When choosing a mobility scooter that can climb hills, there are numerous questions from our customers. Due to that, we have decided to answer the most important of them, in this short post. Here, you will learn how the maximum possible slope is determined and how important is the power of the motor.
Finding a mobility scooter that can climb hills is pretty easy at our store, but you already know that. As our products were made by manufacturer Veleco, they were thoroughly tested and the specifications were provided to us. However, this might be not enough for customers, so we have performed our own tests as well.
This way, if you decide to pick one of our products in the future, you can be sure that all the data provided in our product pages is accurate and always up to date.
How to determine maximum possible slope
First, you need to consider two main elements that determine the steepness of a slope. Weight is naturally the primary factor, and we mean the combined weight of the scooter and its rider. The secondary factor would be the strength of the motor.
Generally, the size of the battery shouldn’t affect the climbing ability, however you should know that lead-acid batteries weigh much more than lithium-ion ones. Basically, the less weight there is to handle, the less power from the motor is required, which in turn determines the battery drain.
It needs to be said that an accurate calculation of maximum climbing ability is generally impossible. However, all online shops that try to sell a mobility scooter that can climb hills, should provide the lowest possible specs.
Did you know that the specifications, which you can find under every product on our website, are gathered by us? They were made in uniform and perfect conditions and are provided to all customers before they make a purchase.
Motor for mobility scooter that can climb hills
It might sound simple, that to get the mobility scooter that can climb hills, all you require would be the big motor. That is often a very big mistake though. Too powerful motors would use up battery charge very quickly, even on normal roads. Because of this, what you would want is to have a motor perfect for your vehicle construction and not the strongest possible.
Instead of the big strength, we suggest following the specifications on the websites. If you really need more assurance though, always ask the seller, as they have first time information. Hope this helped, and now you know which factors affect any mobility scooter that can climb hills and its performance.
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I weigh 20 stone and I have a ZT15 with a 900W motor. I regularly have to go up short but steep slopes. I would say that they are approaching 30% – the limit recommended for this model. My speedometer is set for kph.
Normally I approach the slopes at 12kph and once on the slope the scooter slows down to about 8kph but I never adjust the throttle. I accept that speed and soon reach the top. When I first went up these slopes I would go up faster, then the motor would cut out and I would come come to a stop. The automatic brake held me in position but I would put the hand brake on as well. The system would then reset itself and I would slowly start off again – usually at 4-5kph because you are putting the most strain on the motor – starting on a slope. The one time when I slide back, after stopping on a slope, was because of wet leaves!
Exactly so, the scooters have extensive safety measures just for the slopes, unfortunately wet leaves or frozen water can be a challenge for any vehicle as those would be less than perfect conditions. Still the scooter would ascend up to 30% hill, being able to bring the rider to the top 🙂