Caring for your Scooter or Electric Wheelchair/Powerchair Batteries

There are two types of batteries. Sealed lead-acid batteries are more reliable and cheaper than the gel equivalent. On the other hand, gel batteries although they are more expensive, they are more resilient to temperatures, shock and corrosion, making them more durable. It is good practice to fully charge your battery before use. New Gel batteries takes a little time to come up to full capacity, so make sure you charge your battery regularly. Running your battery flat/fully discharge, will shorten your battery life and can damage your vehicle and effect the performance, so avoid this. To properly care for your scooter or powerchair battery, charge your battery fully every day, even after a short trip. Charge you batteries for a minimum of 8 hours each night - you cannot overcharge the battery. It is recommended they be charged for 12 hours one night per week. To further prevent sulfation. Once you have charge your battery unplug from the socket so it does not discharge. Both undercharging and overcharging your scooter’s battery can contribute to a higher chance of battery failure. Store your batteries disconnected and fully charged. This will give you up to 6-month shelf life. In winter your batteries may be affected by the cold weather, making your scooter or powerchair to go a little slower and may reduce the maximum mileage distance slightly. It is important to keep the batteries on charge when not in use. But other factors can also affect the batteries such as:- type of terrain travelled over, the type of charger used, your charging routine, weight of yourself and mobility scooter, the mileage range and how often you use the mobility scooter. Keep you scooter or Powerchair regularly serviced where your battery is checked as part of the service. If you are unsure about your battery, we offer a free check just ask for an appointment at one of our branch locations. Please see the photos for more helpful battery care guidelines.