Whether you are researching mobility scooters or already purchased one to enhance your lifestyle, you’ll need to know about their battery life. After all, you’ll be depending on the scooter while traveling, entertaining, and attending appointments. Check out the guide below for an understanding of how much charge you have and how to best keep your chair powered, so you’re always prepared for what’s ahead of you. 

Common Battery Types 

Most mobility scooters come with two separate 12-volt batteries, which are most reliable when swapped out at the same time. Some are referred to as gel cells, while others contain SLA (sealed lead acid) products.

If you’re interested in a certain scooter, review the manufacturer’s product specifications to see what type of batteries are included and how much time to expect out of them. If you cannot find this information, we here at Dauterman Healthcare & Mobility can provide you with the approximate life span for each type of gel or SLA battery when applied to a particular mobility scooter. 

Average Battery Lifespan 

Expect between 12-18 months of reliable battery use from your  12Ah -18Ah SLA set. The time frame will depend on how often you use your scooter. If you primarily use it to move around your home and only go short distances, the battery will last longer than if you travel several miles each day.  With larger sizes – 35Ah U1s – NF-22 50Ah expect 18months to 3 years and an additional 6 months with Gel cell.  These figures are just estimates – driving conditions, passenger weight and type of mobility device all have an affect the life of the batteries.

Helpful Charging Tips 

Each scooter’s range varies. Some will allow you to travel between 15-18 miles before it’s time to charge the battery again. Some models will go as far as 30 miles at a time.

Visit Dauterman Healthcare & Mobility’s product showroom or read specifications online to know how far you can go before plugging your chair back in. Keep track of your mileage so you can get back to your charging station before the scooter turns off. If you feel like you’re getting less travel time than you’re used to, it may be time to get new batteries. 

The best way to decide if a model will meet your needs is to talk with a medical supply professional. Our Honolulu, HI-based team at Dauterman Healthcare & Mobility knows the unique specifications of travel-size, full-size, and heavy-duty scooters. We have over 40 years of experience providing high-quality home medical supplies, wheelchairs, and scooters to residents on Oahu. To ask specific questions about mobility scooters as they pertain to your family, call us at (808) 591-8860. You can also browse our product catalog on our website.