Nakto battery and charging

Battery basic  

Battery charging guide

This article will provide you with an overview of best practices for battery charging in order to efficiently and safely charge. To understand the basic knowledge of using electric bicycle batteries, including how to charge the battery correctly, remove the battery safely, check the battery level, battery range, and expected lifespan, please refer to the article on battery basic resources. The most authoritative information about the batteries that come with electric bicycles is your User's Manual.

The high-quality and advanced lithium-ion batteries included with Nakto Bikes electric bike are designed with safety in mind, but all electric bike (and all vehicle) batteries store a large amount of electricity and must be handled correctly. Any damage or misuse of the battery or charger may pose a safety hazard. Please follow all safety and procedural instructions below and in the user manual.

Warning

The use of after-sales battery accessories or products that have not undergone Nakto Bikes safety and compatibility testing may invalidate your warranty, cause property damage, cause safety hazards, or cause harm. If you use products that have not been tested and recommended by Nakto Bikes, you are responsible for your own risk.

Warning

Charging the battery with a charger produced specifically for your specific electric bike serial number that is not provided by Nakto Bikes may damage your electric bike's electrical system or cause safety issues. Only use battery chargers designed specifically for your electric bike and provided by Nakto Bikes.

Warning

Using a damaged battery or charger may damage other components or cause a fire. If any of the following situations occur, please stop using the battery and charger and immediately contact Nakto Bikes:

The flexible power cord or output cable of your charger, or the cable on your bicycle, is worn, the insulation layer is damaged, or there are any other signs of damage.

Your battery or charger is physically damaged, unable to function, or malfunctioning.

Your battery or charger has been severely affected by falls, collisions, or transportation damage, regardless of whether there are obvious signs of damage.

Your battery is leaking a transparent, irritating gel like substance (potentially corrosive and flammable).

Your battery is immersed in liquid or heavily submerged or damaged.

Your charger has become too hot to touch (it may become hot during normal use), emits an abnormal odor, makes a popping sound, or shows other signs of overheating.

Store any damaged batteries or chargers in a safe and dry place away from houses and other flammable materials/structures, and recycle or dispose of them in accordance with local regulations as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Nakto Bikes product support. If the above battery leakage occurs, please immediately call Nakto Bikes.

Some of the detailed information in this article is specific to external or internal integrated batteries, so please ensure that you are aware of the type you have.

Nakto Bikes' electric bicycles are designed specifically for external batteries (located on the electric bicycle frame) or internal integrated batteries (located inside the frame). Both types of batteries are high-end lithium-ion batteries, but they differ slightly in how they are fixed to the frame, activated, and best charging practices. We will point out these differences in the rest of this article.

When to charge.

The new battery will arrive with a charge of 50% to 75%. Once the bicycle is assembled and verified for safety by a professional and reputable bicycle mechanic, you can ride immediately without charging. We recommend fully charging the battery after each ride, so that your battery can provide you with full power for the next ride of the Rad! The battery does not have a "memory", so you can charge it after each use, even if you only walk around the block.

Partially charged batteries do not need to be fully charged immediately. When the battery bar on the display screen flashes indicating low battery power, please charge the battery as soon as possible.

Safe charging environment

We outlines safe charging procedures for e-bike batteries. Here is a summary of the key points:

1.Charge your e-bike battery in a safe and dry indoor area, away from children, direct sunlight, dirt, debris, and tripping hazards.

2.Ensure that the charging area is free from materials that could ignite in case of charger or battery failure.

3.Keep the charging area reasonably organized to prevent falls or collisions.

Maintain a moderate ambient temperature for optimal charging performance (recommended range: 41°F to 77°F or 5°C to 25°C).

4.Avoid charging the battery during cycling or when the ambient temperature is above 100°F (38°C).

5.Do not charge batteries near heating devices.

6.Charging the battery unattended increases the risk of undetected issues, so monitor the charging process.

Safe charging environment

Where to charge:

Always charge in a safe and dry indoor area, away from children, direct sunlight, dirt, debris, tripping hazards (including wires), or any materials that may ignite in the event of charger or battery failure (unlikely to occur). Reasonably arrange bicycles, batteries, and chargers to eliminate the possibility of falls or other collisions. Make sure you are close enough to it for occasional inspection.

Batteries rely on chemical reactions to charge and release energy, which are most effective at moderate temperatures. At very low temperatures, your battery may not be able to effectively charge or release energy, or it may not be able to charge or release energy at all. At very high temperatures, your battery may become too hot, leading to internal damage and even fire. Your battery is designed to automatically shut down in extreme temperatures, but you still need to be careful.

Please refer to your user manual or battery basic resource article for more safety information and recommended cycling and storage temperature ranges.

Recommended charging range: 41°F to 77°F (5°C to 25°C)

To achieve optimal charging performance and minimize component wear, we recommend charging at an ambient temperature of 41 ° F to 77 ° F (5 ° C to 25 ° C). The battery generates heat during charging, but Rad Power Bikes' battery design is air-cooled, so please do not cover the battery and place the lamp face up on a flat, stable, hard, unheated surface. Charging may take longer at relatively low temperatures.

Caution

Do not charge the battery during cycling or when the ambient temperature is above 100 ° F (38 ° C) to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the battery and charger. If the battery is turned off to prevent thermal damage, please wait until the battery has cooled before turning it back on. Do not charge batteries on or near heating devices.

Charging the battery unattended increases the risk of undetected charging issues and leading to component damage or fire hazards. Please be sure to charge the battery in a place that can be monitored.

Charging procedure

As long as the charging environment meets the standards described in the previous section, you can charge the battery when the electric bike is turned on or off.

1. Turn off your electric bike. The method of doing so varies depending on the model of the electric bicycle.

2. If you want to charge your electric bike far away, please remove the battery.

3. Find the charging port of the battery. Do not confuse the key port with the charging port.

4. If you have removed the charger from the electric bicycle, please place it on a flat and safe surface. Ensure that the charging indicator light is facing upwards.

5. Insert the charger into the battery charging port. Connect the barrel connector of the charger to the charging port on the side of the battery.

6. Insert the charger into the power (wall) socket. Check the charging status on the charger, indicated by the color of an LED (small light):

7. If your charger has an LED: Charging will start and indicate (indicating power connection) by turning red on the LED on the charger, then continue charging for 4-6 hours. After charging is completed, the LED will turn green.

After charging, unplug the charger from the power (wall) socket and then unplug the plug from the battery. Please make sure to gently pull the plug, not the cable itself.

Replacing fuses

External batteries. If you have an external battery and suspect a blown fuse, please follow the directions in our Battery fuse replacement guide. 

1. When you charge the battery, the charger light turns green at the beginning of charging the battery, it shows the fuse maybe blown.
2. You need to open the battery box and find the fuse inside the battery whether it was blown. Please check if there is a terrible blown smelling inside the battery. There are two kinds of fuses inside the external battery: a small Cylindrical fuse near the battery charging port; a inside fuse flake.
3. Then you need to replace a spare fuse. If you do not find the spare fuse, you need to place an order of a new fuse from our official shop: nakto.com  
4. After you order a new available fuse in Shopify shop, it is normally shipped out within 1-3 weekdays.
5. Here is our Youtube video link about how to replace a new fuse for your external battery for your reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7SBHPgDHg

Inside-integrated batteries. You cannot change a fuse on inside-integrated batteries. Inside-integrated batteries and their chargers are specially designed to prevent conditions that can blow a fuse, so it's extremely unlikely that you are having an issue that could be solved with a fuse replacement. Please consult the troubleshooting information here and in your Owner's Manual to pinpoint potential causes of whatever problem you're observing. 

Battery balancing 

You do not need to balance the battery unless recommended in your user manual or Nakto product support. The battery of Nakto bicycles maintains good balance under normal usage conditions. Please follow the usage, charging, and storage instructions in the user manual, as your battery will provide you with excellent performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

For general information about your battery, please see our Battery essential resources article or consult your Owner's Manual.

Why is my battery not charging?

Why does the battery charging indicator light on the battery not light up?

The most common reason is that the battery needs to be charged. However, if you have correctly charged the battery but still do not have the indicator light on, please try the following simple solution.

1. The key was not turned clockwise to the ON position. Ensure that the key is in the ON position, and then press the battery level indicator light. A fully charged battery will display a green light after 4-7 hours of charging.

1. If the battery is left unused for a long time, it will cause serious battery loss. If the battery is not used for a long time, it needs to be properly charged and cared for by the owner, otherwise it will cause significant damage to the internal battery cells. In this case, you need to use a high-power charger to activate the battery.

3. There is a quality fault inside the battery, the voltage is unstable, and the battery needs to be replaced in a timely manner. If it is within the one-year limited warranty period, please contact the Nakto e-bikes after-sales department to replace the battery in a timely manner. If the vehicle exceeds the warranty period, you need to purchase the correct battery according to the model number. For example, OX cars have two types of batteries: new and old. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the size, select the appropriate battery, and then place an order.

Why do the charge levels on my battery and remote not match?

If the battery and display levels do not match, use the following steps to determine the problem.

If two sets of charging indicators only show slight differences in charging levels (such as a difference of one grid), the difference may be caused by changes in the way the battery and display/remote control round the percentage to the nearest tenth or fifth. Small differences like this are normal.

However, if the charging indicator on the battery does not match multiple indicators on the monitor/remote control, there may be a problem that can be resolved by fully charging the battery. Firstly, remove the battery from the frame and charge it according to the above steps until fully charged. After fully charging, reinstall the battery onto the frame and power up the bicycle. The battery level and charging indicator light on the display/remote control should now both indicate fully charged.

Why am I not getting the 22-28 mile range on a single charge?

There are several factors that may affect mileage, and the most common reasons are sometimes the easiest to solve. If none of the following factors can solve your problem, please contact our support team for further assistance.

Hills and road surfaces: Batteries that provide power for electric bicycles on flat and smooth surfaces (such as paved bike paths) have a longer lifespan than batteries that provide power for the same electric bicycle on hills or uneven and variable terrain (such as gravel or soil).

Underinflation of tires (low PSI): Low tire pressure is the primary reason why a single battery charge cannot reach the expected mileage. Regularly check tire pressure to ensure that the tires are inflated to the recommended PSI value (pounds per square inch). Just 10 PSI lower than the recommended value will significantly reduce the mileage of a single charge. You will find that the PSI value is printed on the side of the tire.

Goods or extra weight: Heavier loads will place higher demands on batteries, resulting in reduced mileage (just like cars). Nakto electric bicycles can carry a large amount of extra weight, but each model has a "payload capacity" limit, defined as the total weight of the rider, passengers, additional equipment, accessories, and cargo. If your electric bike carries the higher end of this limit, the duration of battery charging will not be as long as when the electric bike only carries riders.

The use of accelerator or pedal assist system (PAS): Using accelerator and PAS will consume additional battery power. Using a lower pedal assist level can increase the mileage per charge.

Stopping in traffic or facing the wind: Frequently stopping and accelerating your electric bike, or riding against the wind, can also reduce the mileage of a battery charge.

Air temperature and pressure: The ambient temperature during electric cycling or battery storage can affect the driving distance. If you ride below (or near) the freezing point, the range may be slightly smaller. Storing batteries above room temperature can also damage performance.

Battery essential resources

Through this article, learn the basic knowledge of using electric bicycle batteries, including how to start the battery, remove the battery, check the battery level, battery range and expected lifespan, and how to recycle the battery. The most authoritative source of battery information is the user manual.

Please refer to the battery charging guide article for an overview of best practices for charging and long-term storage. For specific suggestions on the batteries included with electric bicycles, please refer to your user manual.

Warning:

Using a damaged battery or charger may damage other components or cause a fire. If any of the following situations occur, please stop using the battery and charger and immediately contact the Nakto e-Bikes team:

The soft power cord or output cable of your charger or any cable on your body is worn, the insulation layer is broken, or there are any other signs of damage,

Your battery or charger is physically damaged, unable to function properly, or malfunctioning,

Your battery is leaking a transparent and irritating gel like substance (potentially corrosive and flammable),

Your battery or charger has been severely affected by falls, collisions, or transportation damage, whether with or without obvious signs of damage,

Your battery is immersed in liquid or heavily submerged or damaged, or

Your charger has become too hot to touch (it may become hot during normal use), emits an abnormal odor, makes a popping sound, or shows other signs of overheating.

Store any damaged batteries or chargers in a safe and dry place away from houses and other flammable materials/structures, and recycle or dispose of them in accordance with local regulations as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact Nakto Electric Bicycle Product Support. If the above battery leakage occurs, please immediately call Nakto e-Bikes.

Power on/power off

External battery:

For electric bicycles equipped with external batteries, please use one of the two identical keys provided with the electric bicycle to turn on or off the battery.

Turn the key port to the ON locked position, and then press the POWER button on the remote control to start the electric bike.

Inside-Integrated battery electric bicycle

For electric bicycles equipped with inside integrated batteries, simply press the power button on the LCD display to start the electric bicycle. The key is only required when unlocking and removing the battery from the frame.Take the example of Discovery e-bike:

Turn off the electrical system of Discovery e-bike by pressing and holding the start button

approximately 3 seconds again before getting off the bike.

Take the example of Santa Monica e-bike:

Turn off the electrical system of Santa Monica e-bike by pressing and holding the start button approximately 3 seconds again before getting off the bike.

Removing the battery

External battery

1.Turn off the electric bike. Press and hold the button on the displayer near the handlebar until the display turns off.

2.Unlock the battery. Insert the key into the keyhole, then push and rotate the key to the OFF unlock position.

3.Remove the battery. When in the closed unlock position, you can carefully slide the battery upwards and lift it off the frame. Please note that the battery weighs approximately 7-10 pounds and must be handled carefully.

Please refer to the Youtube Video link about how to remove the external battery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyJbe7AVq0&list=PL7BvVCLeXdJH9iItAXthHejCGSUG0gKFg&index=31&pp=iAQB

Inside-integrated battery

Before removing the inside-integrated battery, please press the power button on the LCD display screen until the display screen turns off to turn off the electric bike. Then follow the steps below:

1. Unlock the battery from the frame. Insert the key into the keyhole and turn it to the unlock position, and the battery will partially eject.

Carefully lift the battery.

2. Carefully lift the battery out of the integrated battery bracket.

3. Gently pull the internal battery away from the battery terminals.

Please refer to the Youtube Video link about how to remove the inside battery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNHf9FkEIow&list=PL7BvVCLeXdJH9iItAXthHejCGSUG0gKFg&index=50&pp=iAQB

When removing the battery

When removing the battery from the bicycle, do not damage the battery pin connection at the bottom of the battery.

When the battery comes loose from the electric bicycle, be careful not to drop or damage the battery.

Avoid damaging exposed connector terminals and remove any debris from them.

When installing the battery

Do not forcefully install the battery onto the battery holder; Slowly align and push the battery down until it is firmly installed on the frame.

Before each use, carefully pull the battery upwards with both hands to test the safety of the connection between the battery and the mounting bracket, ensuring that the battery is correctly fixed on the bicycle.

When using a bicycle, remove the key from the keyhole. connector terminals and remove any debris from them.

Range and battery life

range

Most of our electric bicycles have a battery range of 20-30 miles on a single charge, depending on the riding characteristics: pedal assist and throttle usage, load capacity, terrain, hills, and tire inflation. You can increase the driving range by adhering to low level pedal assistance (0-2) and minimizing throttle usage.

Battery life

This depends on several factors, including the frequency at which the car owner discharges and charges the battery.

Cyclists who frequently run out of battery and recharge their batteries 7 days a week have a battery life of approximately 2.5 years.

Leisure Rider: The batteries of leisure riders can last for nearly 6-7 years.

Best Practices for Extending Range and Battery Life

1.When your electric bike slows down to a very low speed, stalls, or stops, please try to avoid fully opening the throttle as much as possible.

2.The pedal can assist the motor during hill climbing and parking acceleration.

Do not climb slopes with slopes exceeding 15%.

3.Avoid sudden starts and stops.

4.Slowly accelerate.

5.Avoid cycling in extremely cold or hot temperatures.

Battery replacement

Our high-quality batteries can provide years of reliable power, but when backup or battery replacement is needed, replacement is also easy! You can purchase additional batteries here (perfect for extending the range of long-distance travel!) or replace them.

Battery recycling

We currently do not recycle old batteries. If you want to change hands, it's best to contact your family and friends yourself. We have always adhered to and appreciated methods to improve environmental sustainability. Thank you!

Why does it take so long to transport batteries?

Unlike most electric bicycle parts or accessories, lithium-ion batteries are classified as hazardous materials. This means that we must comply with federal regulations when transporting batteries. Packaging the battery and preparing the correct documents requires additional time.

1.Packaging and certification

Before leaving our warehouse and shipping the battery to you, it must undergo Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) certification and approval, which will take approximately 5-7 working days from the time you place your order. After certification, it will take 3-5 working days for the battery to leave our warehouse.

2.Transportation time varies depending on location

Regulations require batteries to be transported on the ground. The shipping time will vary depending on your location in the United States or Canada.

3.Track delivery time and status

When the battery leaves our warehouse, you will receive a confirmation email containing the tracking number from the shipping courier company (such as FedEx). The tracking number of the courier company will provide you with delivery updates and schedules. does shipping a battery take so long?

Battery troubleshooting

The external battery fuse replacement guide

1. Check whether the fuse need to be replaced or not:

Normal charging:

Under normal charging conditions, when charging first, the display will show a red light. When the battery is fully charged for 4-6 hours, the charger light turns green.

Abnormal situation:

When you started to charge the battery, green light on the charger appears.

The green light at the beginning of charging shows the inside fuse may have been blown, you need to open the battery box and check the battery fuse whether a blown smelling lies inside the battery or not.

    2. How to replace a new replace a new fuse for your external battery:

All external batteries of Nakto electric bicycles contain two fuses, which can be replaced if instructed to do so by your Nakto Bikes YouTube video service account.

If necessary, please follow the Youtube video link to replace the fuse in the battery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW7SBHPgDHg

Required tools: Cross head screwdriver

Clearly tell the fuse your e-bike really needs:

1. Prepare the bike for maintenance. Turn off the bike and remove the battery.

2. Place the battery on a sturdy surface and place the battery key in the closed and unlocked positions.

3. Find and remove the fuse cover that secures the fuse.

4. Lift the battery handle and locate the charging 5A fuse cover.

5. Located near the lock cylinder. Carefully loosen the charging fuse cover using a Phillips screwdriver. Place the 5A fuse cover aside.

6. If the battery is charged but the bicycle cannot start after installing the battery, please replace the 20A fuse. Carefully loosen the 20A fuse cover using a cross-head screwdriver (as shown below). Place the fuse cover aside.

7. Carefully remove the fuse from the battery. Recycle the melt according to local regulations.

8. Install the replacement fuse. Carefully insert the fuse into the battery.

9. Reinstall the fuse cover. Ensure that the metal part is located in the fuse cover. Place the fuse cover in place and carefully tighten it using a cross-head screwdriver. Don't tighten too tightly.

10. Reinstall the battery, conduct a comprehensive test of the bike before cycling, and then ride Rad!

Warning

Using an awl or other sharp tool to remove the battery fuse cover may cause irreparable damage to the fuse cover. If using an awl, please contact us to request a replacement fuse cover.

Do not operate batteries or bicycles without correctly installing the fuse cover. Riding without properly installing the fuse cover may cause damage to the battery due to water ingress, or result in serious injury or death.

Warning

Be careful when using tools to remove the fuse cover from the battery casing. Adjust the body position to keep the tool away from your body to reduce the risk of injury when the tool slides. When using tools to remove the fuse cover from the battery casing, be careful to avoid damaging the fuse and battery casing. Insert the tool at a shallow enough angle to avoid damaging the fuse and housing near and below the fuse cover.

Keys lost &External battery lock core replacement

If your key for Nakto e-bike were lost, we are sorry that we do not keep the key blank and we do not have the spare keys. You need to order a new battery lock according to the style/model of your Nakto e-bike on our Shopify shop to replace asap. Every battery lock will come with two keys.

After you receive the new battery lock, please refer to the Youtube video official link about how to replace a new Nakto battery lock for your external battery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MrgiifX3oE

Why is my battery not charging?

If your battery seems to be unable to charge, we have found that some simple checks and steps can usually quickly solve the problem.

What is your battery type?

Before starting, please ensure that you follow the recommendations regarding the type of battery you have. Most Nakto bike models use one of the following batteries, both of which can be removed from the bike, but only one of them has a key port on its own. If your Nakto battery is different from these two types of batteries, please contact the customer service center for kind assistance.

Why is my battery not charging?

Why does the battery charging indicator light on the battery not light up? The most common reason is that the old battery needs to be charged. However, if you have correctly charged the battery but still do not have the indicator light on, please try the following simple solution.

1.The key was not turned clockwise to the ON position. Ensure that the key is in the ON position, and then press the battery level indicator light. A fully charged battery will display a green light after 4-7 hours of charging.

2. If the battery is left unused for a long time, it will cause serious battery loss. If the battery is not used for a long time, it needs to be properly charged and cared for by the owner, otherwise it will cause significant damage to the internal battery cells. In this case, you need to use a high-power charger to activate the battery.

3. There is a quality fault inside the battery, the voltage is unstable, and the battery needs to be replaced in a timely manner. If it is within the one-year limited warranty period, please contact the Nakto e-bikes after-sales department to replace the battery in a timely manner. If the vehicle exceeds the warranty period, you need to purchase the correct battery according to the model number. For example, OX cars have two types of batteries: new and old. When purchasing, it is important to pay attention to the size, select the appropriate battery, and then place an order.

How to prove your Nakto charger is good?

Our Nakto e-bikes team is just responsible for Nakto charger product. You can use a Nakto charger to charge the battery on the e-bike or off the e-bike. They are OK. If the customer used another brand e-bike charger, we can not guarantee the effect after using other brand charger. You had better choose the original Nakto charger according to the style/model of Nakto e-bike.

During your charging the battery, it is normal if its temperature on the charger is a little high.The hot on the charger is normal during the charging.

Normally, it shows red light on the charger at the beginning of charging. After 4-6 hours’ charging, it turns green light on the charger.

The green light on the charger shows the fuse may be blown. Under this circumstances, you need to check whether the inside fuse has been blown or not. If it is, you need to replace a new fuse for your external battery as soon as possible.