Which battery fits my e-bike?

The bike manufacturer decides which battery a model gets. Suppliers such as Bosch, Shimano, Panasonic and Bafang sell their batteries to a wide range of bike brands and models. The result is a large variety of batteries, each matched to a particular bike design and type of use. As a rider you have more to choose from, but it also means less standardisation and more questions about what is compatible with what.

Where the battery sits on an electric bike varies with the design and the brand of the e-bike. Often it is in the rear rack, which is a practical spot for both weight distribution and easy access. Another popular place is on the frame of the e-bike, where the battery is usually fitted near the bottom bracket or along the down tube. That balances the weight better and lowers the centre of gravity, so the bike handles better. Then there are e-bikes with the battery integrated into the frame itself, which gives a streamlined design that is easy on the eye. The position of the battery affects both how the bike looks and how it performs, so manufacturers weigh it up carefully.

Where you find the battery number depends on the type and model of bike, and there are several ways to track it down. On some bikes the number is on the underside of the battery itself. On other models it is listed in the manual of the battery or the bike. Sometimes the frame number of the bike helps to identify the battery number as well. The frame number can be in several places on the frame, depending on the manufacturer and the model.

Every Bafang battery has a white sticker listing its technical specifications. To work out which type you have, look for the capacity on that sticker. You will find one of these values: 340Wh, 450Wh, 560Wh, 600Wh or 750Wh, or else 7.8Ah, 10.4Ah, 13.0Ah, 14.0Ah or 17.5Ah.

All the Bafang batteries listed above are compatible with each other. So if you have a 450Wh battery now, you can upgrade to a 560Wh, 600Wh or even a 750Wh battery without any problems, and the other way round.

Overview:

• Bafang 340Wh is the same as 7.8Ah (no longer available new)
• Bafang 450Wh corresponds to 10.4Ah
• Bafang 560Wh, since 2022, is the same as 13.0Ah
• Bafang 600Wh is equivalent to 14.0Ah
• Bafang 750Wh corresponds to 17.5Ah

You can recognise a Bafang battery by its orange label with 'BAFANG' in white letters. This label is on every Bafang e-bike battery and every Bafang charger. On Amslod e-bikes the orange label may say 'Amslod' instead. It is the same type of battery.

Bosch has three categories of e-bike battery: batteries for the rear rack, frame batteries carrying the Bosch logo, and batteries integrated into the frame. The rack and frame batteries are known as PowerPacks, while the ones integrated into the frame are called PowerTubes. For bikes from model year 2014 and earlier there are the Bosch Classic batteries.

The Bosch PowerPacks come either as a frame battery or as a battery that fits under the rear rack. Bosch then divides them by capacity into the types 300, 400 and 500. The main difference between these types is how much energy they hold:

• Bosch PowerPack 300: 36V / 8.2Ah / 300Wh
• Bosch PowerPack 400: 36V / 11Ah / 400Wh
• Bosch PowerPack 500: 36V / 13.4Ah / 500Wh