A Clinician’s Guide to Wheelchair Batteries: Why Your Role Matters

Have you ever had an end user call you in distress because their power wheelchair has suddenly died? It’s not just inconvenient, and limits participation—it’s also a major safety risk, particularly if they happen to be stranded out in the community. And often, the culprit is the battery.

When it comes to powered mobility, the battery isn’t just hardware. It’s the difference between making it through an entire week of school camp with independence or having the battery die the day before leaving - a situation that I have unfortunately seen firsthand.

With so many considerations that must be weighed throughout a powered wheelchair prescription, it can be tempting to delegate battery choices and follow-up to technicians. However, a siloed approach like this risks safety issues, unnecessary costs ,and poor outcomes (like not having access to your power chair on the week of a school camp!).

Battery management must be a collaborative process, and clinicians must be proactive in leading this conversation.

Why Clinicians Are Central to Battery Decisions

Here’s why your input matters more than you might think:

• Clinical context matters
  Battery selection and maintenance impacts everything, from how far the chair can drive in the community, to how convenient it is to travel by air —all tied to functional goals.
• Beyond technical specifications
  Technicians know the hardware. You know the person—their routines, environments, and goals. If that insight is not applied to the right technical specifications, successful outcomes will be much harder to achieve.
• Risk reduction
  The wrong battery or poor maintenance over time can lead to breakdowns, reduced participation, and even harm during community mobility.

So as a clinician, what information do you need to know about batteries to best support end users?

Battery Basics

Most powered wheelchairs or assistive technology devices use one of two types of rechargeable batteries:

Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)

These are the traditional batteries most commonly found in complex powered wheelchairs. In this category, you’ll typically see two sizes:

• Group 34 – Medium-sized, around 60Ah.
• Group 24 – Larger capacity, around 75Ah.

These batteries are reliable and cost-effective, but they’re heavier and require consistent charging habits to maintain performance over time.

Lithium-Ion

This newer technology is lighter and more energy-dense than SLA batteries. Because they can be configured into compact, lightweight designs, lithium-ion batteries are more commonly used in power assist devices. They offer longer life and faster charging, but compatibility depends on the wheelchair’s design.

💡Tip: Wheelchairs are designed for specific battery types—changing chemistry after purchase is rarely an option. If a chair is built for SLA batteries, switching to lithium-ion isn’t recommended (and often not possible).

Best Practices for Battery Maintenance

Educating end users about battery care is one of the simplest ways to prevent premature failure. Here are practical tips to share at delivery and during follow up:

• Charge overnight
  Think of it like charging your phone— eight hours overnight is a recommended charging routine.
• Avoid short charging sessions
  Quick top-ups or sporadic charging shortens battery life.
• Never let batteries go completely flat
  Deep discharging degrades battery chemistry and impacts longevity.
• Use the right charger
  Stick with the one supplied at the time of delivery. Mixing chargers can cause damage and cause safety risks.
  
  
  
• Mind the environment
  Charge in a cool, dry place. Extreme heat or cold shortens battery life.
• Long-term storage
  If unused for a while, fully charge the battery and disconnect at the circuit breaker.
• Break-in new batteries
  Give them three to four full charge cycles to reach peak capacity.
• Replace like-for-like

Always match the original battery type and specs e.g. replace Group 24’s with Group 24’s.

Supporting Travel by Air

Air travel with a power chair or power assist device can feel daunting, but being well-prepared can ensure a smoother travel experience. Airlines around the world vary, but the International Air Transport Association offers guidance. At a minimum, end users or their families must:

• Provide device details—manufacturer, model, weight, dimensions.
• Provide battery information—type, capacity, and how it’s secured.
• Seek airline approval—ideally 48 hours before departure.

At Permobil, we are here to help users prepare with battery compliance certification and a detailed travel checklist to support a more stress-free flying experience. Follow the link here to find these documents on our website.  

Final Thoughts

Your role doesn’t end at prescribing the chair—it extends to ensuring that every component within that chair, including the battery, supports your client’s goals and remains functional for as long as possible. By leading the battery conversation and collaborating with technicians and end users, you reduce the risk of breakdowns and protect independence, safety, and performance.

When clinicians take the lead on battery decisions, you’re not just reducing the risk of premature failures—you’re maximising outcomes and freedom for end users.