What types of batteries are available for e-bikes?

E-bikes commonly use lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, and lead-acid batteries. Lithium-ion is the most popular due to its light weight, long lifespan, and fast charging. Lithium-polymer offers compact size and flexibility, while lead-acid is cheaper but heavier and less efficient. Most modern e-bikes favor lithium-ion for performance and durability.

A lithium-ion battery is invariably found in new or recent e-bicycles. In older second-hand e-bikes, there may be other chemistries: the earliest e-bikes were powered by heavy lead-acid batteries, then nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride, both of which were lighter and still retain some capacity for short trips - if you are looking for a cheap, cheerful second hand e-bike. At the time, Giant's Lafree model and some Heinzman kits were highly regarded and are still available second hand.

A good quality, decent capacity lithium-ion battery is often the most practical option, since it will give you the best performance, reliability and longevity. There are many claims for different lithium-ion e-bike batteries, with cobalt, manganese, and more. No worries! There doesn't seem to be any consensus among experts as to which of these formulas is better, so for now it's more important to get a well-made, high-quality lithium-ion battery. In practice, this means batteries with cells (cells are the individual components of batteries) from reliable manufacturers such as Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung.

It is also crucial to buy an e-bike with a high quality electric drive system to ensure the batteries are constructed to high standards. Some well-known drive system manufacturers are Bosch, Brose, Shimano, and Yamaha.