My e-bike has been banished to the garage

[DDBB]

I got away with having my new Haibike in the living room for an entire MONTH but now with the holiday season upon us and with company visiting on and off though New Years, my bike had to be moved out to the cold garage. I argued that having the Haibike in the living room was a great conversation piece and might encourage friends and family to consider buying e-bikes but that fell on deaf ears. I removed the battery and sprayed some anti corrosive spray on the terminals. Only 4 months until riding season. It's going to be a long wait as we only had our bikes for a few short weeks before the snow came. Anyone else keep their e-bike inside the house?

 

[Feliz]

Shame on you for giving in, get your priorities in order.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Shame on you for not having a heated garage.

 

[Jerry LM]

Was just told today to remove that big black thing sitting on the server, a Nativity Scene there now, mine is in the garage as well but keep the battery indoors. Will be some good riding days this winter but not as many as summer, rainy season is here. We get an occasional period of sunny days though so waiting out the wet stuff. Temps Never get much under 45 or so and no snow so not to bad.

 

[AlanDB]

I have a heated garage (stays 50 to 55 F) where I keep my bikes in the winter. Even with that, I bring the batteries in the house, both summer and winter.

 

[DDBB]

Not expecting any riding days here until spring. We are in a lake effect snow belt but with climate change, it's possible.

 

[Over50]

...Anyone else keep their e-bike inside the house?

I moved mine inside much to the chagrin of my wife. Based on forum advice and LBS advice I opted to not winter them in the unheated garage. My steps to the basement are short and the only bike I have trouble carrying is the Tern GSD. After adding all the racks and accessories, it is a heavy beast. Of course I remove batteries but it is still a struggle. Can't wait for Spring and all the bikes can go back to the garage.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

So how exactly does a non-heated garage even function in snow country? I've dealt with unheated garages in Rangely, ME, Yaak, MT, and Loomis, WA and all I can say is that it was a complete disaster. Executive summary: you go out and drive, and snow sticks to the underside of your vehicle; then you come back and park in the garage, where the residual heat of your vehicle melts the snow; the resulting filthy water refreezes on the garage floor, where either enormous quantities of icemelter or a jackhammer are required to clear it.

Bonus story -- the garage in Rangely was tiny, and I remember marking out where to line up my Subaru with Gatorade so I could make it in and out of the garage and both me and passengers could exit the vehicle once we were inside.

Oh, and this is what bicycling has been like here lately:

 

[DDBB]

We have an oversized two car garage and none of our three vehicles are left inside during winter. (huge U-shaped driveway) I have a two place snowmobile trailer in one bay and two snowmobiles in the other. The extra room is taken up by snowblower, bikes, motorcycle, gardening equipment, lawnmower, ski equipment etc. Sleds come in from a day of riding and I fire up the propane heater, de-ice the skids and sweep the snow and ice out of the garage before anything melts and then re-freezes solid. French drain for anything that melts before it's swept out. It's a lot of work. My dad used to work for New England telephone and they had a large fleet of vehicles. They found LESS corrosion when vehicles were not brought inside heated garage during winter. This did not make the employees happy but saved the company significant money in the long run.

 

[Feliz]

I don't have a heated garage but I have a small electric heater I plug in during below freezing weather and it keeps the garage at 60 degrees, it helps the garage is insulated. I keep two cars, two convention bikes, and three eBikes inside. Oh, I have a fridge and a freezer in there and that helps to maintain the temp.

 

[ebikemom]

My daughter made "parking spots" inside our garage for our ebikes. The bikes and their batteries are in there. The garage isn't heated, but doesn't get much below 50 degrees, I don't think. Should we bring the batteries inside?

 

[Feliz]

They say to keep our batteries cool for storage which to me would be around 50-60 degrees, over that would be warm and over 80 hot. That's my take and I think 50 would be good for storage. I fly RC equipment and store my batteries in the fridge as recommended and it's worked well for years.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

While your ebike is stowed away for the winter season, keep a volt meter handy so you can maintain your charge within the voltage range with the longest battery life. Usually from 65%-75% charge.

https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries

 

[DDBB]

My daughter made "parking spots" inside our garage for our ebikes. The and there batteries are in there. The garage isn't heated, but doesn't get much below 50 degrees, I don't think. Should we bring the batteries inside?

50 degrees F is damn near ideal!

 

[DDBB]

They say to keep our batteries cool for storage which to me would be around 50-60 degrees, over that would be warm and over 80 hot. That's my take and I think 50 would be good for storage. I fly RC equipment and store my batteries in the fridge as recommended and it's worked well for years.

I also fly RC with Lithium Polymer packs. I keep them stored in the basement over the winter which is usually 60 degrees or so. They are left at 50% state of charge as well.. I buy my packs from Mark F who is a member here. His brand is Dinogy lipos, check em out. They do really well in independent testing

 

[Feliz]

I also fly RC with Lithium Polymer packs. I keep them stored in the basement over the winter which is usually 60 degrees or so. They are left at 50% state of charge as well.. I buy my packs from Mark F who is a member here. His brand is Dinogy lipos, check em out. They do really well in independent testing

I'll check them out, thanks.

 

[PDoz]

And I thoight it was pushing my luck storing the ebike in my wifes studio ( a converted 6m x 7.5 m shed where she goes to escape the kids - also known as doing artistic creative stuff ) . All the other bikes / motorbikes / toys live in MY shed (12.5 m x 9m , but "not secure enough for the ebike " )

To be honest, I wouldn't want the bike inside - it's hard enough keeping the kids off it without it becoming part of the furniture!

 

[6zfshdb]

Based on forum advice and LBS advice I opted to not winter them in the unheated garage.

What is the danger in storing an e-bike, without the battery, in an unheated garage? Aside from battery freeze warnings, there is nothing in my bike manual advising against it.

 

[CodyDog]

It will get down to the low 30's here in Central Texas at night this week. It will be interesting to see what the temperature is in the garage. Fortunately we do not have the extreme cold like a lot of you during the winter.

 

[LimboJim]

What is the danger in storing an e-bike, without the battery, in an unheated garage? Aside from battery freeze warnings, there is nothing in my bike manual advising against it.

The "danger" may be condensation (not really a problem for higher quality bikes).

I had a 2015 Radrover that sat in my unheated New England garage its first Winter, and dew from repeated temperature swings caused rust to form on wheel bolts/spindles, the cassette and chain... anything made with cheap or untreated steel.