Battery condition on NEW e-bikes that sat in warehouse for years

[erider1]

There are many NEW e-bikes on sale today that are 2, 3 or even 4 years old.
The battery that is made of say 18650 cell (most often) has been sitting in that bike since new ??

Does anyone know how things work and what to expect as for the condition of battery, when buying say 3 year old NEW model from dealer.

If the bike was boxed long time ago and sat somewhere in warehouse for 2 years, and if no-one was charging the batteries;
Li-Ion batteries should be stored at 40-60% of charge and voltage should not drop below 2.5V.

Are people getting degraded batteries when they buying several years old e-bikes?

 

[Joecrow]

Are people getting degraded batteries when they buying several years old e-bikes?

Given the very big discounts offered on many Gen 4 2023/4 Bosch powered bikes I would say it was well worth any risk. In the worst case I believe such bikes would still be subject to standard warranty from the purchase date.

 

[Tooks]

Depends on the bike, and the battery really.

When brand new cells are manufactured, the building process creates a passivation layer that protects the battery from excess self discharge and is only overcome when the battery starts being used properly, ie charged and discharged.

Passivation gives batteries a ‘shelf life’, often measured in years. Without it, all cells would need to be made ‘just in time’ and there wouldn’t be shelf stock to manufacture battery packs.

It’s not something I’d worry about in any ‘branded’ bike with a known battery pack.

 

[jackamo]

There are many NEW e-bikes on sale today that are 2, 3 or even 4 years old.
The battery that is made of say 18650 cell (most often) has been sitting in that bike since new ??

Does anyone know how things work and what to expect as for the condition of battery, when buying say 3 year old NEW model from dealer.

If the bike was boxed long time ago and sat somewhere in warehouse for 2 years, and if no-one was charging the batteries;
Li-Ion batteries should be stored at 40-60% of charge and voltage should not drop below 2.5V.

Are people getting degraded batteries when they buying several years old e-bikes?

The fact they haven't been used or even fully charged and stored in a warm dry condition they should be like new .

 

[erider1]

Good info, thanks guys. Never heard of passivation before.
Also first hits on Internet returning passivation for metals, but then there is more about passivation in batteries.
Good info, for example, on spectrumbatteries.com website...

 

[erider1]

About the battery warranty. For example Specialized says, it must last for 2 years or 300 cycles.
BUT it does not specify how the durability is measured???

After 2 years or 300 cycles what is level / capacity/ % or original state should there be? and more importantly how do you, as a consumer measure that for eventual warranty? Anyone knows the protocol?

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