A Study on the Reliability Test of a Lithium Battery in Medical Electric Wheelchairs for Vulnerable Drivers

There are test items for lithium-ion batteries in reliability testing for automobiles and motorcycles, but equivalent test items have not yet been established for mobility scooters (also known as electronic wheelchairs). To evaluate the lithium-ion battery pack or system mounted on a mobility scooter, it is necessary to test vibrations and mechanical shock while driving, independent of tests for the lithium-ion battery cells. In an effort to meet this need, test profiles were established for mobility scooter lithium-ion batteries by performing on-road driving tests and mechanical shock tests. The proposed test profiles were validated using robust statistics and proficiency statistics. The safety of the test profiles was tested in a nationally accredited testing laboratory. As a result, the lithium-ion battery mounted on the mobility scooter was found to have incurred no leakage, short circuit, burst, or explosion. The vibration and mechanical shock test profiles proposed in this study are expected to serve as basis data for establishing standards for mobility scooter safety and reliability.