E8000 cold weather problems

[jonaskos]

Has anyone had any issues with E8000 system below freezing temparetures?

My Merida e-One sixty 9000 (2020) will not power on when the bike has been outside for an hour in about -5 degrees celcius. The battery is fresh from the charger and at room temparature. The remote switch light blinks once but nothing else happens. After taking the bike inside for some time it works as normal.

 

[itsanebikething]

I had charged mine fully last week. Went to go out on in yesterday and it was showing 3/5 bars for the battery - the bike lives in the shed. It’s been -1 or so overnight. No problems with it functioning though. Did 20km and had 1/5 bars left.

 

[electricbogaloo]

By leaving the bike outside in those temperatures you risk fatal battery failure by deep discharge and faster ageing. If you gonna leave it outside longer than a few minutes/hours leave it at least charged up to 50%. If you leave it outside empty at that temperatures it may never wake up again. Also condensed water by bringing it inside and charging it might become a problem.

 

[jonaskos]

I got an answer from Shimano saying that the switch on top tube should be replaced. If I understood correctly it has a small battery in it which doesn't like the cold. The bike was in a Merida authorized service and the guys there told me it's not worth replacing as the new ones will fail in cold too. I didn't take it further. I normally have my bike in a warm garage so no issues when I go out. If the bike stays outside, it can be switched on via the power switch on the battery itself. There is a small rubber plug under the bottle holder which needs to be taken off. Through the hole there the bike can be switched on with a small tool e.g. the allen key stored in the back axle. I have tested it and it works.

 

[Veno]

I got an answer from Shimano saying that the switch on top tube should be replaced. If I understood correctly it has a small battery in it which doesn't like the cold. The bike was in a Merida authorized service and the guys there told me it's not worth replacing as the new ones will fail in cold too. I didn't take it further. I normally have my bike in a warm garage so no issues when I go out. If the bike stays outside, it can be switched on via the power switch on the battery itself. There is a small rubber plug under the bottle holder which needs to be taken off. Through the hole there the bike can be switched on with a small tool e.g. the allen key stored in the back axle. I have tested it and it works.

The trick with the rubber plug hole worked! You just made my sunday!

 

[MeatBike]

I know this is an old thread but hoping for help.

I have a Moose efat bike with the Shimano 8000. I’m in Eastern Canada so winters are often full of snow and varying cold weather.

Bike is always stored inside before a ride, and I ride to the trail.

2024 was my first winter with it, was perfect.

Last winter, when it was around -10 I biked for an hour, stopped for 5 mins to talk to someone, and bike shut off and couldn’t turn back on. Main battery was fully charged (at least 80%). Once got home and bike warm it worked fine, bike always works fine but if I put bike outside (in winter) for 5-10 min before ride it won’t turn on.

The other day I went to go on first ride since October. Satellite battery was dead so I did the pedal backwards trick and it came on and kept screen on for 3 hours so it would fully charge (kept clicking buttons every 5 mins to keep on).

I went to go for ride today (-25 with windchill). I drove to trail, 3 kms from home. Battery was warm as I took it off bike and kept in car for the drive. Bike was outside for 15 min total (to put on rack, and drive there etc). Put battery on bike. Bike wouldn’t come on.

What are my options. I checked and don’t have a rubber plug hole on bike to put Allen key into.

You could tape a disposable handwarmer to the switch to keep it warm, and then get something like this for actual battery:

Heated E-Bike Battery Cover

 

[electricbogaloo]

Your system is only rated to be operated as low as minus 10 degrees. But in general lithium ion batteries are not really suitable for minus double digit temps. That's why car batteries are insulated and heated in winter.

 

[electricbogaloo]

Celcius. But it doesn't really matter because any battery will have greatly reduced performance in cold weather. You should notice it with phones etc. aswell.

It will be more noticeable the less good qualits and the older the cells are. And if the bms is conservative it will just deactivate the whole pack to avoid a deep discharge but it can only do so much as in reducing power draw. It can't do anything against physical/chemical capabilities. So avoid extreme temperatures also for charging. Never charge a cold or hot battery!