Battery Care & Charging
Battery practice for CEMOTO lithium-ion packs — charging, storage, temperature limits, transport and disposal.
Safety first. Lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous if mistreated. Never open, puncture, crush or short a battery. Never charge a damaged or swollen pack. Never charge with a damp socket. Charge away from children, pets and flammable materials.
Charging
Use the original charger supplied with your bike.
After riding
Do not charge immediately after a ride. Wait for the battery to cool down first. If the battery is too hot, its protection may stop it from charging.
If the battery still will not charge
Once the battery has cooled down, try both:
- Charge with the battery on the bike, using the original supplied charger and the bike's charging port.
- Take the battery off the bike, unplug all other connectors from the battery, and connect only the original charger.
Unplug the charger from the wall before changing connections or removing the battery. Connect the charging plug first, then plug into the wall. When finished, unplug from the wall first.
If neither method works, contact support. Do not try these steps on a damaged, swollen or wet battery.
Procedure
- Insert the charger plug into the battery charging socket.
- Insert the charger power plug into the power supply.
- Charge fully: approximately 6 hours for 48V models, 7–8 hours for 72V models.
- Disconnect from the mains first, then from the battery.
Charger lights and care
During normal charging, the charging light is red; it turns green when charging is complete. If the battery is empty but the light turns green immediately, follow the checks above. Do not assume it is fully charged.
Do not open the charger. If the power cord is damaged, have the manufacturer or a qualified service professional handle it. Keep the charger away from rain, heat sources and flammable materials; do not handle the power plug with wet hands.
First charge
The owner manual recommends an initial charge of up to 12 hours for the first charge cycle, with a maximum charge time thereafter of 8–9 hours.
Charging rules
| Rule | Reason |
|---|---|
| Use only the supplied compatible charger | Non-certified chargers are the leading cause of battery damage and void the battery warranty |
| Do not charge when the socket is damp | Water ingress in the charging circuit creates a short and fire risk |
| Use the correct power source for your market | D-series U.S. chargers use a two-prong plug |
| Keep away from children, pets and flammable materials | Fire safety |
| Charge indoors in a dry, ventilated location. Do not cover the charger or block its vents | Allows heat to escape |
| Do not leave a charging battery unattended for long periods | Fire safety |
| Do not charge a swollen, damaged or wet battery | Fire safety |
Charging temperature
Charge at a normal ambient temperature. Extreme cold or heat permanently damages the battery. Many BMS units refuse to charge below freezing or above a high temperature threshold — if charging will not start, allow the pack to reach room temperature and retry.
Temperature and capacity
Usable battery capacity falls significantly in cold weather. CEMOTO's owner manual gives these reference figures:
| Battery temperature | Approximate available capacity |
|---|---|
| 14 °F | ~70 % |
| 32 °F | ~80 % |
| 70 °F | ~90–95 % |
This is normal lithium-ion behavior, not a fault. Expect a shorter range in winter on the same charge.
Storage and operating temperature
Never store the product frozen or at extremely high temperatures. The recommended storage temperature range quoted in the owner manual is approximately 68 °F (20 °C) down to 45 °F (7 °C). Extreme temperatures will permanently damage the battery.
In practice, for storage:
- Keep the battery in a dry location away from freezing and away from direct sun.
- Bring the battery to room temperature before charging in cold conditions.
- Avoid leaving a fully charged pack in a hot vehicle.
Storage
For all CEMOTO lithium batteries: if the bike or battery is not used for a long time, top up the battery about every 15 days. Disconnect the charger after charging; do not leave it connected continuously.
| Situation | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Short-term (days) | Leave the battery on the bike, powered off, at around 40–70 % charge |
| Long-term (weeks to months) | Charge to approximately 50 %, remove the battery if removable, and store in a dry location within the recommended temperature range. Disconnect the battery from the bike so it does not slowly discharge |
| Storage off the bike | Store in a dry place, out of reach of children, away from flammable materials |
| Before riding again | Fully charge before use |
Do not store a deeply discharged battery for an extended period — this causes irreversible capacity loss and may latch the BMS protection.
Do not leave the battery connected to the charger indefinitely.
Battery life
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Average lifespan | 1 to 2 years, depending on conditions and usage |
| Decline pattern | Gradual capacity loss over the battery's life, accelerating with heavy use and temperature extremes |
| Replacement trigger | Available capacity below 70 %, as measured by the discharge meter |
| Warranty term | 12 months (D-series) |
Practices that extend battery life
- Avoid deep discharge — recharge before the pack is fully flat, and plan rides to return with reserve.
- Avoid leaving the pack at 100 % or at 0 % for long periods.
- Store at approximately 50 % for long idle periods.
- Charge at moderate ambient temperature.
- Use only the supplied charger.
- Avoid sustained high-current use (continuous hard acceleration, heavy loads) where avoidable.
- Keep connectors clean and dry.
Transport
Battery transport is regulated because lithium-ion cells are classified as dangerous goods.
| Mode | Notes |
|---|---|
| Car / truck | Transport upright and secure so the pack cannot be punctured or shorted. Do not leave in a hot vehicle. Bring to room temperature before charging at your destination |
| Courier / parcel | Regulated. eBike batteries cannot be shipped to parcel stores or lockers — they must go to a physical address where someone can receive them. They may also be shipped separately from the bike body |
| Air | Heavily restricted. Check with the carrier before traveling, and never carry a damaged pack aboard an aircraft |
| Never | Never transport a swollen, punctured, wet or otherwise damaged pack in an enclosed passenger space |
Disposal and recycling
This product contains sealed lithium-ion batteries and must be handled properly.
- Do not dispose of the battery pack in a fire — the pack could explode.
- Do not discard lithium-ion batteries in the garbage.
- Do not mix old and new batteries, or mix battery chemistries.
- Dispose of the battery according to locally applicable regulations.
- Contact your local recycling / reuse or hazardous waste center for more information.
Many regions require lithium-ion batteries to be returned to a designated collection point. Many retailers also accept them.
Safety warnings
Reproduced from the CEMOTO owner manual:
WARNING: Do not dispose of the battery pack in fire. The battery pack could explode.
Do not mix old and new batteries. Do not mix alkaline batteries, standard (carbon zinc) batteries, or rechargeable (nickel cadmium) batteries.
The product contains lithium-ion batteries, which must be disposed of according to locally applicable battery regulations.
Additional safety guidance:
- Never short the battery terminals.
- Never open the battery case or tamper with the seals.
- Never attempt to revive a swollen or damaged pack.
- If a battery emits an unusual smell, becomes hot, swells or vents, move it away from combustible materials and contact emergency services if there is any fire risk.
- Charge only with the supplied charger in a dry, ventilated location, away from children, pets and flammable materials.
Battery warranty exclusions
Battery warranty does not cover failures caused by:
- Use of non-certified chargers
- Overcharging or deep discharge
- Physical impact or water intrusion
- Seal tampering or unauthorized disassembly
- Use in non-approved devices
Covered: where the discharge meter detects less than 70 % of available capacity, or where the voltage is abnormal and the battery cannot be charged — subject to the exclusions above.
Note that an eligible battery defect will be repaired or replaced without extending the original warranty period, and battery replacement does not qualify for cash reimbursement.
See Warranty.