Wheelchair Battery Care: Charging, Storage and Replacement

A healthy wheelchair battery means you can get out and about with confidence. Good charging habits make the biggest difference. NHS wheelchair services advise charging every night, using only the charger supplied, and charging indoors in a well-ventilated room. This guide explains battery types, how to charge and store them, warning signs, travel, and replacement, including how to avoid paying VAT on a new battery if you are eligible.

Key points

• Charge your powered wheelchair every night, however much you used it that day, unless your maker or wheelchair service tells you otherwise.
• Use only the charger that came with your chair.
• Charge indoors, on a hard surface, in a well-ventilated room, and keep the charger uncovered.
• Try to charge before the battery display reaches the red lights.
• If you are disabled, batteries designed solely for an electric wheelchair can be bought without VAT.

Know your battery type

Most powered wheelchairs use sealed batteries. One NHS wheelchair service explains that its powered wheelchair batteries use gel and need no maintenance other than regular charging. Other chairs may use a different sealed type (such as AGM) or lithium batteries. Your user manual will tell you which type you have and how to look after it.

If you are still choosing a chair, see our guide to the best wheelchairs in the UK. If you have an NHS wheelchair, follow the advice from your wheelchair service. Their guidance comes before general tips like these.

Daily charging

Dorset HealthCare's wheelchair service gives this charging routine:

1. Switch off your wheelchair.
2. Connect the charger to the charging socket on the controller.
3. Plug the charger in.
4. Switch on at the wall. Do not switch the wheelchair on while it is charging.

The same guide advises:

• Charge every night, whatever you did that day.
• Don't interrupt the charging cycle, and don't top up during the day. Wait for a full overnight charge.
• Watch the battery display and charge before you reach the red lights. Avoid driving on flashing red lights.
• Always switch the charger off at the mains before connecting or disconnecting it.

Another NHS service, in Wirral, says to check that the "fully charged" light is on before you disconnect the charger, and to report it if not. It warns that connecting or disconnecting while the mains is still on can damage the charging socket over time, which can reduce the chair's range and power.

If you are worried about the cost of charging, see our guide to how much it costs to charge a mobility scooter. The same ideas apply to wheelchairs.

Charger safety and storage

• Charge indoors only. Keep the charger away from water, direct heat, sunlight and damp.
• Put the charger on a hard surface in a well-ventilated room. Its case gets hot, so make sure it can't be covered.
• Don't park the chair so the batteries are near direct heat, such as a fire or gas fire.
• Don't put things on top of the batteries.
• Avoid extension leads unless you really need one.
• Pull the plug, not the cable, when unplugging, and unplug the charger before cleaning.

If you are not using the chair for a while, keep charging it regularly. Dorset's guide warns that switching off the charger at the wall but leaving it connected will slowly drain the battery.

Warning signs of battery problems

Contact your supplier or wheelchair service if you notice:

1. The chair does not go as far on a full charge as it used to.
2. The charger's "full" light does not come on, or charging takes much longer than usual.
3. The chair feels slow, especially on slopes, or the battery display jumps about.
4. Unusual smells, heat, swelling or noises from the battery area. Stop using the chair and get advice.

Not charging regularly can lead to shorter journeys and, in the end, battery failure.

Making your batteries last

The best thing you can do is charge properly every night. Also keep the battery area clean and dry, keep the chair at normal room temperature, and have it serviced as the maker or wheelchair service advises.

If you have an NHS chair on loan, you are usually responsible for charging it as advised. Dorset's service says that if batteries need replacing again and again because they were not charged properly, you may be billed for replacements. Making sure equipment is safe and well looked after is part of good care: read more about duty of care.

Travelling with a powered wheelchair

1. Flying: ask for assistance when you book, or at least 48 hours before you fly. Airlines need to know if you are taking an electric wheelchair. Ask the airline about its policy on mobility aids and batteries well before you travel, and have your chair's battery details (type and size) ready.
2. Trains: through Passenger Assist, any train company can arrange help for your whole journey. Requests are accepted up to 2 hours before you travel, but book as early as you can.
3. Cars and taxis: secure the chair and any removable battery so they can't move about.

When to replace your battery

How long a battery lasts depends on its type, how much you use the chair and how well it is charged. Signs it may be time include a shorter range, slower driving, or the display dropping faster than before. Ask your supplier or wheelchair service to test it.

Use the battery type the maker recommends. If you have an NHS chair, contact your wheelchair service or its repairer, not a general shop.

VAT: if you are disabled or have a long-term illness, batteries designed solely for use in an electric wheelchair can be supplied VAT-free. A general-purpose battery bought on its own does not qualify, though it can be zero-rated when fitted as part of repairing a qualifying wheelchair. Repairs and maintenance of an eligible wheelchair are also free of VAT.

For old batteries, ask the supplier fitting the new ones whether they will take the old ones away.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a car battery charger on my wheelchair battery?

No. Only use the charger supplied with your wheelchair. NHS wheelchair services give the same advice.

Can I get help with the cost of a new wheelchair battery?

If you have an NHS wheelchair, contact your wheelchair service, which arranges repairs. If you bought your own chair and you are disabled, you should not pay VAT on batteries designed for electric wheelchairs or on repairs. If you used a personal wheelchair budget with an independent supplier, the budget should include something towards repairs and maintenance.

Should I charge my wheelchair if I haven't used it?

Yes. A chair that is not being used should still be charged regularly, or the battery will run down.

How do airlines handle wheelchair batteries?

Rules depend on the battery type and the airline. Tell the airline in advance that you are taking an electric wheelchair, and ask what information it needs about your battery.

What can I do if my battery fails while I'm out?

Keep the phone number of your supplier or wheelchair service repairer with you. Ask your supplier how to put your chair into its push (freewheel) mode, if it has one, and only use it on flat ground with someone to help.

Sources

• Powered wheelchair battery care guide (Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust)
• Battery charging advice (Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust)
• VAT Notice 701/7: VAT reliefs for disabled and older people (HMRC, GOV.UK)
• Financial help if you're disabled: VAT relief for disabled people (GOV.UK)
• How to access help and support (UK Civil Aviation Authority)
• Passenger Assist (National Rail)
• Personal wheelchair budgets: frequently asked questions (NHS England)