You’ve carefully selected your power chair or scooter in order to find a model that gives you the ability to travel plenty on a single battery charge. But how much thought are you giving to how you care for your batteries, themselves? Truth is, your batteries need a bit of extra care, and this can greatly improve their lifespan, saving you from having to buy new batteries sooner than necessary. When to Recharge Your Batteries Many manufacturers suggest that you can run your power chair or scooter all the way down before taking time to recharge your batteries, but did you know there’s a better way that’s friendlier to your battery life? Instead, try to get in the habit of using your power chair or scooter until the battery charge is about halfway down. Then, charge your batteries for between 10 and 12 hours. This method can help to preserve the life of your batteries, getting you more out of each charge. Too Much Charging Remember, too, that chargers don’t have an automatic shutoff. This means that they’ll continue trying to charge your batteries, even when the batteries are fully charged. This can actually burn up the cells in your battery, eventually ruining the battery. Instead of leaving your batteries on the charger overnight or for more than 10 or 12 hours, set a timer to remind yourself to remove them and unplug the charger. Temperatures and Your Batteries If you’re in the habit of leaving your batteries in your scooter in the garage through the winter, you’ll want to change that practice. Batteries are negatively affected by extreme temperatures, and temperatures that are too hot or too cold can dramatically affect both the battery’s life and how long each charge lasts. To prevent this from happening to your batteries, try to keep them at room temperature as much as possible. This means that you’ll need to remove them from your power chair or scooter once you’re home and bring them into your house. Keep this in mind when you’re looking for a new power chair or scooter. You will want to buy a model that allows for easy accessibility to the batteries, so removing and inserting them doesn’t become a chore. Buying New Batteries Even with the best of care, batteries won’t last forever. When you notice your batteries aren’t holding their charge well, it’s time to buy new ones. At Med Mart, we stock a wide selection of quality batteries of different strengths. We have just what you’ll need for your power chair or scooter, so you can continue enjoying longer outings without having to worry about charging your battery along the way.