Like other electronic devices, mobility scooters and powerchairs are affected by the wet and cold conditions in Winter, so it's important to maintain them properly during this time to increase performance and lifespan.
If you would like to read our guide on how to driver safer during Winter, click below.
Driving Safe during Winter on Your Mobility Scooter or Powerchair
Batteries
Performance
When temperatures get down to 0°C, batteries lose about 30% of their performance power, which in itself can cause your scooter or powerchair to fail when turning on, and there will still be a drop in performance at temperatures above 0°C so this is something that should be anticipated.
Range
The colder it is, the less charge a battery can hold so you should expect less than the usual range.
What to do
This is as really simple as storing the battery in a warm place, most scooters and powerchairs have batteries that can be detached and simply kept indoors but if you cannot detach yours then you will need to keep it inside. This is something that's easy to forget but simple to fix and it's important to remember this when outside for a long time in colder weather. Also ensure that during Winter you are still regularly charging the battery and not overcharging it, as you would any other time of the year.
Tyres
Treads
Tyre treads wear down over time so it's important to keep an eye on them during Winter. When it's wetter outside and you may be dealing with ice, it's seriously important to make sure your tyre treads are going to keep a good grip with the ground. If they are worn down, they may be worth replacing.
If you plan to make trips often when it has been snowing or there is ice and a lot of water around, it is probably worth investing in Winter-specific tyres or tyre covers.
Pressure
Colder weather will affect the pressure of your tyres, further reducing grip, so check your tyre pressure regularly and fill up when necessary.
Rain
Although most mobility scooters and powerchairs can withstand a reasonable level of rain, if kept outside in the rain they will deteriorate much faster and may gain electrical faults. This is made worse in Winter due to the fact that the cold weather and moisture can lead to components freezing and becoming irreversibly damaged.
At the very least make sure your scooter or powerchair is kept somewhere that it cannot get wet and consider buying a rain cover for journeys in the rain. Whenever returning from a rainy journey, make sure you dry off your scooter/powerchair when bringing it into a dry place.
Consider Winter mobility accessories
Certain accessories, such as fenders to prevent slush from reaching critical components, will not only keep you safer in Winter but will allow you to go outdoors more. We recommend looking online and looking for reviews and other guides if you are interested.
Summary
Maintenance during Winter will not only keep you safe but also increase the lifespan of your scooter or powerchair and give you your moneys worth. If you would like any more guidance on maintenance during Winter or have any other questions then feel free to give us a call.
01572 755204
Author
Joe Johnson-Copas
Some information sourced from
https://www.yuasa.co.uk/why-batteries-can-fail-during-the-winter/#:~:text=Freezing%20temperatures%20slow%20down%20the,the%20weaker%20it%20will%20be.
