Are you the proud owner of a mobility scooter?
If so, you know just how important your scooter’s battery is to keep it running smoothly.
But are you taking the necessary steps to maintain it properly?
If not, you may be unwittingly shortening its lifespan and risking costly repairs.
In this article, we’ll provide you with 7 essential tips for caring for your mobility scooter’s battery.
We’ll break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand tips so you can get a better understanding of how your battery works and what you can do to extend its lifespan.
From tips on charging and storage to understanding the types of batteries available, we’ll provide you with actionable and practical takeaways that you can start implementing today to keep your mobility scooter running smoothly for years to come.
So, whether you’re a seasoned mobility scooter owner or new to the game, keep reading to learn the important battery care tips that every owner needs to know.
Key Takeaways
- Maintaining the battery of a mobility scooter is essential for safety, reliability, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.
- Some battery care tips include leaving the scooter charging overnight, using the right charger, storing the scooter properly, avoiding draining the battery completely, using ECO driving modes, performing regular battery checks, and servicing the scooter periodically.
- Overcharging is no longer an issue since most chargers come with sensors that detect when the charging cycle is complete and shut down automatically.
- Cold weather can affect the battery performance and lifespan of a mobility scooter.
- Neglecting proper battery care can lead to faster battery wear and tear, reduced range during travel, and increased repair or replacement costs.
It Is Important to Take Care of Your Scooter Battery
Maintaining your mobility scooter’s battery is essential for various reasons.
Firstly, it ensures your safety while using the scooter.
A damaged or worn-out battery may fail to provide sufficient power to operate the scooter, which could leave you stranded or unable to complete your journey.
Secondly, taking care of your battery can increase the scooter’s reliability.
By regularly charging and using the battery correctly, you can prevent damage and ensure that it will last longer.
Thirdly, maintaining the battery can save you money in the long run.
A damaged or worn-out battery will need to be replaced sooner, which can be costly.
By taking care of your battery, you can avoid the need for expensive replacements and repairs.
Finally, taking care of your mobility scooter’s battery is convenient.
If your battery is well-maintained, you can use your scooter whenever you need it, without worrying about whether it will have enough power to get you where you need to go.
This is particularly important if you rely on your mobility scooter for daily tasks or transportation.
So, here are the 9 best practices for making sure your batteries stay in top condition as long as possible:
1. Don’t Worry About Overcharging
Although overcharging was a serious issue in older battery-powered devices, nowadays most chargers come with sensors that detect when the charging cycle is complete and shut down automatically.
You shouldn’t worry about leaving your scooter charging for longer than it’s recommended since there’s unlikely that anything bad could happen.
And changing your conduct in this way will ensure your battery is always properly charged.
2. Leave the Scooter Charging Overnight
Even when manufacturers recommend shorter charge periods, leaving your scooter plugged in overnight is usually the best practice, since it will ensure a full battery whenever you need it the next day.
And as we mentioned before, there is no risk of overcharging.
3. Use the Right Charger
If you didn’t get a charger with your mobility scooter, it’s very important that you shop for one that’s compatible with your model.
I recommend asking your local retailer or contacting your model’s manufacturer.
A charger that’s not paired properly with a particular scooter can create several issues, ranging from not topping up the battery, to damaging it permanently or even causing fire hazards, on the more serious side of the possibilities.
4. Store Your Scooter Properly
Your scooter should always be stored in a dry space preferably not having to endure too cold or too hot temperatures.
Since batteries tend to decay when not used for long periods of time, if you know you will not be driving your scooter temporarily, keeping the charger plugged in could be helpful for preventing this.
Even making it run for a while and then charging it again will also be beneficial.
5. Batteries are Affected by the Climate
As I mentioned, batteries are not very fond of cold weather.
Know that your personal scooter’s range will be reduced during winter and that its batteries will wear out quicker if they are exposed to very cold temperatures frequently.
6. Try Not To Drain Your Batteries Completely
The ideal working condition for batteries is to never reach being fully discharged.
If it’s possible, don’t wait until your battery meter is near empty to recharge your vehicle.
Plug it in even if the gauge barely moved.
Maintaining a near-full charge is the best practice.
7. Take Advantage of ECO Driving Modes
As you might know, scooters come with different driving modes that affect their performance, from acceleration curves to top seed to how the brakes respond.
Driving in ECO mode or its equivalent will ensure your battery drains slower, thus extending its lifespan.
Remember, the lesser the effort the battery is subject to, the slower would be its decay.
So, your driving style also matters for this, and avoiding rough terrains and hills, is a great idea too.
8. Perform Regular Battery Checks
Checking your battery at least monthly will help you have an idea of its state, and let you be aware of it before some clearer signs of a worn-out battery start showing such as performance issues.
If you rely on your scooter for your daily activities, this is particularly important so you can make sure a failing battery would never leave you stranded far from home.
9. Don’t Forget Servicing Your Scooter Periodically
Apart from checking your device’s battery, servicing it periodically is also fundamental.
Check on your manufacturer’s recommendation about the frequency of services required.
Usually, scooter retailers will be able to do this regular service for you, and if not they will surely refer you to a shop that does it.
What Would Happen if You Don’t Take Care of Your Scooter’s Battery?
Not taking proper care of your mobility scooter’s batteries will make them wear out faster, reducing its range during the process until they ultimately fail and make the vehicle stop working altogether.
Making the most out of your scooter’s batteries is not only important because of safety reasons, but also for economic ones:
A battery replacement can cost you up to $200 for most models.
How Long Do Mobility Scooter Batteries Last?
Mobility scooter batteries usually last for up to 1000 charge cycles or 12 to 18 months of daily use.
How to Check a Mobility Scooter Battery?
There are several ways of checking your device’s battery, from a visual and physical look trying to find any signs of damage or leakage to stress, and multimeter tests.
We have a dedicated guide on how you can start checking your scooter’s batteries at home here:
How to Know if Your Scooter’s Battery is Dead?
There are certain signs that can help you determine if your personal scooter’s battery is dying or already dead.
Some include it overheating, charging too fast, or draining too fast.
For a complete list of what to look for, check out the following article:
How to Replace a Mobility Scooter Battery?
Changing mobility scooter batteries is an easy task, given that you can find a compatible replacement.
Anybody can do it without the need for specialized tools.
However, people with severe limitations in their mobility or reduced strength and dexterity in their arms and fingers, might not be able to do it.
For a step-by-step guide on replacing a powered scooter’s battery, please visit the following page:
All the claims made in this article are only for informational purposes, based on the writer’s experience and not clinical advice. You should always consult your physician or physical therapist if you have any doubts about how this applies to your specific case.
Rami is an economist with a passion for personal finance and a desire to help people make the most of their retirement years. He’s also the tech mind that made all of this possible, and a marketing enthusiast. In his articles, Ramiro offers real-life advice and resources for seniors looking to manage their finances and make the most of their retirement savings. He is dedicated to helping his readers live comfortably and securely during their golden years.