Tips from the TÜV: Safe travels with your e-bike

According to the latest TÜV Mobility study, one in five Germans now owns an electric bicycle. The TÜV association offers tips for riding e-bikes and pedelecs as safely as possible.

This article is part of the special topic Electromobility for trades and medium-sized businesses

20 percent of German citizens – this corresponds to one in five – already own a Electric bicycle, like that TÜV Mobility Study 2024For regular use or before longer tours, a thorough Technical check of the e-bike or pedelec is always recommended.

"E-bike riders in particular should Safety of your bike to chance," emphasizes Frank Schneider, Automotive engineering consultant in the TÜV Association"The widely used pedelecs travel up to 25 km/h. It is therefore all the more important that Brakes, Frame and Tires withstand the high speed." In addition, attention should always be paid to the Battery attention must be paid to this, because: "Regular checking of the battery and conscious handling of the Charging process are crucial to the Risk of short circuits and fires to minimize," says Schneider.

In our article, we share with you the TÜV Association's tips on what to look for when checking the technical features and handling the battery of your e-bike or pedelec.

Before the check

"A dirty bike rusts faster", explains TÜV vehicle technology consultant Schneider. Therefore, the e-bike – from the frame to the brakes and drive components to the tires and rim edges – should be checked before the actual technical check cleaned with warm water and mild detergent to prevent paint damage, corrosion and wear as much as possible. Furthermore, existing rust, defects and Weak spots more visible after thorough cleaning.

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But Be careful when cleaning the battery: Here you should only the outer surfaces be cleaned with a damp cloth and contact with water should be avoided at all times – otherwise Risk of short circuit.

The technology check

Battery

The centrepiece of every e-bike: the Battery. The central Risks: the overheating this and the risk of associated inflammation or Explosion"High temperatures put a strain on the chemical components of the battery, which can lead to power loss and accelerated aging ", explains Schneider. "Heat also increases the likelihood of Malfunction."

If you want to minimize the risk of malfunction or fire, you should Do not overstress your e-bike in extreme heat and if possible park in the shade. In addition, the Battery temperature should be checked by touch from time to time. Likewise, the Battery neither drained nor overcharged According to Schneider, the ideal charge level for a pedelec battery is between 70 and 80 percent.

Brakes

The A and O For e-bikes, the Brakes, for this reason, a regular look at the Condition of brake pads and discs This goes without saying. "Brakes are essential for safely managing the higher speeds and additional weight of e-bikes," explains Schneider. "At the same time, the higher speeds and greater weight of e-bikes place greater strain on the brake pads."

Especially Disc brakes are suitable because they have a constant braking power deliver and even in wet conditions These should be replaced after about 1.000 kilometers checked in a specialist workshop be, at rim brakes is the Wear visible to the eye.

Tires

Another must before every long journey: the Checking the tiresTo ensure a good Traction To ensure this, a sufficient tread depth be present – ​​accordingly, worn tires pose a risk, as the risk of falling increases in wet or slippery conditions. "Good inflated tires not only improve the Reach of the e-bike, but also the Traction and the Control about the bicycle," explains Schneider.

tire pressure

The optimal tire pressure depends on the size and width of the tire. The guideline is

• electrical City and trekking bikes at 4 to 5 bar Print,
• Racing bikes at 6 to 8 bar and
• E-Mountanbikes at 2 to 3 bar. 

For very high temperatures The tire pressure increases as the air in the tires expands. In such cases, the Reduce tire pressure slightlyto one Tire damage zu avoid.

Circuit

"Problems with the Circuit can irritate drivers and lead to dangerous situations," says Schneider. That is why derailleurs "regular cleaning and lubricationto function smoothly." So: first clean the chain, then oil it, and finally shift through the different gears – this ensures the oil is distributed optimally.

Hub gears generally require less maintenance, but should still checked every two years become - oil change included. To ensure trouble-free operation of Belt drives To ensure this, it is usually sufficient regularly remove dirt zu remove.

lighting system

Not to forget: the lights of the bike. According to Schneider, new bikes now have LED lights standard, "because they have a high longevity and Energy Efficiency "Modern bicycle lighting is very powerful. As with cars, bicycles should therefore pay attention to the correct adjustment of the headlights so that other road users are not blinded," Schneider points out.

First and foremost, you should check regularly whether all lights are working. Second, you should check whether Front and rear lights bright enough and correctly aligned .

Safe charging

"Batteries should cool down firstbefore recharging them, as a overheated battery slower and less efficient charging, which reduces the usage time between charges," explains Schneider in his introduction. In addition, Batteries "always kept clean and dry to avoid corrosion and other damage". Temperatures between 10 and 30 degrees are ideal for storing batteries. And: Even if the e-bike is not used for a longer period of time, the Battery charged regularly be to the performance zu receive.

Checklist: Battery safety

1. Always that Use a charger approved by the manufacturer and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Battery before charging the abkühl to let.
3. Battery on hard and flat surfaces that can dissipate heat.
4. Battery not left unattended or charge overnight.
5. Flammable materials from the surrounding area remove.
6. Battery not in escape routes or exits load.
7. When charging at home: Smoke or thermal detectors to install.
8. Battery after charging is complete disconnect from charger. 

Finally: Should a Changing the battery are pending, the TÜV Association advises that when purchasing new equipment, you should ensure that either the manufacturer's battery purchased from a specialist retailer or a replacement battery with the appropriate manufacturer approval used. The old lithium-ion batteries must be absolutely properly and not disposed of with household waste .

About the TÜV AssociationThe TÜV Association eV represents the political interests of the TÜV testing organizations and promotes it professional exchange of its members. His commitment is to technical and digital security as the Sustainability of vehicles, products, systems and services. The association regularly exchanges information with Politics, Authorities, Media, Company and consumers .

More information about TÜV can be found here.
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