As Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida's Gulf Coast threatening a deadly combination of high winds, storm surge, and heavy rain, here's a reminder of what to do if you own an electric bike and expect to be in the path of a powerful storm.
First things first: electric bikes can be a boon and a liability in the event of a hurricane. E-bikes can be a valuable form of transportation and their large lithium-ion batteries store valuable electricity that can keep your phone and other electronics charged for days or weeks, but that battery can be prone to water damage and must be protected from potential flooding. .
As we've covered, electric vehicles of all types are at a unique risk in flood situations, especially if the flooding is caused by seawater from storm surges. That salt water can cause electrical damage to underwater batteries.
If you have an e-bike and you live in an area that is expected to see flooding, it is best to park the bike indoors and on some high ground. Bring the whole bike up if you can. Even though e-bikes are often waterproof these days, flying debris can damage a locked bike outside during a storm.
If the bike is too heavy to carry up, remove the battery and bring it to a higher place. If you live on the floor and don't have a roof or high floor, place the battery as high as possible, such as on a high shelf or tall kitchen cabinet.
As part of pre-storm preparations, it's a good idea to check your tire pressure and perform any other maintenance you've been putting off.
Electric bikes can be a critical means of transportation after a storm. If roads are blocked by fallen trees, e-bikes can be lifted up or slide under the obstacle, allowing them to overcome obstacles that cars cannot pass. Riding just a few miles to a water distribution center or medical facility can save hours of travel and save valuable energy.
Hazards such as downed power lines and other debris should be noted, but the ability to navigate temporarily impassable roads by car or motorcycle can be useful when finding supplies, accessing medical aid, or evacuating a disaster area.
Most ee bikes have a USB charging port built right into their bike batteries. If yours doesn't have one, your bike may still have a USB port on it, usually somewhere near the display on the handlebars. During regular rides, this can be useful for keeping your phone charged. If the power goes out after a big storm, this can be an important lifeline to charge electronics like phones, flashlights, and radios.
Before the storm hits, be sure to charge your battery all the way as you will likely not have access to electricity after the storm, and store the battery in a safe place. If you run out of power and your battery and/or your bike is still accessible, you can use USB to keep your device charged. The LED light on your e-bike can also be used for emergency lighting when the power goes out. The headlight uses very little electricity and can run for days from the e-bike battery. To further conserve battery, the tail light can be turned off when using the front light at night.
If you use electronics, you may be able to power other devices with the e-bike battery. When I visited my parents in Florida during Hurricane Irma several years ago, I was able to hook up a 48V golf cart inverter and several bike batteries to power fans and other 120VAC devices in their home while we waited five days for power to be restored.
Solar chargers for ee bikes are available, although their high prices rarely mean that many owners don't have them. If you have a solar e-bike charger, it can come in handy when you use your e-bike for emergency power.
If you have a portable power station, it can be a great way to recharge your bike even if the power is out.
Combining a portable power station with a set of solar panels can turn it into a solar generator, which can keep your bike and other devices charged and ready to go. Compared to gasoline or diesel generators, you won't need to keep the fuel full or worry about whether the fuel cans were full in the garage.
FTC: We use auto affiliate links to earn income. More.
