How Long to Charge a 48v Ebike Battery? Don’t Overcharge

The battery of an ebike supplies power to the motor and there are various types of ebike batteries available such as 36v, 48v, 52v, 60v, and 72 volts. The majority of electric bikes come with 48v batteries because of their excellent efficiency, superb power, longer range, and speed.

Charging an ebike battery with the right charger is very simple but most people don’t know how long to charge 48v ebike battery to maintain its performance for a long period of time.

Don’t worry! This article will help to understand the charging time of a 48v electric bike battery, factors affecting charging time, and important faqs related to your query.

How Long to Charge 48v Ebike Battery?

48V Ebike Battery Charging Time

You need a charger that is compatible with your 48v battery. When you have the right charger for your ebike battery, it may take somewhere around 4-6 hours to fully charge the 48v ebike battery from zero percent.

I mean your charger voltage must be equal to your battery’s voltage i.e., you need a 48v charger to charge 48v ebike battery. And the charger comes with different Amp ratings such as 2-Amp, 3-Amp, 4-Amp, and so on.

Avoid overcharging your ebike battery as it may get damaged internally which will reduce its lifespan. It is advised to charge your ebike battery to 80% only. However, If you are charging the 48v battery for the first time, 8 to 12 hours of charging time are recommended.

Honestly, I charge my 48v 10ah step-over ebike for 4 hours with a 3 amp charger. Also, I set up a reminder alarm so that I do not forget to disconnect the charger. As well as I have done a charging experiment with different types of chargers with 48v 10ah battery, here are the results:

48V 10Ah charging time according to the charger type

Most ebikes are equipped with a 48V 10Ah lithium battery i.e., 480Wh. This battery can easily manage up to a 500-watt ebike motor. You know, It’s very simple to calculate the charging time for an ebike battery, Here is the formula:

Ebike battery charging time = Battery's AH/Charger Amp
Charger Capacity (Power)Charging Time (Approx.)
2 Amp Charger5-6 hours
3 Amp Charger4-5 hours
4 Amp Charger3-4 hours
5 Amp Charger2-3 hours
6 Amp ChargerUpto 2 hours

As you can see the high amp chargers are taking less time and vice-versa. I would not recommend using high amp chargers to charge a 48v ebike battery. Use only those chargers that your brand recommends. Let’s see the charging time for 48v batteries with various AHs.

Must know: How to Fix Electric Bike Charger Problems?

48v 20Ah charging time according to the charger type

48v 20ah ebike battery is a very powerful battery i.e., 960Wh. It takes more time to fully charged as compared to a 48v 10ah battery. As it is a powerful battery so it does not come with a 2-Amp charger. Therefore, we have tested this battery with 3-Amp to 6-Amp chargers.

Charger Capacity (Power)Charging Time (Approx.)
3 Amp Charger6-7 hours
4 Amp Charger5-6 hours
5 Amp Charger4-5 hours
6 Amp Charger3-4 hours

Also, charging time may vary because there are many factors that affect charging time. Let’s discuss them.

Must Read: Are Rad Power Bikes UL Certified? Yes! or No!

5 Factors Affecting Charging Time of Electric Bike Battery

  1. The battery charges faster with a higher amp charger than one with a lower amp. But high amp chargers may damage your battery therefore, I would recommend you use the charger that your manufacturer or ebike brand provided.
  2. The state of charge also affects the charging time, If your ebike battery is already low or zero percent, it will take a long duration as compared to charging a partially charged (40%) battery.
  3. Avoid charging your ebike battery when it has a high temperature because it will take a long time to charge as well as reduce the battery’s lifespan.
  4. Branded Lithium-ion batteries are charged quickly as compared to traditional batteries. So, always get a top-quality li-ion battery.
  5. Higher the capacity, the longer the duration to charge the ebike battery and vice-versa. For instance, A 36v ebike battery would take less time to charge as compared to a 48v battery with a 3 amp charger.

Read more: Major difference between 36v Vs 48v electric bike battery

How Long Does a 48v Battery Last?

how long do e-bike batteries last on one charge

As you know that the 48v ebike battery is powerful and generally takes around 4-6 hours to fully charged with a 3-Amp charger. However, It’s also important to know how long does a 48V ebike battery last on one charge, and for what distance (48v ebike battery range).

Ebike battery’s range is dependent upon its Amp-hours (AH). Higher AH provides more range on an ebike and vice-versa. Also, there are other factors such as type of terrain, rider’s weight, weather conditions, and so on.

Let’s discuss in detail how long will a 48V battery last with various AHs.

How long will a 48V 10AH battery last?

48V 10Ah ebike battery is the basic model for an ebike battery which has electric power up to 480 WH (It can provide 480w electricity in an hour to an ebike motor). And this ebike battery can be paired with a 250w ebike motor, 350w ebike motor, and 500w ebike motor.

A 250w ebike consumes less power than the 350w and 500w ebike motors resulting in more range, hence a 48V 10Ah battery lasts for around 2 hours with a 250w ebike motor.

A 48V 10Ah electric bike battery would last for:

Ebike MotorEstimated Time
250-Watt2 hours
350-Watt1.5 hours
500-Watt1 hour

Read more: Difference between 250w Vs 350w electric bike motor

How long will a 48v 20ah battery last?

A 48V 20Ah lithium battery has electricity power of up to 960 WH, Which means it can provide 960 watts of power to an ebike motor in an hour. Below is the table which shows how many hours will a 48v 20Ah battery last with various ebike motors.

Electric Bike MotorEstimated Time
500-Watt2 hours
750-Watt1.5 hours
1000-Watt1 hour

Related: 500-watt Vs 750-watt Electric Bike: What’s the difference?


Is a 48v Battery Good for Electric Bikes?

Is a 48v Battery Good for Electric Bikes

48-volt electric bike battery is the most popular because it is powerful, efficient, lasts for long hours, longer range, and provides amazing speed to ebikes.

However, ebike batteries with 48 voltage have more weight than the 36v battery. It adds some extra weight to the ebike which affects the speed of the bike as well as takes more time to get fully charged.

Well, everything in this world comes with some pros and cons. So 48v ebike battery is. Overall, I have been using a 48v ebike, I must admit that it’s an amazing battery for an ebike in all aspects.

As well as 48v electric bike battery charging time is also not so long, it usually gets charged in around 4-6 hours.

How to Charge 48v Ebike Battery? Remember this Simple Process

how to charge 48v ebike battery

Charging an ebike battery is not rocket science, whether you have a 36v or 48v battery or any other type of ebike battery. It’s very simple to charge them using the correct charger.

Regular charging your ebike is one of the important tips for electric bike riders. You might not know if you are a beginner and riding an ebike for the first time. Don’t worry here it is.

Take the battery out of your ebike if it is detachable and plug the charger into the socket and connect it to your battery, turn on the switch and your battery will start charging.

If your ebike battery is fixed inside the frame, you are given a socket nearby the frame where you have to plug the charger and connect it to the electric board and turn on the switch. Your battery will start charging.

How long does it take to charge a 48v battery with a 3 Amp charger? If you are charging the 48v ebike battery with a 3 amp charger, it will take around 4 to 6 hours to charge fully. Results may vary from battery brand, type of battery, charger amperage, state of charge of the battery, and temperature.

Watch this video tutorial to charge a 48v ebike using the right charger:


When should I charge my 48v ebike battery?

Charging an ebike battery on a regular basis is very important for your battery’s health and overall ebike performance. We always recommend charging a 48v battery after every ride. Don’t let your ebike battery to zero percent.

By doing so, your ebike will be always ready for your next ride. Turn off the battery power while charging.

How many hours does a 48v ebike battery last one charge?

Well, It depends upon the usage of the bike such as how far you ride the ebike, the type of surface you took a ride on, the speed you maintained, and so on.

Generally, a 48v 20ah battery has 960wh (48v x 20ah) which means an ebike having a 250w motor would last around 3-4 hours at full throttle mode on one charge. Well, the majority of ebikes with 350w motors have 48v batteries which last around 2-3 hours.

When it comes to distance, it would be somewhere around 30-40 miles per charge, it may vary depending upon the various factors.

Related: How much does it cost to charge an ebike?

FAQs: How Long Does it Take to Charge a 48v Battery

  • How long does it take to charge a 48v 20ah battery?

    As we have already discussed, charging time depends upon the charger’s power. Higher the charger power, the lower the time for charging the battery and vice-versa. Also, Charging time depends upon the battery capacity which is AH (ampere hour), and charger capacity i.e., Amperage.

    So, charging a 48v 20ah battery with a 4Amp charger will take around 5 to 6 hours (20Ah/4Amp). It’s like charging your phone or tablet, but bigger. Remember to follow the instructions explained here.

  • How long does it take to charge a 48v 10ah battery?

    It takes around 3-4 hours to charge a 48v 10ah electric bike battery with a 3A charger. However, If you charge the same battery with a 2A charger, it would take 5-6 hours. So, charging time depends upon the charger capacity i.e., Amperage.

  • How many hours to charge 48v ebike battery in winter?

    Lithium-ion batteries are very powerful, it is not affected even in the winter season. It would take almost the same time which usually takes in normal weather conditions. It would take around 4-6 hours to charge 48v ebike battery in the winter season as well.

  • How long to charge Bosch electric bike?

    It would take around 4.5 hours to charge a Bosch 500wh electric bike battery when charged with a 4A charger. And 3.5 hours to charge a 400wh bosch ebike battery with the same charger.

  • How long do 48v ebike batteries last?

    The majority of ebikes have a lithium-ion battery which loses its capacity slowly over a period of time. Generally, a well-maintained 48v battery of an ebike lasts somewhere between 3 to 5 years.

Conclusion About 48v Electric Bike Battery Charging Time

I hope you know how long to charge 48v ebike battery with a 2A/3A/4A charger, the factors that affect the charging time of a battery of an electric bicycle, and how long does 48v battery last on one charge.

So guys, if you have an ebike with a 48v lithium-ion battery, charge it on a regular basis, just after your ride, and take care of your bike’s health so that it lasts longer.

Thanks for reading this article till the end. I hope you liked this article on 48v electric bike battery charging time. If you have any questions, leave that in the comment section below. We will respond to that.

Sources:

  1. Lithium-ion Battery Fundamentals

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I am the founder and editor of The Bike Fetcher, a passionate E-Biker. My passion for E-bikes led me to build this blog site where I share electric bike news & updates, my e-biking experience, e-biking tips, e-bike battery tips and help people to get the best e-bike. Feel free to contact me on my social accounts or through the contact form.

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