The first electric wheelchair was developed in the early 1950's and by the 1960's the first mobility scooter was introduced. The popularity of both of these devices quickly grew and today people all over the world use personal mobility vehicles. There are a lot of different models of scooters available today. Often they look completely different, but the all share some similar features and characteristics. By understanding these similarities, you can better understand the different models and make an educated purchasing decision.

Before you begin shopping around for a scooter, it is important to decide where you intend to use the scooter and what you intend to use it for. You should determine if you intend to use it indoors, outdoors, or both.

If you are going to be using it outdoors, then you need to consider the type of terrain you will mostly use it on. It is important to consider whether you will be driving it on ground that is firm and packed or over loose soil and sand. It can help if you make a list of all the areas you regularly go, so that you can determine what types of terrain you will be driving on.

If you are mostly going to be using the scooter indoors, then a three wheeled scooter is often the best choice. Three wheeled scooters are very maneuverable and this makes them great for indoor use.

If you are primarily going to be using the scooter outdoors, then a four wheeled scooter might be a better option. 4 wheeled scooters are not as maneuverable, because  electric scooter for adults they have a larger turning radius, but they offer superior balance. This means they will be more stable over rougher terrain and they also tend to have a higher weight rating.

It is a good idea to consider how often you intend to use the scooter away from home. Most scooters are designed to be taken apart in several pieces, but the individual pieces can be pretty heavy. This means that you will probably need to install a scooter carrier onto your car. There are several types available that can be quickly installed and are cost effective.

While most scooters require a special vehicle lift to be transported, there is one special type of scooter that does not. Travel scooters can be taken apart easily and the pieces of the scooter are light enough that most people do not have problems picking them up and the heaviest piece of the scooter is often only twenty-five pounds. It is easy to place one of these scooters in the trunk of a car or to take it with you on vacation. These types of scooters tend to have fewer features though and they also usually can not support as much weight or travel over as far of distances as other scooters do. Usually for everyday use, most people prefer a traditional scooter, but travel scooters are also very popular.

People who need to be able to travel over rough ground or those that need a higher weight rating often go with a heavy duty scooter. Heavy duty scooters usually support around 500 pounds and are designed with improved suspensions, dent resistant bumpers, and larger wheels. They also sit up higher off of the ground, which also helps to make these scooters the better choice for outdoor use. These scooters are fairly large and have a larger turning radius than other scooter, so they might not be the best choice for indoor use.

Once you have an idea of where you intend to use the scooter, you can narrow the types of scooters available down and find one that will be suited to your needs. The next step is to compare the features, such as the range and top speed, to find one that is able to accommodate you. You should also consider other features like whether it has a lighting package or the type of seat that is used on the scooter.