How to Store an E-Bike and Its Battery for Winter

October 22, 2026

Rider in a helmet and winter jacket riding an e-bike toward an open garage in the first snow

To store an e-bike for winter, clean and dry the bike, then bring the battery indoors and keep it dry, at room temperature and at about 50% charge. Health Canada advises checking a stored battery every three months and topping it back up to about 50% if it has dropped. Never charge it below freezing: let it warm to room temperature first.

Battery and fire safety guidance checked October 2026 (sources at the end).

Why the battery comes inside

Health Canada advises storing lithium-ion batteries at room temperature in a dry place, away from direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, other types of batteries and anything flammable or explosive. It also says not to leave batteries in a hot or cold car, and to bring them to room temperature before using them.

An unheated garage or shed can fall below freezing in a Canadian winter, so it isn't the place for the battery. Battery University's storage guide gives 15 °C as the recommended storage temperature for most batteries.

Charging is the bigger risk. Health Canada says not to charge lithium-ion batteries in below-zero temperatures, and Battery University explains why. Charging a consumer lithium-ion battery below 0 °C plates metallic lithium on the anode, a permanent loss of performance and safety, even though the pack seems to charge normally.

Why about 50% charge

Health Canada recommends storing lithium-ion batteries with about a 50% charge when they won't be used for a long time, checking them every three months, and charging them back to 50% if they've dropped. Battery University gives the reason: lithium-ion loses more capacity when stored full than when stored partly charged.

Stored for one year at	40% charge	100% charge
0 °C	98% of capacity left	94% of capacity left
25 °C	96%	80%
40 °C	85%	65%

These are Battery University's estimates for one lithium-ion chemistry (lithium cobalt), not measurements of e-bike packs, but the pattern holds: heat and a full charge both cost capacity. Don't store the battery empty either. Battery University warns that a lithium-ion cell can't sit below 2 V for any length of time, because copper shunts can form inside and cause a partial short.

Step by step: putting an e-bike away for winter

Clean and dry the bike. Park Tool suggests soapy water and brushes, a hose only at low pressure with a wide spray, and a dry chain before you lube it again. Our winter riding guide covers road salt.
Set the battery near 50%. Ride it down or charge it up, using the charge display as a guide.
Take the battery inside if it comes off. Keep it at room temperature, dry and out of the sun, away from anything that can catch fire, as Toronto Fire Services advises, and out of children's reach, as Health Canada advises.
Keep the charger with it. Health Canada says to use the charger that came with the device.
Set a reminder for every three months, and top the battery back up to about 50% if it has dropped.
Store the bike somewhere dry, out of the weather and locked.
If the battery doesn't come off, bring the whole bike indoors or follow the maker's storage instructions, which Health Canada says to follow for large battery systems.

Where to keep it

Spot	For the bike	For the battery
Heated home or apartment	Fine if you have room	Best choice: room temperature, dry, out of the sun and away from anything that burns
Unheated garage or shed	Fine if it's dry and locked	No: it can fall below zero
Car	Not a storage spot	No: Health Canada says not to leave batteries in a hot or cold car
Building storage room or locker	Follow the building's rules	Only if it stays at room temperature

When you top it up, charge away from exits. Health Canada says to charge devices away from exit doors in case of fire, and away from soft surfaces like a couch or bed that can trap heat.

Warning signs: when not to store or charge a battery

Damage: Health Canada says not to use batteries that are swollen or dented, have torn wrappers or show other signs of damage or wear.
Odd behaviour: Toronto Fire Services says to stop using a battery that gives off an odour, changes colour or shape, gets too hot, leaks or makes noise.
Smoke or sparks: the City of Toronto says to call 911 and, if it's safe, move the battery or device outside, away from anything that could catch fire.
Questions: B.C.'s Office of the Fire Commissioner suggests calling the battery maker or your local fire department's non-emergency number if you notice any problem.

Cold-season risk is also why the TTC bans e-bikes from its vehicles from November 15 to April 15. It says lithium-ion batteries pose a greater risk in the fluctuating temperatures of colder months.

Spring: back on the road

Warm it up: let the battery reach room temperature before you charge it, as Health Canada advises.
Charge where you can see it: Health Canada says to charge at room temperature, in sight, and not for longer than recommended. The City of Toronto adds: unplug it when charging is complete.
Check the basics: tire pressure, brakes and chain before the first ride. Our battery range guide explains how cold weather affects range.
Retire a damaged battery: lithium-ion batteries are household hazardous waste. Toronto says never to put them in the garbage, recycling or green bin, and to tape the terminals or bag them before drop-off; B.C. points riders to recycleyourbatteries.ca.
Replace it with the right part: Health Canada advises replacing batteries only with original parts from the manufacturer or the dealer where you bought the bike.

Our warranty page explains what a warranty covers: verified manufacturing defects, not wear, missed maintenance or damage from use. Planning a new bike before spring? A removable battery makes winter storage easier, so check the battery details on our commuter e-bikes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave my e-bike outside in winter?

Not the battery. Health Canada advises storing lithium-ion batteries at room temperature in a dry place and never charging them below zero. The bike itself is best kept somewhere dry and locked, out of the snow and road salt.

What charge should I store my e-bike battery at?

About 50%. Health Canada recommends that level for long storage, with a check every three months. Battery University's figures show lithium-ion keeps more of its capacity when stored partly charged than when stored full.

Can I store my e-bike battery in the garage?

Not in an unheated one through a Canadian winter. Health Canada advises room temperature, away from extreme temperatures, and says never to charge below zero. If your garage is heated and dry, follow the manufacturer's storage instructions and keep the battery away from anything flammable.

How often should I charge an e-bike battery in storage?

Check it every three months, as Health Canada advises, and charge it back up to about 50% if it has dropped. Let it reach room temperature first, and unplug it once it's done.

Is it safe to charge an e-bike battery indoors?

Yes, with care. Health Canada says to charge at room temperature where you can see the battery, away from soft surfaces and exit doors, and not for longer than recommended. Use the original charger, or a replacement with a Canadian certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL.