Common E-Bike Display Icons and What They Show

A symbol you've never seen is glowing on your screen, and no one told you what it means. Don't guess. Work out what kind of symbol it is first, then match it to your manual.

Why there's no single icon chart

There isn't one worldwide set of e-bike symbols. Each maker draws its own, so a plug-shaped icon on one bike can mean something else on another. A general guide like this one can describe the common kinds. Only your manual can name yours.

What the screen shows also depends on settings. A bike computer's buttons let you "switch the value(s) displayed"¹, so the symbol you saw yesterday may be hiding behind another screen today.

The common kinds of symbol

Most screens carry some of these.

• Battery symbol. A battery shape, often with bars, showing how much charge is left. Wikipedia calls the battery's state of charge "the equivalent of a fuel gauge"² and says it "indicates the remaining energy in the battery pack"². The battery readouts page goes through it.
• Assist level. Bars, numbers or words showing how much help the motor is set to give.
• Speed and unit. A big number with a unit beside it. Setup includes "selecting distance units (kilometers vs. miles)"¹, so check the unit before you trust a number.
• Trip figures. Wikipedia lists the usual set as "trip distance, trip time, total distance traveled"¹. Trip figures are covered here.
• Warning symbol. Often a spanner (wrench), an exclamation mark or a triangle. It may come with a code.
• Light symbol. Shows whether the bike's lights are switched on, on bikes that have them.
• Walk mode symbol. Shows a special slow mode some bikes offer when you push. Your manual explains how it works and when to use it.
• Connection symbol. Often a Bluetooth shape, for bikes that pair with a phone.

Your bike may have only some of these. Some bikes have a plain display with a few of them.

Symbols that mean a message

Some symbols come with a note from the bike. One maker's code list includes "66 | Battery - Battery is low" and "113 | Maintenance - Maintenance notification"³. The first is a battery warning. The second is a service reminder.

Another entry, "159 | Thermal Control Mode (Motor/Battery)"³, means the bike is limiting its power. The maker says "The system is enabling power control to prevent overheating"⁴. A heat symbol may be your cue to follow your manual's steps for that.

So a symbol can be:

1. A plain status, such as light on or Bluetooth on.
2. A warning that something needs attention soon.
3. A fault that comes with a code.

Does it flash or stay lit? Your manual normally tells you which is which.

Steady, flashing and coloured

Many screens use colour or flashing to show how urgent something is. Don't rely on that as a rule. A red symbol on one bike may be routine on another. Photograph the screen with your phone. Then you've got the symbol when you call the maker.

Where to look it up

Your owner's manual is the first stop. If it's lost, the maker's website often has a support page for your model. If the screen shows a code with the symbol, go to the code lookup page. To see how the screen and controller fit together, see the parts page.