You'll Cover More Ground with an MK Battery. Like a good set of radial tires for your car, MK Sealed Gel and AGM batteries, designed to enhance performance and safety, last longer and provide more cost efficient reliability.
An MK Sealed Gel battery features an inherently safer, truly maintenance-free design. MK Gel batteries have provided years of proven performance and significantly longer life, averaging 1 to 2 years or longer when properly maintained.
MK Battery also offers a line of AGM (absorbed glass mat) batteries for lighter duty mobility use. Although AGM batteries will not match the cycle-life performance of our Gel batteries, they do offer a lower initial cost and will supply sufficient functionality to meet the less critical needs of certain lighter duty mobility applications. For heavy daily use and traditional rehab applications, continued utilization of our heavy duty Gel batteries is highly recommended.
How long do batteries for mobility equipment last?
If you are new to the world of mobility equipment, you might be wondering what kind of upkeep is required to keep them going. For the most part, batteries are the thing you need to worry most about, but there is good news. If you are purchasing or renting a mobility scooter or powerchair, your battery will likely come with some kind of warranty coverage for the first twelve months. Beyond that, there are a few things you can do to ensure that your battery lasts well beyond the warranty period. Let's take a look at how long mobility scooters are meant to last, and how you can improve your odds.
Understanding your equipments charging
The second thing you need to do is read the owner's manual that came with your scooter or chair to get the recommended charging information. For instance, most scooters/chairs need to be charged no more than eight hours at a time, and can handle heavy use for only a few hours at a time, or moderate use throughout an entire day. Learning how to properly charge and discharge your battery to keep it from dipping below its recommended charge state is important and will extend your battery life. Likewise, making sure that you are only charging your battery for the recommended amount of time and not overcharging it will help as well. This means unplugging the battery once it has reached full charge instead of leaving it on the charger.
Store your scooter/chair properly
When not in use, your equipment needs to be plugged in to a smart charger, or stored safely away from extreme temperatures. Bad weather can cause excessive wear and tear on your battery, leading it to degrade faster than normal. This is especially important in climates with very hot summers and very cold winters, but it also applies to areas with high humidity where corrosion may be a problem. If your scooter/chair is plugged in, it needs to have room for proper ventilation of the battery, which may get hot during the charging process.
Plan for replacements
If your battery is not on a regular warranty plan through your mobility scooter/chair dealer, you will want to plan for replacements. A typical mobility scooter/chair will last eighteen to twenty-four months with proper care and usage. Under very good circumstances, these batteries can actually last upwards of three full years if properly charged and maintained. Most manufacturers recommend that you begin planning for a replacement every eighteen months, especially if you notice that your battery is sluggish or does not hold as much of a charge as it used to. Once a battery begins noticeably degrading, it could deteriorate quickly as you fight to keep it charged.
Overall, batteries for mobility scooters/chairs are built to last for several years with minimal maintenance, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them. Take the proper steps to care for your battery, and plan ahead so that you can make a warranty claim or order a replacement when necessary. As always, remember to recycle your old batteries with the help of MK Battery.