What is an On-board Charger?
The part that lets you plug an electric motorcycle into a normal wall socket to recharge the battery.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
The on-board charger converts standard AC mains electricity into the DC form the battery can actually store, managing charge rate and safely stopping once the battery is full.
“A translator between your home's electricity supply and the battery's own language — without it, mains power simply can't get in.”
How it works
Plugging in sends AC current to the charger, which rectifies and regulates it into a controlled DC charge current matched to the battery's chemistry and current state of charge. It communicates with the battery management system throughout to taper charging speed as the battery nears full, protecting long-term cell health.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Charging noticeably slower than normal
- ⚠Charger not initiating a charge cycle at all
- ⚠Warning light or fault code during charging
- ⚠Charger housing unusually hot to the touch
£200–£700
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by bike, region, and parts brand.