Do you know what happens to an electric vehicle that doesn’t travel long distances?

Most consumers prefer electric bicycles as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation because of its characteristics:

• It does not cause pollution,
• It does not make noise and
• It is easy to operate.

However, the longer the period of use of the electric vehicle, the phenomenon of decreasing mileage at any given time also bothers people.

During the battery usage process, due to quality issues with the product itself, increased load on the battery due to parameter mismatches of the electric vehicle, irrational use by consumers, and external environmental factors, the battery life is shortened, which affects the mileage of the electric vehicle.

It is crucial to select a charger with appropriate/compatible parameters for battery use. An unqualified charger will cause the battery to be undercharged or overcharged, hence sometimes it’s said that the battery isn’t damaged (worn out) due to usage, but due to poor charging.

The protective low-voltage point of the controller plays a significant role in protecting the battery from over-discharge. However, if the controller’s low-voltage protection point is higher than the standard, the excess energy in the battery will not be fully discharged, resulting in ‘loss, waste.’ If the controller’s low-voltage protection point is lower than the standard, it will again lead to the battery being extremely prone to over-discharge during use, and over-discharge can easily lead to battery failure.

Due to excessive demand and the pursuit of power and speed by consumers in the current market, the power of electric bicycles is increasing, and accordingly, the motor power is also increasing, taking into account costs, but still not keeping pace with the carrying capacity of the customer when it comes to the battery. Therefore, it often happens that the entire vehicle is equipped with a standard 48V20AH, but a battery of 48V12AH is still chosen for use, a ‘small cart’ battery (the motor power is lower than required for normal operation), which is unbearable and ‘painful’ for the battery.

Excessively high temperature will increase the likelihood of battery deformation, while excessively low temperature has an even greater impact on the battery. Taking an ambient temperature of 25°C as a standard, the battery capacity will decrease by 1% for every 1°C drop in temperature, and the effect of charging acceptance for the battery in winter can be even worse – the charging effect at -10°C is only about 70% compared to normal temperature.

Excessively high temperature increases the likelihood of battery deformation, while excessively low temperature has an even greater impact on the battery. Taking an ambient temperature of 25°C as a standard, the battery capacity will decrease by 1% for every 1°C drop in temperature, and the effect of charging acceptance for the battery in winter can be even worse – the charging effect at -10°C is only about 70% compared to normal temperature.

• As the vehicle ages, associated equipment may experience mechanical failures, for example, the bearing installation may not be very flexible, and the interface part may be loose, leading to reduced battery endurance efficiency of the electric bicycle.
• The entire vehicle ages, especially the battery connection cables, and with longer usage time, oxidation occurs, increasing resistance during operation, substantial energy loss occurs, sometimes causing a short circuit in the vehicle, leading to self-discharge.
• Tire pressure is too low, which can cause increased friction between the electric bicycle and the ground surface during riding, accelerating battery energy consumption.
• Errors in brake adjustment are not properly corrected, for example, the brake hose is too narrow, the brake hose does not return, etc., so when riding the electric bicycle, the current must be increased for it to work, and unnecessary energy is lost for no reason.
• Regarding road conditions, when riding on rough and uneven roads, braking and starting must be done multiple times, and the driving efficiency is only about 60% compared to driving on a flat road. At the same time, due to the high density of batteries, vibrations caused by uneven roads can damage the internal structure of the battery, which can sometimes be fatal to the battery.
• Frequent climbing on steep slopes and riding with excessive load (such as carrying people, heavy objects) will increase the working current of the electric bicycle, thereby reducing the mileage of the electric bicycle.

• When the electric bicycle is just started, the throttle must be momentarily pulled all the way, and bad habits, such as sudden braking at high speeds, will cause the battery to undergo ‘slide’ type discharge, which not only directly reduces the range and mileage of the electric bicycle but also seriously damages the battery’s lifespan.
• In summary, there are many reasons that contribute to the reduction of electric bicycle mileage, so when consumers find that the electric bicycle is not working properly during daily use, they should promptly go to a qualified service center to solve the problem or carry out repairs, because only in this way can a more perfect riding experience be achieved.