How many hours can the motorised wheelchair batteries last?

by Warren Chew
(Singapore)

This question is asked frequently in Singapore, but a question phrased like this has no answer. It really depends on usage. If you drive the motorised wheelchair continuously at full speed, it would last at most 3 hours. For someone who drives it down to a nearby coffeeshop, then sits there to chat with his friends for the rest of the day, the battery could last the whole week without recharging!

A more meaningful measure used by most major manufacturers is to state travelling range in kilometres (km) or miles.

Estimating Distance

You may walk from your house to the nearest market or drive past it everyday, but still be unable to gauge the distance. Here is a simple method developed through our field experience:

The average adult walks at a speed of 4 to 5 km/h. So if you know how long it takes for a person to walk from point A to point B, you can roughly gauge the distance. For illustration, assume one walks at 4 km/h and the nearest MRT is 15 mins walk away. The distance should roughly be: (15 mins / 60 mins) x 4 km/h = 1 km.

If you need a motorised wheelchair for your work, imagine how many hours one needs to spend walking each day (getting to work, moving around in the office, going out for lunch, going home etc.), then multiply accordingly.


How much travelling range is good enough?

As a rule of thumb, we use a factor of 3x at Falcon Mobility. That means, we estimate the distance from your home to the places you usually need to go, then multiply by 3. A factor of 2 is obvious, because you need battery power for the trip home. Add a 50% buffer to that, and you get a factor of 3 (2 x 150% = 3).

Adding a buffer is important for the following reasons:

After getting to your destination, you need battery power to run your errands, such as buying groceries or moving around in the office.

Batteries wear out over time, leading to reduced range. Without a buffer, the range may be enough for you when the batteries are brand new, but you may end up having to change them every 6 months.

Going up slope and driving on uneven terrain consumes more battery power. Travelling range stated by manufacturers typically applies only to flat, hard ground.

The route used by a motorised wheelchair user is longer than that used by someone who walks. People can walk more or less in a straight line as they can step across kerbs or walk up staircases. That is not possible for a power wheelchair user who can only use wheelchair ramps.

Of course, the only fool-proof method is to ask for a free trial. That is, borrow a demo set of the model you wish to purchase from your vendor, then drive it from your home to your destination and back to see if the batteries last the journey. However, not all vendors have this service, so you may have to rely back on the methods above to make an informed decision.

In summary, to get the correct range you need,

estimate the distance between your home and destination.

multiply that distance by 2 to factor for the round trip,

add another 50% buffer, or more if you know you are heavy or the route you use has uphill slopes or uneven ground.

Submit an online enquiry now to consult us on choosing the right wheelchair for you or your loved one, and arrange for a complimentary test drive!