Blog
Maintaining Your Mobility Scooter – Tips & Tricks for Longevity
2 January 2025 - by Matt Stanfield
Keep Your Scooter Going for Longer

Let’s dive right in to the core of scooter maintenance – batteries. These are the single component which is most important to look after if you want your scooter to perform at maximum capacity for longest. Firstly, if you want to get the best out of your batteries, it’s worth considering the nature and needs of the two main types: non-spill lead acid batteries, and lithium batteries. Maintaining your mobility scooter begins with proper battery care.

Example of a lithium battery pack

An example of a lead-acid battery

These types have similarities and differences. Both require regular charging. Even when they are not used for a while, e.g. if your scooter is being stored away from wintry weather. They will age and deteriorate faster if not attended to properly. Batteries have a lifespan at which they will usually perform to at least 60% of their stated capacity. For the lead acid types, you may get 2-3 years. The upper end of that timeframe requires routine charging.

 

 

 

Lifestyle & Mobility recommend a full charge at least once a fortnight. From a safety perspective, both lithium and lead acid batteries should not be left unattended whilst charging. Lithium batteries can easily exceed three years of good performance, again, if they are charged properly.

In practical terms, this means that batteries should not be left on charge while you are out of the house. On that note, it is important that batteries neither be charged nor stored with exposure to extremes of temperature.

Since there will inevitably be some heat produced during the charging process, do not expose batteries to direct sunlight whilst charging. Likewise, exposing batteries to extended periods of low temperatures, e.g. below 10°C, can cause their lifespan to decline. So, be mindful of where your batteries are stored.

Smart Driving

Mobility scooters all have an upper load limit. Usually their maximum stated range is based on a carry weight of less than this. The higher the carry weight, the less range you will get from a full battery charge. Avoiding overloading your mobility scooter is an important way to avoid unexpectedly short ranges. This range difference can be quite significant, particularly with boot scooters. The same effect on range is had by driving up steeper gradients. This is because the official range estimates on mobility scooters are provided by tests carried out on flat and smooth surfaces. As a rule of thumb, at least a mile or two should be deducted from the maximum stated range with most mobility scooters.

Carefully considering weather conditions is another important aspect of maintaining your mobility scooter. Because British weather is the way it is, being prepared for rain, wind and worse matters. Good news then! Lifestyle & Mobility stock a large selection of products to keep you and your scooter better protected against bad weather.

Checking In

Bringing your mobility scooter into one of our stores for an annual check-up and service is another recommendation. This isn’t just a self-interested suggestion either, check ups and services are a useful way of prolonging the life of your valuable mobility scooter.

Besides batteries, another part of mobility scooters which is more vulnerable to wear and tear are the tyres. Whilst pneumatic tyres on mobility scooters are often designed to be puncture-resistant, rough or untidy surfaces may present issues (think broken glass). So, it’s worth considering what is beneath your wheels. Solid tyres are, of course, fully puncture-proof. As a “third way” you might want to consider contacting us about arranging for you to get pneumatic tyres filled up with puncture-proofing foam. We will be more than happy to advise as to whether your scooter’s tyres are suitable, and to provide a quote. Also, in case you weren’t aware, some mobility scooters are available to buy with the option of pneumatic or solid tyres.

Just One More Thing…

A final point on what you drive over – and an important one to finish on. Do remember this. When navigating kerbs, always go on and off them over a dropped section, and do not take them at an angle. This will prevent damage to components on the underside of the chassis. Such damage is of the most common avoidable reasons for scooters failing to last as long as they should.

If you’d like further information, or have any questions about the above, feel free to reach out via sales@lifestyleandmobility.co.uk or call on 02081 597070 (lines are open 9am-5pm Monday-Saturday)

Basket 0 item

View Basket
There are no items in your basket.Continue Shopping

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive deals and news!

Inc. VAT Ex. VAT