Estimating power wheelchair battery lifespan based on real-world data.

Results showed that the median battery lifespan was 22 months. PWC manufacturer and operating climate temperature were associated with variability in battery lifespan. This research has implications to better inform users, providers, manufacturers and payers to be more aware of battery lifespan across PWC types and manufactures to anticipate replacement timelines and avoid adverse situations associated with battery failures. Implications for rehabilitationThere are differences in battery lifespan across different power wheelchair (PWC) manufactures.Power wheelchair batteries last longer in warmer operating climates.Future attention needs to be sought towards the types of batteries manufacturers are using for PWC group classifications.These types of studies could be useful to justify reasonable timelines and the costs associated with battery replacements.