Why is your E-moped losing range?
After a few months or years of using your electric moped, you might feel that it isn’t going as far as it used to. If this happens, you are not imagining things as range loss is one of the most common concerns among riders, but don’t fret as this is completely normal and fixable.
Here is a breakdown of common reasons as to why your range is dropping and what you can do about it.
1. Battery Degradation
Most electric moped batteries typically use lithium-ion cells, which last about 500 - 1,000 full charge cycles with roughly 2-4 years of regular use. To diagnose if you have this issue, you’ll notice that you’ve been charging just as often, but are getting fewer miles or the battery drains faster than before.
To help slow battery wear:
- Avoid regularly discharging your battery to 0%.
- Try to keep the battery between 20-80% during daily use.
2. Cold Weather
Batteries perform worse in cold weather. This happens as cold temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside the battery, reducing its ability to create and store power efficiently. If you’re riding in winter, expect your range to drop by around 10-30%.
To mitigate this:
- Store your battery indoors at room temperature.
- Allow the battery to reach room temperature indoors before riding.
3. Low Tyre Pressure
Probably the most overlooked, but keeping your tyres at the recommended pressuremakes a difference. When your tyres are underinflated, they have more rolling resistance. Worse, your motor will have to draw more power which drains your battery faster.
Fix this issue by:
- Check tyre pressures weekly.
- Keep it at the recommended PSI (check manufacturer documentation).
4. Riding Style
The way we ride an electric moped directly affects our range. Common range killers are full throttle acceleration, constant stop-start riding, as well as riding at higher speeds.
You can change your riding habits to increase range by:
- Accelerate smoothly.
- Maintain a steady speed.
5. Terrain & Load
As not all miles are equal, reduced range is commonly felt especially on rough and hilly terrain. Carrying heavy loads also reduces range.
To lessen reduced range when riding in difficult terrain, you can:
- Plan routes with fewer hills if possible.
- Avoid overloading your electric moped.
6. Mechanical Issues
Beyond the battery, other parts of the e-moped can be the culprit for the reduction of the range. Sometimes brake pads can rub against the disc, the wheels might be misaligned, or the e-moped has worn bearings. You will feel this if there is a resistance when pushing the moped and you feel the top speed reducing.
To deal with mechanical issues impacting range:
- Check if the wheels spin freely.
- Get the vehicle checked if something feels off.