A mobility scooter is a personal vehicle designed to allow easy use and controls for those that suffer from mobility related challenges. While still available, gas powered mobility scooters have all but gone the way of the wandering water buffaloes, and have been replaced by the much more efficient and cost effective electric mobility scooter. Depending on the model these units can travel at speeds up to 10 miles per hour and cover distances of well over 20 miles. This is of course, under what is commonly referred to as "ideal driving conditions, which we all know are seldom available. There are however several things that you can do to ensure that you get the most mileage out of your mobility scooter.
One of the most important parts of your mobility scooter is the battery, which is very important in determining how much of that maximum driving distance you actually see. A well maintained battery is the key to maintaining your mileage. Most electric mobility scooters use maintenance free batteries, so there is no need add water, but it is important to still check the connections, or terminals, and to ensure that the battery is not cracked or ruptured. It is important to completely charge your battery before you first use it. It takes up to 4 or 5 charging cycles before the battery is at its maximum charging capacity, so you will want to gently break your mobility scooter in. Until you have charged the batteries on your scooter at least 4 times, drive a little slower and do not take the scooter too far from your home.
After the initial break in period it is extremely important to get into a regular charging cycle. How often you charge your scooter relies a lot on the way you use it, but by properly implementing a charging regiment you will ensure the longevity of your batteries. If you use your mobility on a daily basis then it is a good idea to charge it as soon as you are done with it for the day. If you only use your mobility scooter once or twice a week then you can probably get by with only charging it once a week. Depending on the model usually an 8 - 14 hour charge will fully restore the batteries. Most electric mobility scooters have built in battery gauges on the control panel that make it easy to see the state of the batteries charge. While the charger supplied with most mobility scooters is designed to not overcharge the battery, it is still not a good idea to charge the battery over 24 hours, unless specifically instructed by the manufacturer or the user manual. It is also important to ensure that the battery terminals do not get corroded. Many scooters use a dry cell battery, which generally do not get corroded, but corrosion can lead to poor charging and weak power.
While proper care of the battery is one of the biggest and most important influences on achieving the maximum range available for your scooter, there are also several other things you can do to ensure that you get the most from your scooter. Many of these also apply to getting the most mileage out of your car. For instance it is maintaining the proper tire pressure is essential to getting the best mileage and also promotes stability. You should also to try to avoid hills, broken terrain, and loose gravel or dirt as these can make your mobility scooter work harder, reducing its effective range. You should also try to keep your baggage and accessories to a minimum. In addition by driving at a steady pace and avoiding stop excessive stop and go driving you safely extend the life of your batteries.
The key to any vehicles maximum range is to use the fuel source in the most efficient manner possible. When it comes to electric mobility scooters this means taking good care of your batteries. One of the most important things to do is to properly charge and maintain the batteries. There are also several driving habits that can ensure that you get the most out of every charge.
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