Electric scooter - foldable or not and costs

luminated

I am not sure what to do now!

I am near to wanting an electric scooter to get me out more. I have a wheelchair but we live in hilly'ish spot so my wife is not able to push me where I would like to go.

So a foldable scooter would be nice but not sure if one would fit in our boot as we only have a small car and have no wish to have the expense of my changing car. Are there any web sites that tell you the cars that different scooters will fit into?

On the other hand using a foldable one locally would not be that great as they always look so small, and fragile, and I am male, 14.5 stone and six foot tall.

Then on the question of what do I need to spend? Do I look at eBay or getting one via the Motability scheme I am on DLA HRM & MRC.

So many variables and in a perfect (if I had more money) world I would get a bigger car and two scooters. One foldable and a more rugged one for locally.

Apart from the Motability scheme would I get any help via my GP or hospital.

Lastly I live in a rented house with nowhere to store a scooter, under cover, and not sure if that negates getting one if they can't be stored outside. I could just about get one in my rear yard. Then if I were to move there may be no rear yard.

Any help would be really good as I am very confused and newish to these needs as a year ago I could walk with only a slight limp but matters have moved on and will not get better.

Valley's_girl

Hi I found this
Hth
Best wishes
ally xx

luminated

Valley's_girl wrote: »

Hi I found this
Hth
Best wishes
ally xx

Thanks for the link. It sure looks like an amazing bit of engineering and design but think with me on it may look very dwarfed :T

luminated

Any other help would be useful.

Thanks.

Anubis_2

You said you would look dwarfed on the scooter shown - in which case any small foldable scooter you would look the same.

I would advise perhaps looking at sites that sell scooters, such as Betterlifehealthcare and if the dimensions are not given, research the model number on the net to check if the scooter dimensions would fit in your car.

Unfortunately you can't have a foldable small scooter solution without you looking dwarfed, so is something you may have to adapt to, or change car, or get an electric wheelchair which comes apart.

Here are scooters http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/products.php?catID=6&subID=379

Here is an example of a wheelchair that comes apart http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/view_product.php?prodID=7619 ( video demo on page)

ajb69

Can't help with funding I am afraid, but hope my wife's experience may help.

Based on our experience, I would strongly advise against getting a car-transportable scooter. That's what we got at first, and they really don't work if you are over 9 stone: I know they *say* they transport heavier weights, but our practical experience is that they don't - ours struggled a lot with any hill and often popped out its circuit breaker due to over-heating.

We returned ours and went up to the next size, which is much nicer - a much comfier seat, decent wheel size and ground clearance so it can mount (small) kerbs and go over minor pot-holes, plus a more powerful motor so it can handle hills without destroying the battery. The model we have can be taken apart without tools and transported in the car, but it is a lot heavier and goes into many more parts - so I'd say it can be car-transported but only if an able-bodied person is around to dismantle it and lift it into the car and vice versa at the other end.

By way of comparison, I'm your height (although also slightly heavier) and I could not really fit onto the first scooter but the second one takes me fine.

We went with an Invacare Leo in the end, if you are interested - go here http://www.southernmobility.com/scooters and click "Mid-range". I think the first one was a Pride Go-Go or something?

In terms of insurance we have a standard policy (60 quid p/a?) and that covers it against theft or damage even if stored outside permanently under a cover with no security bar the keys being kept safe in the house. Our scooter lives outside permanently in an unheated shed and so far so good - was a bit worried it would suffer, but it seems okay after living through winter. Do make sure you have access to a plug somewhere though!

I would say go to your local shop and try them out (even if you then order from elsewhere). Also, and while there are a lot of decent people in the trade, we came across several shops who seemed to charge a lot more for the same scooter than the shop down the road - for example, I've seen our current scooter available for anything from 800 - 1,800 (!) pounds online from different shops. If buying second-hand, do make sure it has been serviced and be aware that the first thing to go is usually the battery, especially if it hasn't been used very much and just left on charge by its previous owner. Batteries are not cheap to replace so make sure you can return the scooter if you find it can't hold a charge.

Hope this helps,

Drew

luminated

Drew

Thank you so so much for taking so much time and trouble to help me on this matter. It does seem like a minefield with so many choices and, as you say, prices all over the place. I have rented a shopmobility scooter - a Shoprider Sovereign so at least I have an idea of scale. Some say weight up to 20 stone yet look very flimsy and I would look so silly on one.

I guess I need to get out and look in the flesh but not in great health generally apart from having very poor mobility.

On one hand foldable so it will get me round different places but that comes with the compromise of something smaller and less comfortable. Something bigger but then stuck just locally. Bearing in mind whatever we get, if foldable, needs to go in our small car - a Honda Jazz. When we bought it the need for a folding scooter wasn't on the shopping list so not sure if we maybe forced into car change.

Too much to take in so will ponder but a big thank you again.

bluelight

I worked with mobility scooters professionally for eight years so I may be able to help you. From what you describe, you will need somewhere secure to store a mobility scooter at your home. Also, be aware they are very susceptible to water ingress which can stop them dead until they have dried out. A waterproof cover or shelter is a great help in preventing this. Class 2 scooters (max. speed 4 mph) are not good on hills. Class 3 scooters (max. speed 8 mph) are better, but must go in the road if the 8 mph speed setting is selected, going back to the 4 mph setting when on the pavement. If you're still puzzled, ask your GP to refer you to an Occupational Therapist who can help you assess your needs.

luminated

bluelight wrote: »

If you're still puzzled, ask your GP to refer you to an Occupational Therapist who can help you assess your needs.

Thanks very much for your advice. I live in South Devon and have already visited the Independent Living Centre in Exeter (as link below) where I saw an OT. But that was some months ago when I was looking for my first wheelchair. Things have moved on so really I need to make an appointment to go in about my latest needs.



http://www.devon.gov.uk/ilc