As the most expensive and important part of an electric bicycle, the motor deserves more care and attention. The motor of an electric bicycle is usually located on the hub of the rear wheel, which is a good location for the motor. Motors are often expensive to repair or replace, and can be a lot of work. Therefore, the best solution is prevention, which is better than cure, preventing failure from happening in the first place.
Motors are usually closed systems with sensors, gears and electronics, and friction inside the motor generates heat. When combined with higher external temperatures, the heat can overload the motor and prevent it from functioning properly. Just like your computer, they need cooling, which means they need a way to cool down. However, instead of being cooled by a fan like a laptop or desktop computer, the motor relies on complex inner rings and magnets to dissipate heat.
A motor can only handle so much heat at one time, so when the temperature rises to excessive levels, it can damage the motor and cause mechanical parts to seize, destroying the entire motor. These complex devices can easily heat up and catch fire if not handled properly. Today we’re going to be talking specifically about protecting your motor when riding in hot weather.
Try to avoid your electric bicycle exposure in the sun
High temperature and high heat will reduce the service life of the battery. So try to keep your electric bike out of the sun as much as possible, not only will it protect your motor from overheating in case something goes wrong, but it will also keep your bike in better overall condition. When a bicycle is exposed to the elements, it may be blown by wind and rain. Leaving your bike outside, uncovered, will collect bird droppings and may even increase your risk of theft! So try to park your ebike in a safe, sheltered place.
Regularly check the electric bicycle motor
Although most electric bikes for adults are waterproof, no e-bike is completely waterproof. Motors that are damaged or exposed to rain can rust and corrode, visually inspect the metal joints on the motor for signs of rust. Look for any exposed wires or damaged parts, as this could short out the motor while you’re riding. When the battery fluid is spilled or submerged in water, a fire may occur inside.
Do not tamper with the factory settings of the electric bicycle
Knowing how to ride an e-bike properly is important to the life of your vehicle. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the user manual before riding. The factory settings of electric bicycles are set by the designers of the manufacturer after thousands of tests and with specific parameters. Using the bike for unintended purposes or using unintended power can cause the motor to overheat, short out, burn out, or seize up, voiding your e-bike warranty.
Properly use the spare parts of the original manufacturer
Under normal circumstances, charging an electric bicycle for too long will cause the battery to heat up, swell and even cause the battery to explode. Many families have more than one electric bicycle, and the mixed use of charging equipment for electric bicycles of different brands will also cause damage to the battery. In addition, there is no protective plate inside the non-original charger, which cannot play the role of self-protection and automatic power-off, and there is a great potential safety hazard. Likewise, the battery also needs to be a factory product of the same brand of bike. Otherwise, it may not match the power requirements of the motor. Too much power is supplied to the motor, risking motor failure or overheating.
If the electric bicycle is not used for a long time, it also needs to be charged regularly. Don’t think that it will be fine if you don’t use it. If the battery is not charged regularly, the service life will be seriously reduced or even scrapped. When charging, we often forget the charging time, resulting in continuing to charge after fully charged, such overcharging will cause the battery to lose water and affect the service life. The conclusion is to always use the original manufacturer’s chargers, batteries and motors correctly.
Electric bicycles are easy to be short-circuited due to high circuit temperature or circuit failure caused by motor heating, which increases the possibility of “burning”. Especially in summer, high temperature, rainy, humid and other weather factors. Therefore, try to keep your e-bike covered and parked in a shady place, use your bike properly in safe conditions, and check your bike and motor regularly for signs of damage or unusual activity. Don’t try to bypass the safety precautions built into your bike, always leave the factory settings unchanged. Under safe conditions, use the original manufacturer’s spare parts correctly, and don’t charge willfully. Even so, we still need to pay attention to the usual use and maintenance of electric bicycles. These high temperature tips will reduce your motor failure rate.
