Is Your Mobility Scooter Slow? These Issues May Be The Cause

Is Your Mobility Scooter Slow? These Issues May Be The Cause

Mobility scooters are one of many PMAs in Singapore that offer elderly individuals and those with disabilities a newfound sense of independence by enabling them to navigate their surroundings with confidence once more. However, much like any other machine, mobility scooters do run into issues at times. One of the most common frustrations is slow speeds, which can significantly diminish the user experience since quick movement is undoubtedly a mobility scooter’s main selling point. To ensure that you can support your loved one in maintaining their mobility and independence, it’s essential to address these issues promptly. 

Below, we go over some of the reasons why mobility scooters may not perform as expected so you can get yours running swiftly again. 

1. Ageing battery

The battery is the first thing worth looking into when your mobility scooter is running slowly because they tend to wear out gradually over time, so if you’ve been using your motorised PMA for a while now, its battery may already be in a near state of failure. You can determine if this is the case by checking the battery health monitor on your scooter’s dashboard and verifying its status with your unit’s product manual. If your battery is indeed in need of a replacement, getting a new one may well restore your mobility scooter’s performance in no time. Otherwise, continue your inspection with the following areas. 

2. Excessive user weight and load capacity

As a refresher, mobility scooters have weight limits to ensure optimal performance, and exceeding this capacity naturally leads to decreased top speeds and acceleration. One aspect that can add extra load to a mobility scooter beyond the user are attachments and storage. From multipurpose holders and oxygen cylinders to heavy groceries, anything extra that goes on top of the scooter will weigh it down. Therefore, consider offloading everything that isn’t strictly necessary to stay under the weight limit.

3. Incorrect mode settings

Modern mobility scooters generally have several power mode settings, with the two most common being performance and eco which essentially translates to energy-saving or low-power. Users typically forget to switch back to performance after using the lowest power mode, or they accidently do so without knowing it. The latter is the more likely case seeing as it can be achieved when manipulating the other controls of the mobility scooter, like turning on the vehicle lights or its other features. Thus, see if you’re running on the performance setting before looking for deeper issues. 

4. Drag on the brakes or wheels

Brake or wheel drag is another issue that gets in the way of your scooter’s performance. A quick way to test this is to turn each wheel while it’s lifted off the ground and see if it spins freely. When it comes to the brakes, most mobility scooters nowadays use non self-adjusting mechanical discs that gradually cause the brake pads to drag on the rotor if left unchecked.

As such, it is important to check and readjust them regularly to prevent this issue. However, if your model uses electromagnetic brakes, this issue manifests as the brakes engaging slightly when your mobility scooter is running. This prevents you from reaching maximum speeds and it can be detected by seeing whether the device stops once you ease off the throttle.

5. Firmware issues

Mobility scooters rely on firmware to function as intended. This software does a variety of things such as turning on the lights, telling the motor how to communicate with the battery, and everything else in between. And as with all kinds of software, this firmware also needs periodic updates to eliminate bugs and ensure a smooth user experience. If you cannot recall the last time you’ve updated your mobility scooter’s firmware, installing the latest patch may be the only thing you need to do to restore your device’s performance.

6. Low tyre pressure

The tyres play a big role in your mobility scooter’s speed and performance. Over time, they lose pressure and eventually reach a point where they create lots of drag and resistance that requires more power to overcome. Make sure to double-check your tyres before heading out and observe whether any of them is deflating more quickly than the rest. This often indicates a slow leak that may require replacement or professional repair.

Conclusion

A mobility scooter that runs slow can no doubt be frustrating to use. From battery problems to motor inefficiencies, a variety of factors could be contributing to such a less than ideal performance. Hopefully, the content above helps you narrow down the cause of your issues so you can get your device back up and running as usual once more. If the problem is something that is beyond what you can fix yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional technician for assistance.

At Falcon Mobility (Rebranding to ELFIGO) , we offer repair services that can address all kinds of difficulties you may have with your personal mobility aid. No matter whether the issue is big or small, you can count on us to restore your equipment back to good working order in no time so you can get back to your daily routines. Alternatively, we also offer all kinds of brand new PMAs in Singapore from motorised wheelchairs to traditional canes and everything in between should you ever need a replacement.

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