike in a hot place: It is frequent for vehicle owners to park their motorbikes and other vehicles under direct sunlight. Although this is not a concern for those with a regular motorbike(apart from needing some ointment for first-degree burns), individuals withe-bikes will need to be very careful as their vehicles' batteries are susceptible to damage from extreme heat.
- Check tyre pressure: Due to their lighter weight, tyre pressure can be deceptively misleading in electric bikes. One can check this pressure with a pressure gauge or by looking closely at the tyre’s sidewalls. A tyre with inadequate pressure can puncture unexpectedly and make the engine work harder than needed, impacting its health.
- Battery maintenance: A battery is undeniably one of the most if not the most crucial aspect of an electric bike, which requires one to take good care of it. As is the case with smartphone lithium-ion batteries, an e-bike's batteries should never be completely drained. It is best to leave the battery between 40-70% when the bike is left unused for an extended period.
- Consider insuring your e-bike: A bike insurance is usually a wise and reasonable investment to make. Also worth mentioning is that electric two-wheelers are cheaper than ones that run on fuel. It can be even cheaper if done online.
Conclusion
All-electric vehicles, including your powerful electric bike, require some degree of maintenance and care to keep them at peak efficiency and to avoid accidents. This is an inevitable reality of vehicle ownership.
