Durability test of elderly three-wheeled scooters

Durability test of elderly three-wheeled scooters

With the global trend of population aging, the market demand for elderly three-wheeled scooters is growing. For international wholesale buyers, it is crucial to choose an elderly three-wheeled scooter with excellent durability. This is not only related to the market competitiveness of the product, but also affects the end-user experience and safety. This article will explore in depth the various aspects of the durability test of elderly three-wheeled scooters to help you fully understand how to pass rigorous testing to ensure the quality and durability of the purchased products.

1. The importance of durability testing of elderly three-wheeled scooters

(I) Meeting market demand
With the increase in the number of elderly people, more and more elderly people need to use mobility tools to maintain independence in daily activities. They usually hope that a scooter can accompany them for many years, so the durability of the product becomes an important factor in purchasing decisions. Only by providing durable products can international wholesale buyers win customer trust in the fierce market competition, improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, and thus promote long-term sales of products.

(II) Ensuring user safety
The users of elderly three-wheeled scooters are mostly elderly people whose physical functions are gradually declining, and their balance ability and reaction speed are relatively weak. If the durability of the mobility scooter is insufficient, the parts are easily damaged or fail, which may cause safety accidents during driving and threaten the life and health of the elderly. Through comprehensive durability testing, potential safety hazards can be discovered and eliminated in advance to ensure that the mobility scooter can operate stably and safely under various conditions of use.
(III) Reduce maintenance costs
The durability of the elderly three-wheeled mobility scooter means that during long-term use, the replacement frequency of parts is low and the maintenance demand is low, thereby reducing the maintenance cost of users. For wholesale buyers, this helps to reduce the burden and cost expenditure of after-sales service and improve the overall economic benefits of the product. At the same time, the lower maintenance cost also makes the product more advantageous in price competition and can attract more consumers who pay attention to cost performance.

2. Common items of durability test of elderly three-wheeled mobility scooters

(I) Driving performance test
Long-distance driving test: simulate the scene of elderly people using mobility scooters in daily life, and conduct long-term and long-distance continuous driving tests. It is usually carried out in a special test site or actual road environment, and the mileage can reach thousands of kilometers or even tens of thousands of kilometers. During this process, monitor the vehicle’s speed stability, whether the power output is stable, and whether the mileage meets the standard. If the vehicle’s power system fails during driving, such as motor overheating, battery power consumption too fast, abnormal speed fluctuations, etc., it will directly affect its durability performance. For example, a three-wheeled vehicle for the elderly with excellent performance can still maintain a stable speed and good power response after a long distance, while products with poor quality may experience power attenuation and be unable to drive normally.
Road condition adaptability test: The vehicle is placed on different road conditions, including flat asphalt roads, rugged mountain roads, bumpy gravel roads, slippery muddy roads, etc. Test its passability under various road conditions, the shock absorption effect of the suspension system, and the overall stability of the vehicle. Good durability requires that the vehicle can be under complex road conditions without problems such as frame deformation, loose wheels, and damaged parts. For example, when driving on bumpy roads, the suspension system of the scooter needs to be able to effectively absorb vibrations and keep the body stable. At the same time, the frame and connecting parts should have sufficient strength and will not produce fatigue cracks or looseness due to repeated vibrations.
Climbing performance test: For elderly three-wheeled scooters, climbing ability is an important performance indicator. Select a slope section with a certain slope, usually about 10° to 15°, and let the scooter be fully loaded or under the specified load conditions for climbing tests. Record the speed, power performance, and whether the scooter slips or slides during the climbing process. After multiple climbing tests, the power system and braking system of a scooter with good durability can still work normally, while products of poor quality may not be able to climb smoothly due to insufficient motor power or brake failure, and may even cause vehicle damage.

(II) Braking system test
Braking performance test: Use professional braking test equipment to measure the braking distance and braking time of the scooter at different speeds. Ensure that the braking system can stop the vehicle smoothly and effectively in a short time, and the braking distance meets the relevant safety standards. For example, on a dry and flat road, when driving at a speed of 20km/h, the braking distance should not exceed the specified value. At the same time, it is also necessary to check the directional stability of the vehicle during braking to prevent dangerous situations such as braking deviation and side slip. Through multiple tests on the braking system, evaluate its reliability and durability in long-term use, and ensure that the components of the braking system such as brake discs, brake pads, brake calipers, etc. will not suffer from excessive wear, deformation or failure after frequent braking.
Thermal decay performance test: In the case of continuous downhill or frequent braking, the braking system will generate a lot of heat, which may lead to a decrease in braking performance, that is, thermal decay. Place the scooter in a road condition simulating continuous downhill, perform multiple braking operations, and measure the braking effect of the braking system under high temperature. A reliable three-wheeled scooter for the elderly should have good resistance to thermal decay, and can maintain stable braking performance even after frequent braking causes the temperature of the braking system to rise. Products with poor durability may have thermal decay phenomena such as a significant increase in braking distance and a softening of the brake pedal, affecting driving safety.

(III) Frame and body structure test
Static load test: A certain static load is applied to the frame and body structure of the mobility scooter to simulate the stress state of the vehicle under load. The load weight is usually determined according to the design load capacity of the mobility scooter. For example, for a mobility scooter with a design load of 150kg, different levels of loads such as 150kg and 200kg can be applied to observe whether the frame and body structure are deformed, cracked or broken. Through static load testing, the strength and rigidity of the frame and body structure under long-term load can be evaluated to ensure that it can safely and stably carry the elderly and their belongings.
Dynamic fatigue test: Using a professional fatigue testing machine, the dynamic load conditions such as vibration and bumps of the mobility scooter during driving are simulated, and the frame and body structure are repeatedly loaded and unloaded. The test cycle is usually long, up to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of cyclic loads. Dynamic fatigue testing can effectively detect the initiation and expansion of fatigue cracks in the frame and body structure under long-term dynamic stress, as well as the looseness and wear of the connection parts. After the dynamic fatigue test, the frame and body structure of a three-wheeled scooter with excellent durability should have no obvious deformation, cracks or loose connections. Products with poor quality may have serious problems such as frame breakage and body parts falling off, affecting the normal use and safety of the vehicle.
Collision safety test: Although the speed of the three-wheeled scooter for the elderly is relatively low, it may still face collision risks in actual use, such as collisions with other vehicles or obstacles. Conduct low-speed collision safety tests to simulate the collision scenes of the scooter with rigid walls or moving obstacles at different speeds, and evaluate the deformation degree, energy absorption effect and protection ability of the frame and body structure during the collision process. Through the collision safety test, it can be ensured that when the scooter collides, the frame and body structure can effectively absorb and disperse the collision energy, reduce harm to the elderly, and improve the overall safety of the vehicle.

(IV) Electrical system test
Battery life test: The battery is one of the core components of the elderly three-wheeled scooter, and its life directly affects the use cost and durability of the vehicle. Use battery cycle charge and discharge test equipment to perform multiple charge and discharge cycle tests on the battery of the scooter to simulate the charge and discharge process of the battery in actual use. Record the capacity decay of the battery after each cycle until the battery capacity decays to a certain extent (such as below 80%) to determine the actual service life of the battery. Different types of batteries have different life characteristics. For example, the life of lead-acid batteries is generally about 1-2 years, while the life of lithium batteries can reach 3-5 years or even longer. Wholesale buyers should choose scooter products with long battery life and stable performance according to the target market demand and product positioning to meet the long-term use needs of users.
Motor performance test: The performance and durability of the motor determine the power output and operating stability of the scooter. Through professional motor testing equipment, the motor of the scooter is loaded and tested to measure the speed, torque, power, efficiency and other parameters of the motor under different load conditions. At the same time, simulate the high temperature and overload that may occur during the long-term operation of the motor, and check the heat dissipation and insulation performance of the motor, as well as whether there will be problems such as failure or performance degradation. The motor equipped with a high-quality three-wheeled scooter for the elderly should have efficient and stable power output characteristics, and can still maintain a good working condition after a long time of operation, while a motor of poor quality may have overheating protection, insufficient power, or even burnout, which seriously affects the normal use of the scooter.
Electrical connection and control system test: Check the electrical connection system of the scooter, including the connection reliability of components such as wires, plugs, and sockets. Under vibration, bumps and other working conditions, observe whether the electrical connection is loose, poor contact or short circuit. At the same time, the control system of the scooter is functionally tested and stabilized to ensure that the controller can accurately control the operation of the motor, adjust the speed, manage the battery charging and discharging, and other functions, and there will be no program errors, freezes and other failures during long-term use. The reliability of the electrical connection and control system is crucial to the normal operation of the scooter. Any electrical failure may lead to serious consequences such as vehicle failure to start, power loss of control or electrical equipment failure, affecting the user experience and safety.

V) Durability test of components
Wheel and tire test: Wheels and tires are key components of the mobility scooter in contact with the ground, and their durability directly affects the driving safety and stability of the vehicle. Static and dynamic load tests are performed on the wheels to check the deformation and cracking of the wheels under different load conditions. At the same time, the tires are tested for wear resistance, anti-aging performance, and grip under different road conditions. The wear resistance test can simulate the friction between the tire and the ground on a special wear tester to measure the wear of the tire after a certain mileage; the anti-aging performance test exposes the tire to aging environments such as high temperature and ozone to observe whether cracking, deformation, and other aging phenomena occur on the tire surface. High-quality elderly three-wheeled mobility scooters should be equipped with tires with good wear resistance and anti-aging performance and wheels with high strength and reliable quality to ensure that there will be no problems such as wheel damage or tire bursting during long-term use.
Seat and handle test: The seat and handle are important parts that the elderly directly contact with the mobility scooter, and their comfort and durability have a direct impact on the user experience. The seats are subjected to static load and fatigue tests to simulate the bumps and vibrations that the elderly experience when sitting on the seats for a long time and during driving. The seats are checked for deformation and collapse of the filling materials, and for looseness and breakage of the frames and joints of the seats. The handlebar tests mainly include grip force tests and fatigue torsion tests to ensure that the handlebars can still provide a good grip and operational stability after long-term use, and that the handlebars will not be inflexible or fall off. The durability tests of the seats and handlebars can improve the overall comfort and reliability of the mobility scooter and meet the needs of the elderly in daily use.

3. Durability Test Methods and Equipment for Elderly Three-wheeled Mobility Scooters

(I) Test Site
Professional Test Track: Establish a dedicated elderly three-wheeled mobility scooter test track to simulate various actual road conditions, including flat roads, bumpy roads, ramps, curves, etc. The length and width of the track should be designed according to the test requirements to ensure that a variety of projects such as long-distance driving tests, road adaptability tests, and climbing performance tests can be carried out. On the test track, the driving performance of the mobility vehicle can be comprehensively evaluated, and its speed, mileage, stability and other data under different road conditions can be recorded. At the same time, the appearance and parts of the vehicle can be observed for damage or abnormalities.
Laboratory environment: For some projects that require precise control of test conditions, such as battery life test, motor performance test, and durability test of parts, they should be carried out in a professional laboratory environment. The laboratory should be equipped with advanced testing equipment and instruments that can simulate different environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and load to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results. For example, in the battery life test, the ambient temperature of the laboratory should be kept stable to avoid the impact of temperature on battery performance; in the motor performance test, a high-precision motor test bench is required to accurately measure the various parameters of the motor and simulate the operating status of the motor under different working conditions.

(II) Test equipment
Durability driving test equipment: including professional test vehicle traction equipment, data acquisition system, etc. The traction equipment can drive the mobility scooter to conduct long-distance driving tests on the test track according to the set speed and mileage. At the same time, the data acquisition system can record the speed, mileage, battery power, motor speed and other operating data of the mobility scooter in real time. Through these data, the performance changes of the mobility scooter during driving can be analyzed and its durability can be evaluated. In addition, it can also be equipped with on-board diagnostic equipment to monitor the fault information of the mobility scooter in real time, and timely discover and solve problems.
Fatigue testing machine: used to perform fatigue tests on components such as frames, body structures, seats, and handles. The fatigue testing machine can apply loads of different frequencies and amplitudes according to different test standards and requirements to simulate the fatigue damage of components during long-term use. Through the test of the fatigue testing machine, the fatigue life curve of the components can be obtained to determine its durability under different load conditions. For example, when performing fatigue testing on the frame, the complex load conditions such as up and down bumps and left and right shaking that the frame of the mobility scooter is subjected to during driving can be simulated. After tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of cyclic loads, observe whether the frame has cracks, deformation or fractures, so as to evaluate the durability of the frame.
Environmental test chamber: used for environmental adaptability tests such as high and low temperature tests and humidity tests on components such as batteries and motors. The environmental test chamber can accurately control the internal environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity, and simulate different climatic conditions, such as high temperature, low temperature, high humidity, and low humidity. Place the battery or motor in the environmental test chamber, perform charging and discharging or running tests according to the set test procedures, and observe the performance changes under different environmental conditions. For example, in a high temperature environment, the charging and discharging performance of the battery may be affected, resulting in problems such as capacity attenuation and accelerated self-discharge; in a low temperature environment, the charging efficiency of the battery may be reduced, and the starting torque of the motor may increase. Through the test of the environmental test chamber, the durability and reliability of the battery and motor under different environmental conditions can be evaluated, providing a basis for product improvement and optimization.
Electrical testing equipment: including insulation resistance testers, withstand voltage testers, motor performance testers, battery testers, etc. Insulation resistance testers and withstand voltage testers are used to detect the insulation performance and withstand voltage strength of electrical systems to ensure the safety and reliability of electrical systems; motor performance testers can measure motor speed, torque, power, efficiency and other parameters to evaluate motor performance and durability; battery testers can perform charge and discharge tests, capacity tests, internal resistance tests, etc. on batteries, accurately measure various performance indicators of batteries, and determine the battery life and health status. These electrical testing equipment work together to comprehensively evaluate the quality and durability of the electrical system of elderly tricycles.

4. How to choose a high-quality elderly tricycle based on durability test results

(I) Pay attention to test data and reports
When choosing elderly tricycles, wholesale buyers should require suppliers to provide detailed product durability test data and reports. These data and reports should include detailed results of the above durability tests, such as the cruising range, average speed, and passability under different road conditions in the driving performance test; the braking distance and thermal decay performance in the braking system test; the static and dynamic load test results and fatigue life in the frame and body structure test; the battery life, motor performance parameters, and electrical connection reliability in the electrical system test. Through careful analysis of these test data, we can intuitively understand the durability of the product, compare the performance differences of different brands and models of scooters, and select products with reliable quality and good durability.
(II) Inspecting the testing capabilities and qualifications of suppliers
Choosing suppliers with good testing capabilities and qualifications is an important guarantee to ensure the durability of elderly three-wheeled scooters. Inspect whether the supplier has professional testing sites, advanced testing equipment, and professional testing teams. For example, whether the supplier has professional test tracks that meet the standards, complete fatigue testing machines, environmental test chambers and other equipment, as well as technicians with rich testing experience. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the supplier’s testing qualification certification, such as whether it has passed the relevant international standard certification (such as ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation, etc.). These certifications indicate that the supplier’s testing capabilities and quality management system meet international standards, and its test results are more credible and authoritative.
(III) Refer to user feedback and market reputation
In addition to referring to test data and supplier qualifications, wholesale buyers should also pay attention to user feedback and reputation of elderly three-wheeled scooters in the actual market. Through communication with end users, retailers, after-sales service providers, etc., understand the durability performance, common fault problems, and user satisfaction of the product during actual use. For example, ask the user whether the scooter has problems such as power loss, brake failure, frame deformation, and shortened battery life after long-term use, and whether these problems have been solved in a timely and effective manner. Elderly three-wheeled scooter brands with good reputation and high user satisfaction in the market usually have certain advantages in product quality and durability, and deserve priority consideration.

5. Development Trend and Future Prospect of Durability Test of Elderly Three-wheeled Scooters
(I) Application of Intelligent Testing Technology
With the continuous advancement of science and technology, intelligent testing technology will be more widely used in the durability test of elderly three-wheeled scooters. For example, sensor technology and Internet of Things technology can be used to realize real-time data collection and remote monitoring of scooters during driving, and test data can be deeply mined and analyzed through big data analysis and artificial intelligence algorithms to predict potential failures and durability problems in advance. The intelligent testing system can automatically identify and record the performance changes of scooters under various working conditions, generate detailed test reports and evaluation results, improve test efficiency and accuracy, and provide stronger support for product improvement and optimization.
(II) Deep integration with vehicle performance testing
In the future, the durability test of elderly three-wheeled scooters will be more closely integrated with the performance test of the whole vehicle. It not only focuses on the durability of a single component or system, but also takes into account the relationship between the performance indicators of the vehicle such as power, economy, comfort, safety and durability from the perspective of the whole vehicle. By establishing a mathematical model and evaluation system between vehicle performance and durability, a comprehensive evaluation of the overall quality and reliability of elderly tricycles can be achieved. For example, when conducting driving performance tests, the durability indicators such as the wear of vehicle components and the degree of aging of the electrical system are monitored at the same time to find the balance between performance and durability, and to develop elderly tricycles with better performance and longer life.
(III) Internationalization and unification of testing standards
With the global development of the elderly tricycle market, technical exchanges and trade exchanges between countries are becoming increasingly frequent. In order to promote the fairness of international trade and market competition, the durability test standards for elderly tricycles will gradually develop in the direction of internationalization and unification. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other relevant organizations will strengthen the formulation and coordination of the durability test standards for elderly tricycles, and promote the mutual recognition and unification of test standards in various countries. This will help reduce trade barriers caused by differences in testing standards, improve the market access efficiency of products, and promote the healthy development of the elderly tricycle industry. At the same time, the unified testing standards will also provide wholesale buyers with a clearer and more consistent basis for purchasing, making it easier to select products that meet quality requirements worldwide.

In summary, the durability test of elderly tricycles is a key link to ensure product quality, meet market demand, ensure user safety, and reduce maintenance costs. By fully understanding and mastering the contents, methods, and equipment of durability testing, wholesale buyers can more scientifically and accurately select high-quality elderly tricycles.