All you need to know about mobility scooter batteries

Batteries, mind-boggling right? So many different aspects to think about when looking into batteries. Power usage? Different types? Compatibility?

Have you brought a mobility scooter and found the battery life does not last as long as you need? Or you have had your scooter for a while and the battery needs replacing but you are unsure what the best replacement would be?

Top recommended mobility scooter batteries

Lucas mobility scooter batteries

Lucas batteries are budget-friendly batteries that fit most models of mobility scooters including shoprider, pride and more. They are a high quality, deep cycle and maintenance-free sealed mobility battery.

Where to buy directly from Lucas on Amazon 

SLK mobility scooter batteries

SLK is another highly recommended company that sells scooter batteries and chargers, their batteries range from 10ah up to 75ah. Their batteries will fit into most mobility scooters including shoprider, strider, pride and more. They are deep cycle gel cell batteries, they are known for supreme quality and reliability. 

Remember to select the correct size you need, prices will vary. 

Or, buy from https://slkmobility.com/ 

Power Sonic mobility scooter batteries

Power Sonic is a budget-friendly, highly recommended company that sells scooter batteries and chargers. Their batteries will fit into most mobility scooters including shoprider, strider, pride and more. They sell lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. 

Or, view their range here https://www.power-sonic.com/batteries/psl-series/ 

Ultra Max mobility scooter batteries

Ultra Max sells a huge range of mobility scooter batteries, a very good variation in sizes going up to an incredible 100 amp hour. They sell lead-acid, gel and lithium iron phosphate batteries. You can find batteries for any scooters with Ultra Max including top brands of scooters i.e. strider, shoprider and pride. They are a fantastic deep cycle, long-life batteries at good value for money. 

Or, view their range here https://www.ultramax.co.uk/sealed-lead-acid-batteries/sla-mobility-batteries.html

There is a fantastic range of batteries out there for your mobility scooter. It is a good idea not to just go with the cheapest mobility scooter batteries as it is likely that the lifespan might not be very good. But there is plenty of fantastic affordable batteries that will last a very good amount of time.

Remember proper maintenance with your batteries will help ensure a greater life expectancy. Always check with your manufacturer before purchasing any batteries to make sure they are compatible with your scooter.

Here is our guide to help you find the perfect battery for your mobility scooter

There are 3 main types of mobility scooter batteries

Sealed lead acid also known as absorbed glass mat or AGM. This type of battery uses a lead-acid reaction to generate power in the same way as a car battery. They are a sealed unit so no worries about spillages and no need to top up fluid levels. They cope well in cold conditions and have a high level of charge retention when not in use.

Gel cell batteries also use a lead-acid reaction, they can undergo many more recharging cycles before they need replacing. For those who use their scooter daily will find these types of batteries the best value for money. 

Li-Ion also known as Lithium-Ion batteries have a better power to weight ratio than the other types of batteries. This makes them easier to get in and out of your scooter but still keep good range. Li-Ion batteries are very used amongst technology. They also have a good recharging cycle before needing to be replaced.

All these batteries will be 12-volt batteries, you will have two inside of your mobility scooter giving you a total output of 24 volts. 

How do amp-hours work?

You may see on your batteries that it says something like 12v 75ah, this means 12 volts 75 amp hour battery. 

All scooter batteries are 12 volts, and the higher the amp-hour then higher capacity your battery has which will give you the ability to use your scooter for longer. The lower the amp-hour the less range you will get from your scooter. 

There is a big variation in amp-hours for scooter batteries. This also affects the physical size of the batteries so make sure you find out the least/most amp-hour your scooter can hold.

How long should a mobility scooter battery last?    

On average the lifespan of a mobility scooter battery is 18 months, they could last 2-3 years. But most manufacturers will only offer a 12-month warranty on scooter batteries. 

The lifespan all depends on your usage, constant charging and discharging your battery will cause the batteries to lose the ability to charge to the capacity they did. Charging battery forces ions from the cathode to the anode. When using the battery, it reverses the process which wears out the cathode which results in reduced battery capacity.

How to know when your mobility scooter battery needs replacing?

Most of the newer models of mobility scooters will alert you when the battery needs changing. 

Otherwise, the recommended way to test out your mobility scooter batteries is by fully charging them. Take your scooter to somewhere with a flat surface and have it at a standstill. Take note of where the battery indicator needle is or how many LED lights you have lit up on your LED meter. While you are stationary, push or press the levers that make your mobility scooter run.  If the needle or LED lights decrease rapidly as you begin to move then that is a good indicator that your batteries need replacing. 

If you have access to a multimeter you can check the battery life using one of them, if the battery voltage reads less than 11.8v then the battery is less than 25% charged, if this does not improve with further charging than your battery or charger needs to be replaced.

If you have used the battery since it was new, you can generally tell when its time for a new one as you will notice that it will not last as long when it has been fully charged as it did. If it is only lasting for half the time it originally did then it is a good idea to look into getting a new battery for your scooter.

Or, you can ask a professional technician who can check your batteries.

How to replace your mobility scooter batteries?

Before changing your battery it is wise to get your manufacturers booklet or contact your manufacturer to find out your battery model and check instructions on battery replacement as all scooters are different and the way to replacing batteries may vary. Make sure the new battery you are putting into your scooter is the correct compatibility. The following guide is a general best practice.

Most scooters will need you to remove the seat to be able to access the battery compartment, usually, this will involve push levers or unscrewing pins. 

Once you have removed the seat, remove the cover to access the batteries and take note of how the cables are attached to make sure you know how they should be placed back on. 

Unplug the batteries, usually, this is via 2 pins in-between. Disconnect any straps or clips that are holding the batteries in place and remove your batteries, make sure the batteries remain upright. 

Once batteries are removed, use the correct size spanner to undo the bolts at the terminals. This will disconnect the wiring.

Once disconnected, reconnect them to your new batteries as they were on the old batteries. Make sure you are connecting red to red, and black to black. You can then place your new batteries into your scooter. Remembering to keep them upright. Reconnect all straps and clips as they previous was. 

You can then reattach your seat and your scooter should be ready to go.

Or, you can take your mobility scooter to be serviced or to your local mobility shop where they can replace the batteries for you.

Can you upgrade mobility scooter batteries for a greater range?

Upgrading your battery for a greater range all depends on whether your scooter model will allow you to change battery sizes. If you can, then you can replace your standard battery for a high capacity battery which will take you further, typically doubling your range. 

Reconditioned mobility scooter batteries

You can prolong a battery’s life by a process referred to as reconditioning, reconditioning is where you fill a battery with distilled water and recharge it for approximately one hour. After a successful recondition you should see bubbles in the holes. This can be a great way to restore a battery to how it was when it was brand new. You can generally do this to the battery 3-4 times before you do have to replace with a new one. 

This is a great cheaper solution, also fantastic for the environment. It can reduce the impact old batteries have on the environment by 50%!
Or, you can buy a reconditioned batteries to replace your current ones.

Best way to look after your batteries

Keep your batteries charged

If buying from the mobility scooters manufacturer, the batteries should come already charged but it is advised to place them on charge before use regardless. When the green light comes on, this generally means they are charged at 90%-95% so it is best to give it another hour to charge to 100%.

It is also highly recommended to charge your scooter batteries after every use. No matter the distance, having full batteries will prolong their lifespan. 

If not are not planning on using your scooter for a good while, charge your batteries then disconnect them until you are ready to use again.

Storage

It is best to keep batteries stored in a cool, dry space. Damp environment can cause permanent damage to the battery cell and shorten its lifespan. If your batteries get wet, wipe it down with a dry cloth.

Mobility scooter chargers

Always make sure you are using the correct charger for the size of your mobility scooter batteries, otherwise, it may not charge correctly and could pose a health and safety hazard. You should have received a charger with your scooter but if not you can buy one separately. If you are unsure what the correct charger is for your scooter, contact your manufacturer or your local mobility shop for guidance. 

Normally your mobility scooter chargers will be mains power only, but you can also buy car chargers for your scooter. These typical are 24v 1.5amp inverter chargers, one end plugs into your cigarette port and the other end plugs straight into your scooter, the chargers are ideal for smaller batteries, they do not put in power quickly. It is more of a trickle charge. It is not recommended to try and fully charge your scooter from flat. It will take an extremely long time and will drain your car battery. They are designed more for emergencies, or just as a little top up to ensure you can make it to your destination and back with your battery running flat.

Always make sure when you are finished charging your batteries that you fully disconnect your charger from your scooter, some chargers may take power back out of the batteries when left attached to batteries with mains power going in.