E-bike battery not charging: safe checks to try first

Safe checks, in order

Do these with the charger unplugged from the wall unless a step says otherwise. Your own manual comes first: layouts and charger lights differ between makers.

1. Check the battery's power switch or key. Many batteries have a switch or a keyed lock. Lectric's manual says to turn the display and battery pack off before removing the battery, so confirm the battery is seated and switched as your manual describes.
2. Test the outlet. Plug something else in, or try a different outlet in the same room. Plug the charger in by its plug, not its cable. Lectric's manual says to hold the plug when connecting and disconnecting.
3. Read the charger light. Lectric's manual says its charger light is red while charging and turns green when charging has finished. A green light on a battery you just rode is not a fault. Other makers use different colours, so look the colours up in your manual.
4. Look at the plugs and ports. The charger plug should go fully into the battery's charge port, and the port should be clean and dry. Lectric's manual says the charge port is on the end of the battery and that the rubber stopper on it should be unplugged when the battery is removed. Do not poke anything into a port.
5. Check the temperature. Lectric's manual says not to connect the pack to the charger until it has reached an allowable charging temperature, within 10 °F of room temperature, and to charge between 32 °F and 113 °F. Bring a cold or hot battery indoors and let it settle first. Bosch's manual says a charging-temperature fault (code 605 during charging) means disconnecting the charger and leaving the battery to cool.
6. Look at the display or app. If the bike shows a code, look it up in your manual or in our e-bike error codes hub. Lectric's E006 means battery undervoltage and its fix is to fully charge the battery.
7. Restart and try again. Bosch's manual for a battery fault while charging (602) says to disconnect the charger from the battery, restart the eBike system, then attach the charger to the battery again. If that fails, it says to contact a Bosch eBike dealer.

Charger rules that matter

• Use the charger that came with the bike, or one the maker approves. Lectric's manual warns that charging with a charger it does not make means "the risk of fire cannot be excluded."
• Never use a power converter or inverter to charge, per Lectric's manual.
• Charge indoors, in a dry place with no flammable items nearby, and do not leave a charging battery unattended, as Lectric's manual states.
• Do not charge a battery that is damaged, excessively hot, leaking, swollen or smells unusual. Lectric's manual says that if you notice such signs while charging you should evacuate the area and notify the fire department.
• CPSC staff advice: use only products certified by a third-party lab to the relevant standards and only chargers certified for that product. See our UL 2849 guide.

What not to do

Do not try to charge by another route, test the battery with meters, bypass the charger, or reset or rebuild the battery. Those are repairs and they are not safe for owners. Makers also void warranty cover for opened batteries: Lectric's manual says opening the battery voids all warranty claims.

Prevent charging problems

• Store and charge the battery in a dry place away from heat, as your manual describes.
• Remove the battery and key when you are not riding, if your bike allows it.
• Keep the charger and battery away from metal objects that could touch the terminals. Lectric's manual lists paper clips, coins, keys, nails and screws.

Written from makers' manuals and CPSC material, not from repairs. Instructions differ by maker and model: your manual decides.