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  • Home
  • Get Started
    • Learn About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
    • Veterans with ALS
    • Caregivers
    • Paid Caregivers
    • ALS Professionals
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Employment
    • Self-Care
    • Medical Decisions
    • Research and Clinical Trials
    • Care Options
    • Advance Directives
    • Legacy
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Guides
    • Home & Daily Living
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • Respiratory
    • Power Wheelchairs
    • Communication
    • Braces
  • Equipment
    • ALS Equipment Guide
    • Mobility
    • Transfer Devices
    • Ramps and Lifts
    • Toileting Devices
    • Tub and Shower Devices
    • Braces and Splints
    • Grooming Devices
    • Dressing Aids
    • Eating Devices
    • Drinking Devices
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    • ALS Smart Home Devices
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ALS POWER WHEELCHAIR GUIDE

Charging Wheelchair Batteries


Custom power wheelchairs are powered by two gel batteries that work simultaneously. To get the most out of your batteries, follow the recommendations of your assistive technology professional (ATP) and wheelchair manufacturer.

​Generally speaking, if you plug your power wheelchair into a standard outlet every night for 8-12 hours, you should have plenty of power throughout the day for driving, tilting, reclining, and other functions.​



You should be able to drive 15 miles or so on one charge, though extreme heat or cold could affect battery performance. A battery percentage indicator on your control screen will let you know at all times how much power you have left.

​If, at any point, your batteries are no longer holding a charge like they used to, contact your durable medical equipment (DME) company. A technician will test your batteries and replace them if needed. Your batteries should last one to two years, and insurance should cover your replacements.


If your batteries die, you can put your chair into a freewheel push mode so your caregiver can wheel you to a safe place. Custom power wheelchairs are heavy and are hard to push, so you will probably need to be transferred into bed or into a different mobility device until your batteries can be replaced.​​


ALS POWER WHEELCHAIR GUIDE


Power Mobility Devices
​Qualifying and Ordering
Insurance Coverage
Home Accessibility
Tilting and Reclining​
Electronic Controls

Driving Tips
Alternate Controls
Making Adjustments
Battery Charging

​Attachments/Accessories
Transporting Your Chair

Traveling By Plane


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