Mobility Scooter Battery Maintenance

If you have trouble walking due to arthritis or other mobility related problem, then a mobility scooter may be for you. A mobility scooter is a personal transportation device that allows the user to move around freely and easily. There are many different types of mobility scooters that are available, and depending on your individual needs there
Mobility scooters are generally powered by electricity, but older models often used gasoline. Gasoline powered mobility scooters proved to be inefficient and very unsafe. They could not be used indoors and posed many safety and health risks. Today almost all mobility scooters are powered by rechargeable electric batteries. Since the battery is responsible for powering the unit, it is very important to properly maintain and use the battery.
In order for your mobility scooter, or any thing that uses electricity, to function properly it must have a good connection to its power source. In a mobility scooter this means that the scooter must have a good connection to its batteries. It is important to make sure that all connections to and from the battery are tight. Most batteries have two exposed metal surfaces called terminals. Terminals are either short posts that stick out of the battery, or they are inverted and allow a connection to be screwed into them. In either case it is important that the connection is tight. A loose connection can lead to poor and unreliable performance.
Another factor that can negatively affect the life and performance of mobility scooters is corrosion. In terms of batteries, corrosion is a chemical reaction between the moisture in the air, electricity, and metal. It often looks like a bluish white grainy substance that seems to be 'growing' on the battery. Typically, due to a special type of battery, mobility scooters do not suffer from corrosion the way a car battery does. They do sometimes still get corroded though and a corroded battery results in very poor performance. Always check your battery for corrosion and clean it if necessary. A solution of baking soda and water can be used to clean a corroded battery. Mix the baking soda and water into a paste and apply it to the corroded battery. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and scrub with a tooth brush. Rinse with water and repeat as necessary. Since corrosion is in part caused by the moisture in the air, it is possible to prevent corrosion by blocking the exposed terminals exposure to the air. Ensure that all connections to the battery are tight and apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the exposed metal connections. This will prevent air from reaching the metal, which will in turn prevent corrosion.
In addition to keeping clean and tight connections, it is also important to properly charge your battery. Consult your manual for specific details, but generally your battery will provide the best performance when it is regularly charged. It is also important to not over charge your battery. Properly maintaining your battery is one of the keys to keeping your mobility scooter running and when done properly will extend the life of your battery.