I. A drastic drop in range: This is the most direct signal. If the range on a full charge consistently falls below 60%-70% of what it was when the motorcycle was new (e.g., a new motorcycle could travel 100 kilometers, but now it only travels about 60 kilometers), it indicates severe battery capacity degradation, and replacement should be considered.
II. Abnormal charging time and status:
Abnormally shortened charging time: If a full charge that previously took 6-8 hours now takes 3-4 hours or even less, but the actual range is very short, this is usually a sign of sulfation of the battery plates or shedding of active material.
Overheating and bulging during charging: If the battery becomes noticeably hot during charging, with the casing becoming very hot, or even bulging, this is a very dangerous sign and the motorcycle must be stopped immediately and the battery replaced.
Abnormal charging interruption: Automatic interruption of charging, or abnormal flashing of the charger indicator light, may indicate that the Battery Management System (BMS) or protection devices have triggered a safety mechanism.
III. Damage to Appearance and Physical Structure
Bulging/Deformation: Obvious bulging, swelling, or deformation of the battery casing indicates increased internal pressure, posing a safety hazard and requiring replacement.
Leakage/Corrosion: Inspect the battery casing and terminals. If liquid seepage or white powder (commonly known as "alkali leaching") is found around the terminals, the battery is damaged.
IV. Significantly Deteriorating Performance
Insufficient Power: Feeling weak acceleration and difficulty climbing hills while riding, even if the battery level indicator shows full charge, may indicate increased internal resistance and insufficient output voltage.
Falsely High Battery Level: The battery level indicator shows 50% or more charge, but a sudden power outage or momentary drop in power is a typical symptom of unstable battery voltage and severely insufficient capacity.
V. Usage Age and Maintenance Records
Excessive Usage Age: Even without obvious abnormalities, it is recommended to proactively inspect or replace ordinary lead-acid batteries that have been used for more than 2 years or lithium batteries that have been used for more than 5-6 years.
Excessive charge/discharge cycles: Lithium-ion batteries will experience a significant performance degradation when the number of charge/discharge cycles approaches or exceeds 500.
Safety Tips: If you notice the battery bulging, leaking, overheating during charging, or emitting an unusual odor, please stop using it immediately and take it to a professional repair shop to avoid potential safety hazards.
