Like any method of transport in life, it’s a privilege to actually be able to get from A to B without fuss. From the car and the motorbike, to the moped and mobility scooter, each vehicle has made our lives easier as we can travel whenever we desire.

So in order for your mobility scooter to last that extra mile (no pun intended) it’s important to keep it well maintained and carry out checks on a regular basis.

With this in mind and to help you get started, take a look at these top maintenance tips from the team here at Blue Box Batteries.

As one of the most fundamental parts of your vehicle, the battery will supply your mobility scooter with the power you need to get to your destination.

Over time, the ability of the battery to hold charge will decrease and you’ll start to notice that more frequent charges will be required.

Always make sure that you have enough charge for the length of the journey you are about to undertake. Remember too that travelling uphill and using your lights will consume more battery power than usual. Charging times will also vary depending on make and model, so it’s best to consult the owner’s manual to see how long a full charge is supposed to take.

Check the battery for any wear and tear and if you notice any damage, or a significant reduction in its ability after a full charge, it may be time to get yourself a new battery.

For more information on replacing and installing mobility scooter batteries, check out our handy slideshare guide below.

To avoid accidents and injury, it’s equally as important to check that your brakes are operating properly before you set off.

When testing the brakes, sit on your scooter and drive a few meters on a flat surface before applying the brakes lightly. Avoid doing this on a slope – in the rare event that the brakes aren’t working at all, you’ll start to gather speed without the ability to stop.

If you notice that the braking system seems weak or it isn’t as smooth as it’s been in the past, speak to a professional technician.

It’s also advised to get your brakes serviced once a year to make sure they’re working properly and to keep both you and pedestrians safe.

With all that travelling and momentum, it’s no wonder that mobility scooter tyres are subject to general wear and tear.

Similar to a car, if your mobility scooter tyres have become worn down, it will be much more difficult to slow down and come to a stop. Check the owner’s manual to determine the right tyre pressure and look at the tyres to see if any of them are too flat and need to be pumped up.

Another factor to consider is the tyre tread – the grooves in the tyre that grip the scooter to the road. If these have become too worn then they will need replacing. Worn down wheels will require extra time to come to a stop when braking, especially in wetter conditions.

Therefore, get in the habit of checking your tyres twice a year and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, get them checked by an expert to make sure nothing’s been missed.

It’s likely that your mobility scooter features a detachable seat, so check that it’s securely in place before you hit the road.

This is easy enough to do and will require minimal time. Before you head off, simply give the seat a firm wiggle to see if it moves.

If it does then it will need to be tightened so that you can travel safely in comfort without worrying about the possibility of falling off and causing yourself injury.

If you’ve not been out on your mobility scooter for a while, before you go out on it again, spend a few minutes test driving it to check that all is in working order.

Check the steering capabilities, lights, horn, brakes and acceleration. If you notice that any areas are underperforming then this could put a halt to your journey.

For example, if your lights don’t work, travelling in the dark isn’t going to be the most sensible option.

It’s better to find this out beforehand by giving your mobility scooter a quick test drive compared to leaving it too late - so make these quick checks first.

Thanks for reading the Blue Box Batteries guide to mobility scooter maintenance. Remember, it’s easy to carry out the above checks and in doing so you will be protecting your own safety and the safety of other pedestrians. Furthermore, you will also determine that your mobility scooter is classed as roadworthy.

For more information on mobility scooters, check out the Blue Box Batteries blog as well as our Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Mobility scooter image from Bigstock.

We've all seen either the elderly or the disabled getting around town with the aid of their mobility scooter. These devices in their most basic form are electric wheelchairs, with a lever to direct it and a couple of buttons for added functionality.

However, nowadays there are more and more mobility scooters which are being 'souped up’ as it were – with people sensing an opportunity to take the standard mobility scooter, modify it, and create something that is more enjoyable for riders and spectators alike.

If you don't believe us, then take a look below - we've found five of the best 'souped up' mobility scooters around.

Driving at 70 miles per hour is risky and dangerous enough in a regular automobile - but doing it on a modified mobility scooter is a different story altogether. Having said that, Colin Furze clearly enjoys taking the risks as he skids and slides through the snow, doing some crazy turns in the process.

The scooter itself has been modified, of course, but not aesthetically it would seem - purely in terms of its performance. Take a look for yourself at crazy Colin in the following video.

If you’re going to modify a mobility scooter to have a 600cc engine, you’ve got to do it in style.

We include dressing in motorcycle leathers in that category too – but in this video, your eyes soon turn from the choice of clothing to the mobility scooter and the rapid acceleration achieved. Car manufacturers brag about how quickly they can do 0-60mph, and this scooter fits perfectly in the same category.

Believe it or not, this scooter can actually reach 120mph, and holds the world record for the fastest mobility scooter. If this was flying down your local high street you definitely wouldn’t want to get in its way.

Watch this short clip as the driver pulls away from 0mph at quite a remarkable speed.

This may not be the most impressive mobility scooter modification you’ll ever see, but it’s definitely one of the most impressive videos.

It was of course only a matter of time before the Top Gear boys decided to try out their skills on a few mobility scooters and the results are very funny indeed.

From getting stuck in the mud, breaking parts and racing against one another, the eight minute video is worth watching to see the humorous side of souped up mobility scooters.

When the driver is waving to a motorcyclist as he overtakes them, you know this mobility scooter is fast. But it’s the jumps, the bunny hopping and the skidding on the ice that makes this scooter so impressive – as well as the fact that the driver looks so unimpressed the entire time of course.

The stunts and manoeuvres are both insane and dangerous and as the caption says, that's one hell of a way to spend a retirement fund.

Of course we don’t condone mimicking any of this behaviour for yourself, although we do condone watching the video below to see these crazy moves in action.

The modifications made on this mobility scooter are definitely up there with the best.

LED lights, indicators, a horn (yes, a horn), disc brakes, a sports seat and other aesthetic changes make this a scooter to be proud of and certainly one that is bound to catch the eye.

Performance isn’t too bad, either, with a 200cc engine sending the rider down the road and to the local shops in good time, but this is a scooter that's all about the look.

To modify a scooter to this standard you need a fair bit of time, and a fair bit of cash too - not to mention a very creative personality to make the changes.

Mobility scooters are extremely useful devices, although these videos show exactly what can be done to turn them into more powerful, crazy and souped up machines. We hope you’ve enjoyed looking at these altered designs, but remember not to copy any actions that you have seen for yourself.

Mobility scooter image from Bigstock.