E-Rickshaw Battery Sizing: How to Calculate the Right Capacity

Getting the battery capacity right is the most important specification decision for any e-rickshaw build or procurement. Undersized batteries cause daily deep discharging that shortens life dramatically. Oversized batteries add unnecessary cost and weight.

The E-Rickshaw Duty Cycle

Most e-rickshaw operators run a full day shift covering 60-100km, with passengers throughout the day. The battery must support the entire duty cycle without daytime recharging.

Sizing Formula

Step 1: Daily Wh needed = Vehicle weight x Distance x Energy per tonne-km / System efficiency. Typical: 400kg loaded, 80km/day, 25Wh/km = 10,000Wh daily.

Step 2: Convert to Ah. For 48V: 10,000Wh / 48V / 0.85 (DoD) / 0.90 (efficiency) = ~272Ah required.

Step 3: Add 10-20% safety margin -> 300-320Ah recommended.

Standard Configurations

• 48V 20Ah: Budget — limited range (~50km), deep discharge daily -> short life
• 48V 28Ah: Standard — 70-90km range, acceptable cycle life
• 48V 40Ah: Premium — 100-130km range, excellent cycle life at moderate DoD
• 48V 50Ah: Long-range — heavy commercial use, solar-compatible

Climate Adjustments

Hot climates (>35C ambient): derate 15-20%. Cold climates (<10C ambient): derate 20-30%.

For e-rickshaw battery sizing support: sales@chisen.cn