The battery that comes with your RadCity 5 is a state-of-the-art, lithium-ion battery that’s designed to give you years and thousands of miles of Rad riding. Like any powerful battery, it requires appropriate care to ensure safety and the best performance. For your safety and the safety of your e-bike, you must read this entire section and follow its recommendations.
Battery Introduction
Please familiarize yourself with all of the components of your battery, the battery mount on your bike, and your charger.
A | Bike frame |
B | Keyport for locking and unlocking battery to frame (with key inserted) |
C | Battery charging port with rubber cover in place |
D | Battery |
E | Key |
F | Battery button (activates charge-level lights) |
G | Charge-level lights |
H | Charging plug |
I | Battery charging port |
Removing RadCity Battery
It is possible to remove the battery for storage, transportation, security, or as an option for charging. To remove the battery, follow these steps.
- Place the key into the key port and turn it to the unlocked position.
- The battery lock will release the battery from the frame and lift it out of the mount slightly.
- Carefully lift the battery up, angling it away from and clearing the terminal contacts (“3” in the illustration above).
- Pull the battery out of the mount. Be careful not to drop or damage the battery when it’s loose from the bike. Do not touch or bend the terminal contacts.
Installing RadCity Battery
To install the battery, you do not need the key. Check to ensure the battery mount is clean and dry, and then follow these steps.
- Gently insert the battery into the frame.
- Align the battery with the terminal contacts.
- Push down on the battery until you hear a click. Do not force the
battery into the battery mount. Ensure the battery is locked in place
by gently pulling upward on it.
CHECK CHARGE LEVEL
Press and release the battery button to illuminate the charge level lights.
Charging the Battery
Here is an overview of how to charge your battery safely.
- Always charge your battery with the charger supplied by Rad Power Bikes.
- Check that the battery and charger are undamaged before charging. If the battery or charger look damaged or were involved in a fall or crash (even without outward or obvious signs of damage) contact Rad Power Bikes Product Support for more information.
- Charge your battery in a temperature-controlled, dry, safe location ideally at room temperature, 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C). Always charge between 32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C), because charging outside of this range may cause permanent damage to the battery in the form of decreased range per charge for the remainder of the battery’s useful life.
- Use the charger in a safe place—away from children, direct sunlight, dirt, debris, liquids, tripping hazards (including electrical cords), or any materials that could ignite in the unlikely event of a charger or battery malfunction. Position the charger and battery where they’re safe and not at risk for falls or other impacts.
- Your battery and charger generate heat while charging, but they’re designed to air-cool. While charging, keep them uncovered on a flat, stable, hard surface. Your charger should face upward with its light visible when in use.
- Store the charger unplugged in a safe place—away from children, in direct sunlight, in a place where it could fall, etc. Make sure the charger plugs do not come in contact with liquids, dirt, debris, or metal objects, which can damage the plug and interfere with future operation.
TIP! Charge an empty battery as soon as possible. If the battery is completely empty, charge it as soon as possible. Storing a depleted (empty) battery can lead to permanent loss of range or loss of battery life.
TIP! Recharge the battery after each ride. Always charge it back to full so it is ready to go the full range per charge next time you want to ride.
CHARGING PROCEDURE
Anytime you charge your battery, check the battery, charger, and electrical cables for signs of damage. Follow the steps below.
1. Ensure the bike is off. Press and hold the power button on the UI Remote until the display turns off. If desired, use the key to unlock and remove the battery from the bike frame. The battery can be charged while it is on or off the bike.
2. Inspect the battery, charger, and electrical cables for damage. If everything looks fine, proceed with the rest of the steps. If you find any damage, don’t charge your bike. Instead, take photos and seek more information from our Help Center at www.radpowerbikes.com/help or by contacting Rad Power Bikes Product Support.
3. Plug the charger into the battery’s charging port. Place the charger on a flat, secure surface with the charging status light facing up, open the rubber cover on the battery’s charging port, and connect the DC output plug from the charger (round barrel connector) to the charging port on the side of the battery.
4. Plug the charger into a power outlet. Connect the charger input plug (110/220-volt plug) to the power outlet. Charging should initiate and will be indicated by the charger status light on the charger turning red. 5. Unplug the charger from the outlet, then the charging port. Once fully charged, as indicated by the charger status light turning green, disconnect the charger from the outlet then the charger from the battery by pulling directly on the plugs, not the wires themselves.
NOTICE: The charger is designed to stop charging automatically when the battery is fully charged. Nevertheless, we recommend you disconnect the battery from the power source and charger as soon as possible once charging is complete. As with any appliance, you should unplug your charger when you’re not using it to charge your battery. This will also prevent range decline from unnecessary charging.
RadCity 5 Estimated Charging Times
The time the charger takes to fully charge the battery depends on factors including distance traveled, riding characteristics, terrain, payload, and battery age. The table provides a rough estimate of charge time based on common distances traveled in regular operation.
Distance | Recharge Time |
5 miles | 1 hour |
10 miles | 1.5 hours |
15 miles | 2.5 hours |
20 miles | 3.5 hours |
25 miles | 4.5 hours |
30 miles | 5.5 hours |
45 miles | 7 hours |
NOTICE: The battery may take longer to charge when fully depleted, when very new, and after 3–5 years of regular use. If your battery doesn’t seem to be charging normally, is taking longer to charge than expected, or you’re experiencing a substantial reduction in range, discontinue use and contact Rad Power Bikes Product Support.
Long-term battery storage:
If storing your RadCity for longer than two weeks at a time, follow the recommendations below to maximize the performance and longevity of your battery. For peak battery performance over time, store the battery at approximately 40-75% charged (about 4 to 7 charge level lights illuminated). Check the battery’s charge level monthly. If necessary, use the charger from Rad Power Bikes to charge the battery to about 40-75% charged. Storing your battery for long periods at full charge can cause a range decline over time. Do not store your battery at very little or no charge, which can cause a permanent range decline or a non-functional battery. You must read and understand all safety-related precautions in this section before handling, using, or storing the battery that came with your RadCity.
DANGER: Never open the battery housing, which will void the warranty and can result in battery damage. It can also expose you to caustic substances and electrical shock or it could create a fire hazard, which can lead to serious injury or death.
WARNING: Charging your battery with a charger other than one supplied by Rad Power Bikes and designed for your specific bike serial number can cause damage to your bike’s electrical system or create a fire hazard. Only use a battery charger designed for your bike and supplied by Rad Power Bikes.
WARNING: Letting the charger’s plug contact metal objects could cause a power discharge (a spark), which could injure you or create a fire hazard.
WARNING: Letting a battery charge unattended increases the risk that a charging problem will go undetected and lead to component damage or a fire hazard. Always charge your battery where you can monitor it.
WARNING: Using a damaged battery or charger can create additional bike damage or a fire hazard. Stop using your battery and charger and contact Rad Power Bikes immediately if any of the following occur:
(1) Your charger’s flexible power cord or output cable or any of the electrical cables on your bike is frayed, has broken insulation, or any other signs of damage,
(2) Your battery or charger is physically damaged, non-functional, or performing abnormally,
(3) Your battery or charger experienced a significant impact from a fall, crash, or shipping damage, with or without obvious signs of damage.
(4) Your charger becomes too hot to touch (it’s designed to get warm with normal use), makes an
unusual smell, or shows other signs of overheating. Store any damaged battery or charger in a safe location and, as soon as possible, recycle or otherwise dispose of it according to local rules. Contact Rad Power Bikes Product Support if you have any questions or to purchase a compatible replacement battery or charger.
WARNING: Using your battery at temperatures higher than 113°F (45°C) may cause permanent damage to the battery in the form of decreased range per charge for the remainder of the battery’s life. At temperatures higher than 140°F (60°C), your battery can experience critical failure up to and including an electrical fire. Always store your battery at temperatures lower than 140°F (60°C). If you ride in extreme temperatures (above 113°F (45°C)), use low levels of power assistance (low pedal assist levels, low use of throttle) to keep the battery as cool as possible.
WARNING: Never immerse or submerge the battery in water or liquid, including water in the battery mount, which can cause damage, serious injury, or death.
WARNING: Using aftermarket battery accessories or products that have not been tested by Rad Power Bikes for safety and compatibility may void your warranty, create an unsafe riding condition, result in bike/property damage, or cause serious injury or death. If you use products not tested and recommended by Rad Power Bikes, you do so at your own risk.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire, connect only to a circuit provided with 10 amperes maximum branch circuit overcurrent protection in accordance with the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70.
CAUTION: An unlocked or improperly attached battery can fall off a moving bike, causing damage or injury. Always check that the battery is properly attached and locked to the frame before moving or riding your bike.
NOTICE: Failure to follow the battery-charging best practices outlined in this chapter could result in unnecessary wear to the charging components, battery, and/or charger, and could lead to an underperforming or non-functional battery. Batteries damaged due to improper care will not be replaced under warranty.
NOTICE: When the battery is off its mount, protect the battery terminal contacts from damage and be sure not to touch them. If terminals are damaged, please discontinue use and contact Rad Power Bikes Product Support immediately.
NOTICE: Charging your battery in excessively hot conditions or interfering with its ability to air-cool can damage your battery or charger. Always charge your battery at temperatures between 32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C), but preferably at room temperature: 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C). Charging your battery at low temperatures may slow charging or prevent a full charge. Keep the battery and charger uncovered, make sure the charger is on a hard, flat, stable surface, and use the charger rightside-up (with charging lights facing upward).
NOTICE: The charger is designed to stop charging automatically when the battery is full. Nevertheless, leaving your battery charging longer than necessary can cause needless wear. We recommend you remove the charger from the battery within one hour of the green light indicating a complete charge. Store the charger carefully, making sure its plug does not come in contact with liquids, dirt, debris, or metal objects, which can damage the plug and interfere with future operation.
NOTICE: Incorrect storage of your battery can result in a damaged or non-functional battery. Follow the above recommendations to reduce such risk.
NOTICE: Always follow any safety information attached to the battery or charger. A sample label
for the battery that shipped with your bike is shown at right, some details and manufacturing location
may differ.
Critical battery safety overview
Follow these recommendations to ensure safety, and be sure to read all of the critical safety messages in “You must read and understand all safety-related precautions in this section before handling, using, or storing the battery that came with your RadCity.”
Protect the battery from impact damage. Do not drop the battery. Ensure the battery is locked to the frame before riding.
Protect the battery from water and corrosion damage. Never submerge the battery in water. Allow rain to run off of the battery from top to bottom as designed. Avoid salt water and de-icing compounds, which are very corrosive and can lead to damage and danger.
Remove the key from the bike’s battery keyport before riding.
Never open the battery housing or charger. There are no user-serviceable parts in either the battery or battery charger.
Turn off the bike for maintenance. Before performing any bike maintenance, bike cleaning, or part replacement, power off the bike and remove the battery to prevent accidental motor activation. Also discharge any remaining power in the electrically system by pressing the power button. That will protect all of the electrical components.
TEMPERATURES FOR SAFE STORAGE, CHARGING, AND USE
For safety and the best battery performance, please be aware of the following:
Avoid riding in extreme temperatures, above 113°F (45°C), whenever possible.
If you ride in extremely hot temperatures (above 113°F (45°C)), use low levels of power assistance (low pedal assist levels, low use of throttle) to keep the battery as cool as possible. This will lower the risk of the battery automatically turning off to prevent use-caused heat damage.
Heat can cause the battery to automatically turn off.
When the battery temperature reaches more than 140°F (60°C), the battery is designed to turn off automatically to prevent use-caused heat damage. When the battery cools enough, you should be able to turn your battery back on.
Charging your battery when it is warm from riding or from ambient temperatures more than 113°F (45°C) can cause the battery and charger to power off as a safety precaution.
Extreme heat can cause permanent battery damage.
Prolonged storage temperatures that exceed 113°F (45°C) can reduce the useful life of the battery.
Using your battery so that its temperature reaches 113°F (45°C) or higher may cause permanent damage to the battery in the form of decreased range per charge for the remainder of the battery’s useful life.
l Storing your battery at temperatures higher than 140°F (60°C) (such as in a hot car in direct sunlight) may cause permanent range decline or critical failure up to and including an electrical fire.
l Cold can reduce battery range temporarily. Riding in temperatures lower than 32°F (0°C) may significantly reduce riding range for that ride. Do not depend on the battery power to perform for the same range available above 32°F (0°C).
Extreme cold can cause the battery to automatically turn off. At -4°F (-20°C) the battery will shut off to prevent damage.
Do not depend on battery power to return you back to safety if riding near those extreme temperatures.
TEMPERATURE RANGE SUMMARY
These are the maximum safe and recommended temperature ranges for your Rad Power Bikes battery. Please see the preceding section for more information.
Maximum use range: -4°F to 120°F (-20°C to 49°C)
Maximum charging range: 32°F to 113°F (0°C to 45°C)
Recommended charging range: 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C)
Maximum storage range: -4°F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C)