2 Battery Care Options

[Tantalus]

I own 2 Haibike/Yamaha batteries that I can mix/match on 2 bikes etc. Since batteries are expensive, what are the pros/cons of these 3 options:

1) Alternate use between the batteries (what I have been doing last 3 months)
2) Use one and store the other one for when the first one dies years from now?
3) Sell one on used market for say $500 - and buy a new one when I need it?

PS: I can only ride one bike at a time that is the reason for this post

 

[Browneye]

They're very durable. Just don't store at full charge, nor at below say 40% or so. Extreme temps can be deleterious, heat being the worst. But yeah, you're better off cycling them occasionally than permanent storage.
If you have reason to have a spare then it's all good. I doubt there's much value in a used pack, but you never know.

 

[6zfshdb]

I would keep the spare and cycle it as Browneye suggests. Who knows, you might want to get into distance riding and carry the spare to increase range. You might let a friend or relative use your second bike and join you on a ride sometime. A spare battery could also be useful if one is stolen or fails.

 

[tomjasz]

Long term stored batteries still age and lose power and range. I have a fairly large cross-section of batteries. Several 5-year-old packs with low use, that have been always properly stored sag when I try to draw 1500W and ride 25-27MPH. As a result, I will start rotating the newest replacements more often. I have two 36V packs from 2014 that are constantly rotated on two BBS01 350W bikes and they are still providing good power with little sag.

 

[Tantalus]

I would keep the spare and cycle it as Browneye suggests. Who knows, you might want to get into distance riding and carry the spare to increase range. You might let a friend or relative use your second bike and join you on a ride sometime. A spare battery could also be useful if one is stolen or fails.

Thanks for good ideas. I am cheap that is all.
In regard to distance riding, I have been searching for a backpack with a "slot" for my battery, like the EVOC one that is not available in the US. That way, I can use it on both my road and dirt bikes.

 

[Alex M]

#1 - alternate, or #3 - sell the other one ASAP and buy when you need it.

#2 is a bad idea because it will deteriorate in storage even when you're not using it, it's slowly eating itself from inside regardless of charging/discharging cycles. This is a chemical process that goes non-stop from the day you bought it.