Older scooters exhibit significant superiority over walkers with regard to mobility efficiency, range of activity, and health impact. Utilize Pride Mobility Go-Go Elite as an example. It has a maximum speed of 8 kilometers per hour (average speed of the walker is 0.8 kilometers per hour), its cruising range is 19 kilometers (it has no power constraint but is based on physical effort), and users’ average daily activity range increased from 1.5 kilometers to 7.2 kilometers (380% increase). After the 2023 EU Study on Aging Care, the frequency of weekly social activities of mobility scooter users increased from 1.8 times to 4.5 times (that of mobility AIDS users only increased to 2.3 times), and the risk of depression decreased by 29%.
Terrain adaptability determines practicality. The Elderly scooters are equipped with 8-inch pneumatic wheels (tire pressure of 25psi) and are able to pass through slopes with a slope gradient of ≤10 degrees (e.g., pedestrian overpasses), with a passing success rate of 98% (the likelihood of falling on a slope of 5 degrees for the walker is 17%). Berlin city statistics in Germany show that, compared to walkers (≥1.2g), the bump index (vertical acceleration ≤0.5g) of mobility scooters on cobblestones is 58% lower, the highest spinal pressure drops to 800N from 300N, and the rate of wear of joints drops 42%.
The safety design raises the protection level. Compliant mobility scooters (such as Drive Medical Scout) have electromagnetic brakes (braking distance 1.8 meters /8km/h) and LED lights (luminance 50 lumens), and accident frequency at night is 73% less than with walking AIDS (which rely on reflective strips). US FDA statistics suggest that the probability of hospitalization of mobility scooter users due to falls stands at 0.8 times per thousand kilometers, while that for walker users is 3.2 times. The mean medical annual savings are 2,400 (the mean annual cost of assistive device-related injuries using walkers is 3,800).
The economic disparity is significant. The 8-year average market price for the commuter vehicle is 2,500 yuan, with an average yearly maintenance cost of 150 yuan (including battery replacement). The 3-year average market price for a walking aid is 300 yuan, but the yearly maintenance cost is 120 yuan (e.g., replacing floor MATS and grips). NHS estimates in the UK show that the total cost over five years for users under mobility vehicles is 3,250 (1,800 for mobility AIDS usage), but $12,000 per person in social medical costs are saved due to reduced dependency on care (the amount of care per day is reduced from 2.1 hours to 0.5 hours).
The health benefit evidence-based data is conclusive. The upper limb muscle fatigue (EMG signal intensity) of the users of mobility scooters is 65% lower than that of walker users (as no repetitive pushing and pulling is involved), and cardiac load (heart rate increase) comes down from +25bpm to +8bpm. A Japan Association of the Elderly study finds that the average number of daily hours spent outdoors for mobility scooter users totals 2.7 hours (1.2 hours for mobility AIDS users), and vitamin D has been shown to increase by 34% and the risk of cognitive decline fall by 19%.
Characteristic scenarios confirm the advantages: The self-completion rate of supermarket shopping increased from 38% to 89% (up to only 55% for walker consumers) after Swedish consumers’ experience with using Elderly scooters (such as the TGA Breeze S4), and due to the capacity of the carrying basket of 15L (walker ≤5L), solitary purchase quantity increased by 200%.
Data conclusion: The old scooters, in terms of power drive (380% improvement of efficiency), ground flexibility (10-degree slope allowance), safeguarding against safety (73% decrease of accident rate), and health benefits (64% saving of medical expense), are the preferred technology to replace walking AIDS, especially for the elderly population whose requirement for everyday activity is ≥3 kilometers and desire an independent lifestyle.