Battery-powered mobility scooters and wheelchairs provide thousands of Americans with additional freedom and independence. None of these vehicles can perform without a top-notch battery as the fuel source. The following tips will help ensure your mobility battery remains well-maintained:

• Daily users should charge their batteries nightly. Occasional users should charge their batteries before an outing and always after active use (ideally when the "fuel gauge" is at about 50%).
• To get the longest life out of your batteries, recharge them simultanously after every ride. After short rides you can recharge the batteries immediately; however, after long rides it is best to wait around 30 minutes to let the batteries cool down before recharging them. Leaving a battery pack in a partially discharged state for more than a few hours of time may cause internal oxidation of the batteries which lowers the useful lifespan of the batteries.
• Always store batteries fully charged. Check batteries once a month and recharge as needed.
• When storing a wheelchair or scooter for more than two weeks, charge the batteries simultaneously and then disconnect them.
• Replace batteries together at the same time and with the same brand. If different brands of batteries are mixed together the different battery chemistries may cause internal oxidation and lower the lifespan of the batteries.
• Do not throw old batteries in the trash. Drop them off at a local recycling center that accepts used car batteries or any auto parts store for proper disposal. When you recycle your batteries, they will be made into new batteries. For information on battery recycling and local recycling centers, visit www.Call2Recycle.org.