How to charge electric bikes in remote areas?

How to charge electric bikes in remote areas? [7 Important Tips]

 

Electric bikes are a great way to enjoy a healthy and leisurely commute while reducing transportation costs. However, most of us suffer from range anxiety and avoid riding e-bikes for extended periods of time.
 
Although the different mechanisms of an e-bike are designed to increase its range, it is not uncommon for an e-bike’s battery to drain in remote areas. Fortunately, people have several options for charging their e-bike batteries off-grid.

How to charge electric bike batteries in remote areas?

Despite the growing popularity of e-bikes and cars around the world, there are still not enough EV charging stations in remote areas.

Electric bike owners tend to experience range anxiety when traveling long distances off-grid. Knowing the different charging methods can save you from getting stuck.

Different ways to charge your e-bike battery when traveling in remote areas include:

Always pack a spare, fully charged battery pack
Carry the charging charger with you when packing for a long trip
Do enough research on e-bike booster stations close to your route
Use the regenerative braking system to charge your e-bike during your commute
Check for any Tesla destination chargers near your route before hitting the road
Get your bike ready for solar charging
Charge the battery with the help of a passing car or any other battery powered vehicle
Keep reading this article to learn more about all these e-bike charging options for traveling through the backcountry.
In addition, this article will discuss how to reduce the battery usage of electric bikes.

Seven Ways to Charge Your Electric Bike Battery While Traveling in Backcountry
Always pack a spare, fully charged battery pack
Your pedal-assist e-bike is designed to provide electric assistance by using the power stored in the battery. The chemical energy stored in the battery is converted into kinetic energy to help your e-bike accelerate.

Although newer e-bike lithium-ion battery packs have higher charge storage capacities, longer commutes can drain them to the limit.

Usually, this won’t be a problem when traveling in towns or cities with multiple e-bike charging stations or power sources.

However, your chances of finding an off-grid charging station are low.

An efficient way to keep your e-bike moving when traversing remote areas on a long commute is to pack an extra battery pack.

To benefit from this method, you need to ensure that:

The backup battery pack is fully charged.
The backup battery pack is in good condition and of good quality, providing high range.
The spare battery is assembled in a properly padded battery pouch to protect it from other items in the travel bag.
Spare battery packs not in pockets or bags that are exposed to excessive sun exposure. If a backup battery pack is constantly exposed to sunlight, not only will its range drop, but its heated battery fluid could also cause a dangerous explosion.
Backup battery packs are well insulated and covered to prevent battery fluid from freezing and losing range if outside temperatures get too cold.

Also, you need to be extra careful when removing a depleted battery and exchanging it with a spare rechargeable battery.

Following this tip will not only allow you to have a charged battery during long off-grid commutes, but it will also help you cover longer distances, drive at higher speeds, and reduce your range anxiety.

ANCHEER 350/500W Electric Bike 27.5 Inch Adult Electric Commuter Bike / Electric Mountain Bike, 48V Electric Bike with Removable 10Ah Battery, Professional 21Speed Gear

Packing a mobile charger for long trips

The best way to prepare for a long commute is to plan ahead and be well prepared. Even if you think an e-bike battery might last a long time to charge, changes in weather or landscape could change your estimate.

 
So it’s best to be well equipped for all possible situations and pack a mobile charger for longer bike trips. This tip becomes especially important when the route includes remote areas.

Every e-bike comes with a portable battery charger provided by the manufacturer. Although carrying this charger may add weight to your travel bag, it’s worth the extra effort.

If you’re already traveling with heavy luggage, buy a cargo rack and tie your luggage securely to it before hitting the road.

When you carry a portable charger, you can plug in the battery of your e-bike to charge it whenever you encounter any power source on the road.

Often, you’ll come across at least one repair station, coffee shop, gas station, or auto service station before you leave the grid.

Take the time to stop and recharge the battery before heading back down the trail. This will ensure you have plenty of fees to work with..

Once at your destination, you can plug in your e-bike’s battery pack to provide a fully charged battery for the return trip.

Electric bike batteries take at least six to eight hours to fully charge. Stopping to charge your e-bike battery for an hour will also benefit your trip.

You can stop at one stop for an hour, or stop at several different stops for shorter intervals. However, it depends on how much power you can find when traversing remote areas.

Do some pre-research on any available e-bike charging stations

While most off-grid and remote areas typically do not have any booster stations installed, many of these locations do have EV charging stations.

Therefore, you must do in-depth research before you set off. Doing this will help you:
 
Find any available charging stations along your route. This will make your pack lighter as you won’t need to carry an extra battery pack.
Choose a route that has the closest electric bike charging station.
Enjoy riding your e-bike without range anxiety because you’ll know exactly where to go if your battery is dying.
Travel with a fully charged e-bike battery that will allow you to travel longer distances, travel at higher speeds, and arrive at your destination on time.
Some charging stations have a fixed high-amp setting that can quickly charge an e-bike’s battery, but can cause irreversible damage to range. If available, always choose a station that allows you to adjust amplifier settings.

Use the regenerative braking system to charge the battery during your commute
Regenerative braking is an excellent mechanism that makes e-bikes superior to gasoline-powered ones.

How does the regenerative braking system work?

Regenerative braking allows e-bike riders to convert their braking motion into a charge for the battery.

When the e-bike’s sensor detects a pedaling motion, it triggers the e-bike’s electric motor to convert the chemical energy stored in the battery into kinetic energy.

When the kinetic energy generated is transferred to the tires of the e-bike for maneuvering, the thermal energy is a by-product of the tire movement and the overall mechanism.

Regenerative braking systems capture the heat energy that would otherwise be wasted and convert it into chemical energy.

Chemical energy is recovered in the battery, and in this way, the battery’s charge level is restored.

Therefore, using the regenerative braking system while pedaling helps reduce battery waste and helps recharge the battery while you travel.

Although charging is not the same as charging the battery at a supercharger station, the overall mechanism still manages to increase the range and restore some of the battery charge.
  

Check for Tesla destination chargers near your route

What is a Tesla Destination Charger?
Tesla introduced their destination chargers to increase Tesla’s consumer experience and encourage more people to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles to greener technology.

Tesla Destination Charging Stations are electrical outlets that supercharge Tesla electric vehicles. These stations offer high amp charging and are free to use.

Nearly 4,500 Tesla destination chargers are installed outside popular public destinations across the United States, such as malls, parks, hotels, and more.

While these charging stations are primarily designed for Tesla electric vehicles, you can also charge the battery of an e-bike.

You’ll need to buy a special outsourced adapter so you can connect your e-bike to a charging source and control the amp reading to avoid battery damage.

Doing so will allow you to travel at higher speeds and cover greater distances while enjoying fast and free battery charging.

Preparing Your Electric Bike for Solar Charging
Although charging electric bikes with solar energy is uncommon and unconventional, this method can be very useful, especially when traveling on a sunny day.

All you need to do is invest in a portable solar tunnel and have it face direct sunlight as you travel through remote areas.

This method is very effective and gives your battery a good chance to recharge when there are no other options.

However, you shouldn’t rely on this method alone, especially if you’re traveling to areas with unpredictable weather.

Seek help from another battery-operated vehicle to charge the battery
If you’re stuck in a remote area with no other charging source nearby, one way to charge your battery is to wait for a battery-powered vehicle to drive past you.

However, when connecting a large vehicle’s battery to a small e-bike battery, be sure to use a suitable charging cable to control the voltage so as not to damage the battery.

How to Reduce Your Electric Bike’s Battery Usage

Ride your e-bike at a steady pace and avoid erratic acceleration.
Avoid making too many unnecessary stops or excursions. This is because your bike consumes more power each time it restarts.
Choose a route with flat, smooth terrain. Riding an e-bike on steep slopes or rough terrain puts an unhealthy strain on the battery. This causes the battery to drain quickly and permanently damage its range.
Protect the battery from excessive sunlight or cold weather by installing a bike fender. Lithium-ion batteries are highly sensitive to temperature changes and may reduce their range.
final thoughts
Electric bikes are designed for shorter daily and longer intercity commutes. If your route includes a remote area, you can charge your bike battery using any of the methods above.