Braking distance test for mobility scooters for the elderly: the key to safety and performance

Braking distance test for mobility scooters for the elderly: the key to safety and performance
In the performance evaluation of mobility scooters for the elderly, braking distance testing is a crucial link. It is not only directly related to the safety of users, but also one of the key indicators for measuring vehicle quality and performance. This article will explore in depth various aspects of braking distance testing for mobility scooters for the elderly, including test standards, methods, influencing factors, and how to improve vehicle safety and market competitiveness through testing.

1. The importance of braking distance testing
The braking distance refers to the distance traveled by a mobility scooter for the elderly from the beginning of braking to complete stop at a certain initial speed. For mobility scooters for the elderly, most of their users are elderly people with relatively slow reaction speeds, and the braking effect in emergency situations is directly related to their life safety. For example, when encountering sudden obstacles or pedestrians on community roads, a shorter braking distance can effectively avoid accidents.
In addition, from a market perspective, with the development of the mobility scooter industry for the elderly, international wholesale buyers have higher and higher requirements for product quality and safety performance. A professional, rigorous and standard braking distance test report can enhance buyers’ confidence in product quality, thereby enhancing the brand’s competitiveness in the international market and expanding overseas market share.

2. Testing standards for braking distance of mobility scooters for the elderly
(I) Domestic standards
At present, the braking distance standards for mobility scooters for the elderly are clearly stipulated in relevant enterprise standards. Taking the enterprise standard Q/MARSHELL 005-2020 of Guangdong Marshell Electric Technology Co., Ltd. as an example, when the maximum design speed of the mobility scooter is ≤15km/h when fully loaded, the braking distance at the highest speed is required to be ≤3.5m on a horizontal road surface and ≤6m on a maximum safe slope of 15%.
(II) International standards
Internationally, although there is no unified braking distance standard for mobility scooters for the elderly, some developed countries also have relevant requirements for the braking performance of similar low-speed electric vehicles. For example, the United States requires the braking system of low-speed vehicles (LSV) to have effective braking capabilities at a certain speed. Although the specific values ​​are different from domestic standards, they also emphasize the importance of braking distance in ensuring vehicle safety. When exporting mobility scooters for the elderly to different countries, companies need to pay attention to and meet local relevant laws and standards.

3. Braking distance test method
(I) Test equipment
Braking performance tester: used to accurately measure various parameters during braking, such as braking force, deceleration, etc., so as to calculate the braking distance. It senses the mechanical changes of the vehicle during braking through sensors and transmits the data to the corresponding data acquisition system for analysis.
High-precision GPS speedometer: It can measure the speed changes of the elderly scooter in real time and accurately. In the braking distance test, it can help determine the initial speed of the vehicle before braking and the speed attenuation curve during braking, providing key speed data for calculating the braking distance.
Test road: Ideally, the test road should be a flat, dry, clean cement or asphalt road with uniform adhesion coefficient. Such road conditions can ensure the accuracy of the test results and avoid a large impact on the braking distance due to differences in road conditions. At the same time, the test road should be selected in an area with low traffic flow and less interference from the surrounding environment to ensure the safety of the test process and the reliability of the data.
Timing equipment: Accurately record the time from the start of braking to the complete stop of the vehicle to assist in calculating the braking distance. A high-precision electronic timer with a time resolution of milliseconds can be used to ensure the accuracy of time measurement.
(II) Test steps
Vehicle preparation: Before conducting the braking distance test, the mobility scooter needs to be fully inspected and prepared. Ensure that the vehicle’s braking system is in good working condition, including checking the brake fluid level, the wear of the brake disc and brake pads, etc. At the same time, the vehicle should be set to a fully loaded state, that is, loaded according to the maximum load designed for the vehicle to simulate the most unfavorable situation in actual use, to ensure that the test results can truly reflect the braking performance of the vehicle when fully loaded.
Test site preparation: According to the requirements of the above test equipment, select and prepare a suitable test site. Clean the test road to ensure that there are no debris, oil stains, and other factors that may affect the braking performance on the road surface. Use professional equipment to test the road adhesion coefficient to determine whether it meets the test requirements. At the same time, set up corresponding safety warning signs around the test site to prevent unrelated personnel from entering the test area and ensure the safety of the test process.
Test process: Drive the mobility scooter into the test road and accelerate to the specified initial speed, usually the maximum speed of the vehicle or a specific speed. When the vehicle reaches the set speed, drive steadily for a period of time to ensure the stability and accuracy of the speed. Then, the driver quickly and decisively releases the accelerator and activates the braking system for braking. During the braking process, the relevant parameters of the braking process are monitored and recorded in real time using a braking performance tester, a high-precision GPS speedometer, and a timing device. In order to reduce the test error and improve the reliability of the test results, it is usually necessary to repeat the test multiple times, generally not less than 5 times. Between each test, it is necessary to ensure that the vehicle has enough rest time to avoid overheating of the braking system due to continuous braking, which affects the accuracy of subsequent test results.
Data processing and analysis: After the test is completed, the collected data is transferred to a computer or other data processing equipment for analysis and processing. Through professional data analysis software, the parameters such as braking distance, braking force, and deceleration are calculated and statistically analyzed to obtain key indicators such as average braking distance and braking stability. At the same time, graphs such as speed-time curves and distance-time curves during braking are drawn to intuitively show the changes in the vehicle’s braking performance. According to the analysis results, the braking distance of the elderly scooter is evaluated to see whether it meets the relevant standards and design requirements, and the problems existing in the braking system are diagnosed and optimized.

4. Factors affecting braking distance
(I) Vehicle factors
Vehicle speed: The higher the initial speed of the vehicle, the longer the braking distance. This is because the kinetic energy of the vehicle is proportional to the square of the speed. The higher the speed, the greater the kinetic energy of the vehicle, and more energy is needed to stop the vehicle, so the braking distance increases accordingly. For example, when an elderly scooter travels at a speed of 20km/h, its braking distance may be several times longer than the braking distance when it travels at 15km/h.
Vehicle mass: Under the condition of a certain braking force, the greater the vehicle mass, the longer the braking distance. Vehicles with large mass have greater inertia and need to overcome greater inertia to stop the vehicle. However, for elderly scooters, their mass range is relatively small, so the impact of mass on braking distance is relatively minor compared to vehicle speed, but it cannot be ignored. For example, an elderly scooter with a full load mass of 750kg and a vehicle with a full load mass of 600kg, under the same braking conditions, the former will have a longer braking distance.
Braking system performance: including the size of the braking force, the response time of the braking system, and the thermal decay performance of the brake. The greater the braking force, the shorter the braking distance; the shorter the braking system response time, the shorter the braking distance. The poor thermal decay performance of the brake will lead to a decrease in the braking force during continuous braking, which will extend the braking distance. For example, some low-quality elderly scooters may use brakes with poor performance. After frequent braking, the brake temperature rises and the friction coefficient decreases, resulting in a significant increase in the braking distance.
(II) Road conditions
Road adhesion coefficient: It is one of the key factors affecting the braking distance. On dry cement or asphalt roads, the road adhesion coefficient is high, the friction between the vehicle tires and the ground is large, and the braking distance is short. On slippery roads, such as rainy days or icy and snowy roads, the road adhesion coefficient is reduced, the tires are easy to slip, and the braking distance is greatly increased. For example, the braking distance of an elderly scooter on a dry road may be 3m, while on an icy and snowy road, the braking distance may exceed 10m.
Road slope: When going uphill, the vehicle needs to overcome the resistance of the gravity component, and the braking distance will be shorter than on a flat road; when going downhill, the vehicle is accelerated by the gravity component, and the braking distance will be longer. Therefore, when conducting braking distance tests, special attention should be paid to the influence of road slope, and the test results should be corrected according to the actual situation or the braking distance standards under different slopes should be formulated separately.
(III) Environmental factors
Weather conditions: In addition to affecting the road adhesion coefficient, weather conditions will also affect the driver’s vision and reaction time. For example, in haze or heavy rain, the driver’s vision is blocked, which may delay the time to discover dangerous situations, thereby increasing the braking distance. In addition, high temperature may cause the brake system to overheat and affect the braking performance, while low temperature may increase the viscosity of the brake fluid, affecting the response speed of the brake system and the transmission of braking force.
Wind direction and wind speed: When a vehicle encounters headwind during driving, wind resistance will increase the resistance of the vehicle’s driving, thereby affecting the braking distance to a certain extent. Although the speed of elderly scooters is low and the impact of wind on braking distance is relatively small, in some areas with strong winds or in specific environments, wind direction and wind speed may still be factors that cannot be ignored.

5. How to improve the braking performance of elderly scooters
(I) Optimize the design of the braking system
Adopt advanced brake types: For example, use disc brakes instead of drum brakes. Disc brakes have good heat dissipation performance, stable braking effect, and are not prone to thermal decay during continuous braking. They can effectively shorten the braking distance and improve braking safety. At the same time, a dual-circuit braking system can be considered. When one set of brake circuits fails, the other set of circuits can continue to work, reducing the risk of brake failure and enhancing the reliability of the braking system.
Add a brake booster: For some elderly scooters with higher power, installing a brake booster such as a vacuum booster or an electronic booster can increase the braking force without increasing the driver’s pedaling force, thereby shortening the braking distance. However, it is necessary to reasonably select the type and parameters of the brake booster according to the specific conditions of the vehicle to ensure the coordination and stability of the braking system.
(II) Improving tire performance
Choosing high-performance tires: Choosing tires with good grip is one of the important means to improve braking performance. High-performance tires usually use special rubber formulas and tread pattern designs to provide greater friction under various road conditions, allowing the vehicle to slow down more effectively when braking. For example, wet tires launched by some tire brands can significantly improve braking performance and reduce braking distance on slippery roads such as rainy days.
Maintain sufficient tire pressure: Insufficient tire pressure will increase rolling resistance and also affect the contact area and friction between the tire and the ground. Regularly checking and keeping the tire pressure within the specified range can ensure that the tire’s braking performance is in the best condition. In addition, regular maintenance measures such as rotating and replacing the tires can also help extend the service life of the tires and maintain their good performance.
(III) Strengthening vehicle maintenance and care
Regularly check the brake system: including checking the quality and level of the brake fluid, the wear of the brake disc and brake pads, and whether there is leakage in the brake line. Replace severely worn brake parts in time to ensure that the brake system is in good working condition. It is generally recommended to conduct a comprehensive brake system inspection every 5,000 km or so.
Keep the vehicle in good condition: In addition to the brake system, other key components of the vehicle should be regularly inspected and maintained, such as the steering system, suspension system, etc. The performance of these components will also affect the braking stability of the vehicle. For example, an inflexible steering system or a loose suspension system may cause the vehicle to deviate or tilt during braking, affecting the braking effect and safety.

6. Case Analysis
In order to improve the braking performance of its products, a manufacturer of mobility scooters for the elderly tested and optimized the braking distance of one of its main export models. The original design of the full-load braking distance of this model was 4.2m on a horizontal road, which exceeded the requirements of some international markets.
During the test, the company found that the poor thermal decay performance of the brake was one of the main reasons for the excessive braking distance. Therefore, the company decided to replace the original drum brake with a better-performing disc brake and recalibrate the braking system. At the same time, the tires were also upgraded, and low rolling resistance tires with stronger grip were selected.
After a series of improvements, the braking distance test was conducted again, and the results showed that the full-load braking distance was reduced to 3.2m, which fully met the relevant standards and market demand. This improvement not only improved the safety of the product, but also won a better reputation in the international market, attracted more international wholesale buyers, and significantly increased product exports.

7. Conclusion
The braking distance test of the elderly scooter is a key link to ensure the safety of users, improve product quality and market competitiveness. By deeply understanding the test standards, methods and influencing factors, companies can take effective measures to optimize braking performance and meet the needs of domestic and foreign markets. In the future development, with the continuous advancement of technology and increasingly stringent standards, elderly scooter manufacturers should continue to pay attention to the development of braking distance testing and related technologies, continuously improve the safety performance of products, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of the elderly scooter industry.