When people by an electric scooter or an electric wheelchair, they often get the impression that their vehicle will cover longer distances on one charge than turns out to be the case. There are a number of factors which may be the cause of this.
The figures given by the manufacturers are arrived after the vehicle has been tested under ideal circumstances. It’s necessary to bear in mind, however, that you’re highly unlikely to be using it under ideal circumstances.
The Batteries
Batteries need to have a sufficient capacity rating for the vehicle they’re powering.
The condition of the batteries limits the distance the scooter or wheelchair covers. All the cells of the battery must be fully functional to get good performance, and they need to be charged up a few times before they reach their optimum performance. Ambient temperature affects how well batteries perform; the colder the weather, the less efficiently they work.
The Vehicle
The condition of the vehicle is important, too. To get consistent maximum distances out of it, the scooter must receive regular maintenance so that it’s always in tip top shape. A brake that is on when it should be off is clearly going to run down the batteries more quickly than usual. This can happen without it becoming obvious, since a partially applied brake won’t necessarily be all that noticeable. The wheel bearings should run freely, too.
The Terrain
The nature of the terrain over which scooters and wheelchairs are driven can reduce the distance they’ll put behind them on one charge. Rough ground in the form of cobble stones, soft ground the vehicle sinks in to or uphill gradients take more out of the batteries that might otherwise be the case. On the other hand, driving a vehicle over descending ground will drain the batteries less, enabling a longer distance between charges. Most people, however, will be hoping to make the return journey!
The size of the wheels can make a difference to battery performance in so far as that larger wheels that ride on the top of ridges in the terrain surface make more efficient use of the battery power.
The Load
Mobility scooters and wheelchairs have weight limitations which the owner will find in the documentation that comes with the machine. It seems often (if not always) to be the case that vehicles won’t cover the maximum distance stated at the same time they’re carrying the maximum weight. Other factors being equal, the less weight the vehicle is carrying, the further it should go on one charge. It’s wise to obtain an electric scooter or wheelchair built to bear the weight that’s going be put on it.
Experience
The authors of this piece have had experience of organising charity fund raising events that consisted of scooter and wheelchair runs of 20 kilometres. In each instance, half a dozen scooters were involved, and in ttwo of them an electric wheelchair too. Roughly two thirds of the scooters required a change of batteries, another third ‘limped’ home and the other third could have continued further.
The scooters were of various ages, and so were the batteries. They were all in good condition, though. The wind direction was sometimes against, sometimes for. The routes were relatively flat.
The advertised distance coverable by the scooters on one battery charge is 40 kilometres. The scooters were of the same make, and mostly the same model.
