How long does an electric bike need to charge?

Charging an empty e-bike battery usually takes a few hours. The ANWB gives a rough estimate of two and a half to six and a half hours. How long it takes for you depends on two things: how many watt-hours (Wh) the battery can hold and how many amps the charger supplies. Large battery and small charger? Then it takes longer.

Below, you can read what determines charging time, how to charge it properly and where to place the battery safely. The advice comes from sources including the fire service and the ANWB. At the bottom, you’ll find e-bikes with the battery capacity specified by their manufacturer.

What determines charging time?

The battery and the charger. You can see how much energy a battery contains from its watt-hours: the voltage multiplied by the number of ampere-hours. For example, the JOBOBIKE Ace Pro has 36 volts and 15 ampere-hours, adding up to 540 watt-hours. The more watt-hours, the longer charging takes with the same charger. A charger that supplies more amps fills the battery faster.

Bosch shows how much difference this makes with its own PowerPack 500 battery. With a 4-amp charger, it is fully charged in approximately 4.5 hours; with a 2-amp charger, it takes approximately 7.3 hours. These figures come from Bosch. For your own bike, check the manual.

Does charging take longer for a fatbike?

Not because it is a fatbike. According to the Dutch government, a fatbike is simply an electric bicycle, so here too, the battery and charger determine how long it takes. Some fatbikes do have a large battery. The JOBOBIKE Robin Pro, with 26 x 4.0-inch tyres, has 48 volts and 20 ampere-hours, adding up to 960 watt-hours. With the same charger, it takes longer to charge than a small battery. You can find more models among the fatbikes.

What is the best way to charge the battery?

You can simply top it up. According to the ANWB, it does not matter whether the battery is still 40, 60 or 80 percent full. Bosch also says that interrupting the charging process is not harmful, and lithium-ion batteries do not have a memory effect like older batteries.

For the battery’s lifespan, a charge level between 20 and 80 percent is best, according to Milieu Centraal. So do not let the battery run completely empty: the Consumentenbond considers 20 percent the minimum. Bosch recommends charging the battery fully only when it is really necessary. That is not easy, the Consumentenbond notes: almost no e-bike or charger lets you set a maximum charge level.

Can you leave the battery connected to the charger all night?

It is better not to. The fire service advises charging when you are at home and awake, so you can act quickly if something goes wrong. So do not charge it while you are sleeping or out shopping. Preferably charge during the day and unplug it as soon as the battery is full.

That is also better for the battery itself. According to Ik laad accuraat, a campaign by BOVAG, RAI Vereniging and the fire service, a battery ages faster when it remains fully charged and connected to the power supply.

Can you simply charge the battery from a wall socket?

Yes, using an earthed socket and the original charger that belongs to your battery. That is what the fire service advises. A universal charger or counterfeit charger can damage the battery. Each battery model has its own corresponding charger, according to the ANWB.

According to the Consumentenbond, most batteries can be disconnected and charged indoors. This is useful if there is no power outlet where you keep your bike.

Where can you charge the battery safely?

Outside in a shed or in the garden is safest, says the fire service. If that is not possible, choose a sturdy, non-flammable place indoors. So do not charge it on the sofa or on a stack of newspapers, and make sure there is nothing on or underneath the battery that could catch fire. Install a smoke detector near the place where you charge it.

Do not charge it in the stairwell or bedroom, and do not block your escape route: in the event of a battery fire, toxic smoke makes escaping even more difficult. If temperatures are below freezing, do not charge the battery in the cold. The Consumentenbond recommends bringing the battery indoors and charging it at room temperature.

What should you do if the battery gets hot or starts smoking?

Is the battery swollen or deformed, or is it emitting smoke or a chemical smell? Call 112 immediately and leave the room. Do not try to put out the fire yourself and do not move the battery, advises the fire service: smoke from a burning lithium-ion battery is highly toxic. Stay out of the smoke.

Has your battery been dropped, damaged or overheated? Contact a bicycle specialist before using the bike again. According to the fire service, the risk of a battery fire is higher if the battery has been damaged.