Mobility scooter or electric wheelchair? How to tell which one you need
They look like cousins, but they solve different problems. Six questions that tell you which one fits the rider.
· 3 min read
The short answer: charge after use with the charger that came with the scooter, don't run the battery flat, keep it out of the frost, and store it part-charged over winter. Most battery problems come from three things: deep discharges, cold, and months of neglect.
Know which battery you have
Most mobility scooters use either sealed lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries. The label on the battery or the manual will say which. The difference matters for storage:
- Lead-acid batteries are heavy and like to be kept fully charged. Leaving one flat damages it quickly.
- Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and last longer, and prefer to be stored part-charged rather than full. Our eTricycle 2 uses a 48 V lithium battery.
Everyday charging
- Use the charger supplied with your scooter, or an identical replacement from the maker. A different charger may not match the battery.
- Charge after a day's use, before the battery runs low. Our rental riders plug in overnight once the battery drops below about 30%.
- Charge on a hard, dry surface, away from heat, out of direct sun, and not in the way of a door you might need in an emergency. A room with a smoke alarm is best.
- Unplug once it is full if your charger doesn't switch off by itself.
Riding in the cold
All batteries deliver less energy when they are cold, so expect a shorter range in winter. A few habits help:
- Keep the scooter, or at least a removable battery, indoors overnight, and set off with a warm, full battery.
- Never charge a frozen battery. Let it warm up to room temperature first; charging lithium below freezing can damage it permanently.
- Wipe off snow, slush and road salt after a ride, and keep the charging port and connectors dry.
- Plan shorter trips, and know where you can stop to warm up.
Storing a scooter over winter
If the scooter will stand unused for weeks or months:
- Clean and dry it, especially the connectors and the underside.
- Charge a lithium battery to about half, not full and not empty. Keep a lead-acid battery fully charged.
- Store it somewhere dry and above freezing. If the scooter has to stay in a cold shed or garage, take a removable battery indoors.
- Switch the scooter off fully so nothing slowly drains the battery.
- Top it up every month or two. A battery left completely flat for months may not wake up again.
- Check the tyres before the first ride of spring, and have the brakes looked at if it stood for a long time.
Signs your battery is wearing out
- The range has dropped noticeably, even after full charges.
- The battery drains quickly after sitting unused.
- It takes much longer to charge, or never shows full.
Stop using the battery straight away if it swells, gets hot, smells, hisses or leaks. Unplug it, move it away from anything that can burn if you can do so safely, and contact your service centre.
Warranty and service
Batteries wear with use, so check what your warranty covers. On the eTricycle 2 the battery is covered for one year from the date of purchase; reduced performance from normal wear is not a defect. A seasonal service before and after winter catches worn brakes, loose connections and tired batteries before they leave you stranded. Our Tallinn workshop does seasonal maintenance and repairs for the eTricycle series and common light electric vehicles.