# 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 ### Procedure 1. Insert the charger plug into the battery charging socket. 2. Insert the charger power plug into the power supply. 3. Charge fully: **approximately 6 hours** for 48V models, **7–8 hours** for 72V models. 4. Disconnect from the mains first, then from the battery. ### 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 in a dry, ventilated location | Heat and hydrogen venting must be able to dissipate | | 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 | 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](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/391). --- ## Related pages - [Charging Faults](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/329) - [Range & Performance](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/335) - [Cleaning & Storage](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/322) - [Warranty](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/391) - [Spare Parts — Chargers & Batteries](https://help.cemotoride.com/link/382)