People may choose to hire a mobility scooter on a long-term basis for a number of reasons - whether it’s due to a medical condition, an injury or just to help you get around with ease. Whatever your reason - your scooter is there to improve your day-to-day life.

What does mobility scooter range mean?

Some scooters are able to handle longer journeys than others. That is why you should always check the ‘maximum range’ of a motor. Your mobility scooter range is how far the scooter will be able to travel, without having to recharge for more power. 

The maximum range/distance that you require will depend on:

• How far you want to go.

• How often you will be driving the scooter.

• When you’ll be able to charge it.

If you’re planning on using your scooter every day or travelling further afield, then you’ll benefit from a motor with a larger maximum range. 

How far can a mobility scooter travel on a single charge?

How far you can travel will depend on the type of scooter you are using. You will be able to find out your maximum range by checking your mobility scooter manual or user guide. If you’re hiring with us - you will be able to access all your scooter specifications on our website. 

It’s worth keeping in mind that things such as heavy shopping, larger weight and driving on hills or rough surfaces can lower the range. If you know that you’re likely to be travelling in these conditions, then look for something with a bigger range. Also, be sure to check your battery level before heading out to avoid being stuck with no power.

Different types of mobility scooters

In this guide, we’re going to take you through the most common types of mobility scooters and how their range differs. Your battery life will also have an impact on how far your scooter can go. So, we will be sharing our top tips on how to keep it in great condition, so that you can confidently venture out on longer journeys.

Car boot scooters

Car boot scooters - also known as portable boot scooters - are designed for driving on flat pavements and pathways. They’re also ideal for shopping centres and other smooth surfaces. They are best known for their ability to be dismantled easily and placed into small areas like car boots and storage space on planes. 

This motors key feature is its compact size and portability - but it may have a limited speed and range than other motors. The maximum speed with a portable boot scooter is usually 4mph. With this in mind, we’d advise choosing a boot scooter if you’ll want to:

• Go to the shops

• Take short trips around town

• Visit local parks

• Walk the dog

• Bring your scooter in a car 

If you want to drive further or make more journeys on your mobility scooter, then a mid-range motor with a higher range might be more suited to you.

Mid-range mobility scooters

Mid-range mobility scooters (also known as Class 2) can offer a larger range because they are fitted with a bigger battery. These are an ideal option if you’re looking for a motor you can use daily, or take on longer trips. If you live somewhere with a lack of public transport options - then a mid-range scooter could provide you with an alternative way of commuting (on pavement).

The speed of a mid-range scooter is typically up to 4mph - but their increased battery power means you’re able to travel for longer than with a car boot scooter.

Road-legal mobility scooters

Are you looking for a mobility scooter to take you further than your local town? Are you interested in driving on roads as well as pavement? Then a road-legal mobility scooter (also known as Class 3) could be the way to go. In terms of range, these are generally able to take you a much greater distance on one single charge.

Some Class 3 scooters will offer a range of up to 35 miles on one battery. You’ll also be able to travel at a faster speed (depending on where you’re driving). Most class 3 scooters can travel up to 8mph, although you should not exceed 4mph when driving on pavements or busy public spaces. 

How to protect your battery life to maintain range

All electric mobility scooters will come with their own rechargeable batteries. The two most common battery types are:

• Sealed lead-acid batteries –these are a cheaper option and mainly suited to users who will be driving their mobility scooter occasionally, or for shorter trips.
• Gel cell batteries – these are the more expensive batteries, because you will get more usage before they need replacing. We recommend these to users who will be taking daily trips on their mobility scooter.

Keeping your battery in good condition will help to maintain your scooter's maximum range (how far it can go). Generally, a mobility scooter will need at least eight-hours charge at a time. It’s best to charge it until the battery life is full - but be careful not to over charge. 

When hiring a scooter with us - we will provide you with a battery charger that will turn off automatically once charging is complete. This is to avoid having to keep checking the charging status or worry about overcharging.

How long will your batteries last?

This will vary, but generally, you will only need to replace your mobility scooter batteries every 1 - 2 years. If you’re hiring with us on a long-term basis, we will replace these for you when they run out. Remember:

• Try not to let batteries become completely flat before you recharge them.
• If your battery does run out, try to charge it as soon as possible.