Electric mobility aids are always powered by electricity; it is the only fuel stable and safe enough to propel these devices. When we talk about equipment for those with disabilities the standard of quality rises and the acceptable break-down rate shrinks... however if you do not look after your mobility equipment, you can be as much to blame for its failure!

The general statistics of electric mobility is amazing; a machine that can propel an average person of 50kg - 150kg thirty to forty kilometers on a charge at the speed of 10km per hour. This is quite impressive when you think about it, and there are some machines that take 200kg+, travel 60km and can move at 15km+ (on private land, of course!). Therefore when a machine does break down, it is important to first understand that this technology requires constant attention to keep it running amicably.

The most important, and almost only, thing that the user has to do to keep their machine running well is to recharge it frequently. The batteries in mobility aids are constantly being used, unlike a car where you may use the battery to start the engine and then the petrol takes over. Furthermore, there is very little-to-zero return to the batteries from the scooter\wheelchair; a car regenerates almost all of the batteries power using an 'alternator', whereas very few scooters have braking systems that return power when traveling down a hill... and even then, it is very minor return. The batteries also self-discharge over time, and if you leave a fully charged battery for more than two weeks it will almost certainly be discharged when you switch it on next time. Believe it or not, these machines like being topped up. Contrary to what some believe they will not develop a memory, you cannot 'overcharge' them and it will keep your batteries lasting longer if you keep them topped-up.

The one exception is during a powerstorm. Mobility equipment is very susceptible to surging and burned-out chargers can be quite common if you leave them plugged in during a storm. You can also damage internal componentry of the scooter by doing this too- the surge can enter (and burn out) the charging port, the on-board computer, the wiring looms and potentiometers... and sometimes even the batteries themselves! Just one surge can cause over $1500 worth of repairs if you are unlucky. It is advised that you always remember to take the scooter off-charge when lightening is about.

If your scooter charger does in fact burn out, you must remember to replace it soon. Although we said before that these batteries will not develop a memory, you can destroy them by leaving them uncharged. It is a chemical reaction whereby the internal mechanisms deteriorate in the acid. Even if you charged it before the event and didn't use it since, the batteries will self-discharge and won't last for more than two weeks. If you do not replace the charger within this time you may find you will also need to replace the batteries too.

Equally important is replacing it with the same voltage and amperage. Generally mobility equipment will always utilize a 'three-pin' plug (it has two pins at the same height at the top, and a third down the bottom) if it is 24v. However, there are many different types of amperages out there: small scooters may run 2 - 3 amp, a medium from 4 - 6amp and large can utilize anywhere from 8 - 16amp! Many people think that by sticking a bigger charger on the machine you will simply cause it to charge faster, but you cannot always do this. A 2amp charger might be upgradeable to a 3amp, but any more could cause burned out wiring, over-loading the computer and shorting out fuses. It is best to contact the Mobility Shop if you require more information regarding scooter chargers.