Riding an e-bike in winter: what should you pay attention to?

Yes, you can ride your E-Bike in winter, and rain or snow will not damage the battery. However, it delivers less power in cold temperatures, so the range decreases. In freezing conditions, remove the battery after your ride, store it at room temperature, and only charge it once it has warmed up. Turn on the lights by dusk at the latest.

Below, we cover the battery, lights and slippery roads, with examples from our E-Bikes. Below the article, you will find models with what makes them suitable for winter and what to look out for.

How much cold can the battery handle?

According to ADAC, common batteries already deliver less power than they do in warm conditions from around 5 degrees Celsius. This reduces the range. ADAC does not specify a fixed temperature below zero at which you should stop riding. Your manufacturer's specifications can be found in the user manual.

While riding, a neoprene cover helps protect the battery from cold and moisture. Below freezing, remove it when parking and bring it into a room at room temperature. So do not leave it on the bike overnight in the courtyard.

Charging the battery in winter

Do not charge the battery outside on the bike when temperatures are low. If it has come in from the cold, wait until its temperature has adjusted before charging it. Once it is full, disconnect it from the charger.

A removable battery makes this much easier because you can simply take it upstairs with you after your ride. The user manual explains whether and how the battery on your model can be removed.

If you store the E-Bike away completely over winter, the storage rules apply: keep it disconnected from the charger, at 5 to 20 degrees, and at the charge level recommended by the manufacturer.

Do rain and snow damage the E-Bike?

Not the battery. According to ADAC, riding in rain or snow does not affect it. The brakes can handle it too: according to ADAC, disc brakes are not particularly susceptible to cold and moisture.

According to the manufacturers, the ENGWE O20 Boost, the JOBOBIKE Robin Pro and the Vogue Prestige have hydraulic disc brakes. ENGWE says that the ENGWE Mapfour N1 Air uses mechanical disc brakes.

Lights: what is required in winter

In winter, you often ride at dusk. ADAC reminds riders that the lights must be switched on by then at the latest. The front and rear lights and reflectors must work and be installed correctly, including on an E-Bike or Pedelec.

Pedelecs are subject to the regulations for bicycles, which means § 67 StVZO applies to lighting. The lights must be type-approved. At the front, you need a headlight for white light and a white reflector; at the rear, you need a red tail light and a red Category Z reflector. Flashing headlights are not permitted. Removable lights are allowed, but they must be attached to the bike at dusk and in darkness.

Before the darker season begins, check which lights are mounted on your bike and whether they work.

Ice, leaves and rails

It is often slippery in places you do not pay attention to in summer. ADAC mentions leaves, manhole covers and fresh road markings, which offer significantly less grip. Cross tram tracks at as close to a right angle as possible.

If your E-Bike has a motor in the front wheel, be especially careful. According to ADAC, a front-wheel hub motor can spin or slip, especially on slippery surfaces, inclines or in bends.

Do you need winter tyres?

According to ADFC, tyres suitable for Pedelecs and S-Pedelecs are available for ice and snow. You still need to ride carefully.

If you change the tyres, make sure they are identical in design or approved by the manufacturer of your E-Bike. According to ADFC, Pedelecs are covered by the Machinery Directive, which does not permit replacing parts with just any alternatives.