How to take care of battery?

If you want to get the most out of your mobility scooter you need to get the best battery you can afford, and then take steps to get the most out of the battery. It starts with knowing what types of batteries there are, as well as how to take care of them.

Mobility scooter battery types

There are four types of mobility scooter batteries:

1. SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) battery
2. GEL battery
3. AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery
4. Lithium battery (Li-ion)

Regardless of type, all mobility scooter batteries are 12Volt. As a rule, your scooter needs two 12V batteries for a 24Volt output. It’s best practice to replace both batteries at the same time, even if only one of them is currently giving you grief (they’ve experienced exactly the same conditions so it’s reasonable to assume that the other battery is living on borrowed time anyway).

Stick to the same manufacturer and same battery type (don’t mix ‘n match because one brand is on special).

Another reason to replace batteries in pairs is to ensure they are from the same batch (same date codes).

Advantages and disadvantages

SLA: If money is an issue, then SLA batteries are a great option. Not only are they affordable, they are also robust enough to handle large all-terrain mobility scooter models. They’re rather weighty, which means they’re not altogether suitable for light, foldable models.  

One of the best things about them is that you don’t have to carry out any maintenance. And they’re safe enough for air travel.

They are the cheapest of the batteries and are best for occasional use.

Gel: Gel batteries have a lifespan somewhere between SLA and Lithium batteries. As with SLA batteries, you don’t have to worry about mobility scooter battery maintenance. They are also safe to transport on airplanes.

Unlike SLA batteries, they’re ideal for people who use their scooters every day.

A quirk of Gel batteries is that they don’t come full tilt out of the box. Typically, they operate at around 60% power when they’re new. They usually hit their stride after about 20 to 25 full discharges and charges.

AGM: Mobility scooter AGM batteries are lead batteries, like the SLA types. Also, like SLA batteries, they are cost-effective and best for occasional use.

Lithium Ion: If price is of no consequence for mobility scooter batteries, lithium batteries are the way to go. They’re more expensive than SLA, AGM, and Gel batteries, but they can last up to 10 times as long. As an estimate, you can also get about 40% more range on a single charge with a lithium battery.

If you consider the cost of replacing other batteries over the same period of time, you’ll find that lithium batteries are more cost-effective in the long-run. Think of it as buy now, don’t pay later.

Lithium batteries are also safe for air travel. You can get an IATA Certificate to prove it.

They’re nice and light but that doesn’t mean that they can’t also fill the role of heavy-duty mobility scooter batteries for large all-terrain models.

As far as mobility scooter battery disposal is concerned, lithium batteries are the most eco-friendly as they can be recycled.

The best tip to get the most out of your mobility scooter battery is to follow the instructions in the owners’ guide or manual. It’s also the best way to avoid negating the warranty.

If you are interested in electric scooters/bikes and want to know more, you can browse the previous blog or visit our official website: https://www.kukirin-eu.com or through sale03@eoony.com email us.