How Far Can a Power Wheels Go? – I Tested It Out

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how far can power wheels go

Parents often allow their kids to drive around the yard in their Power Wheels. Or perhaps, let the tots drive these ride-on toy cars at full speed until they reach the end of the driveway. But have you ever asked yourself the question, how far can most Power Wheels could go? 

Power Wheels can go up to ten miles (16.09 kilometers) on a single charge. Most Power Wheels have a 12-volt battery installed, which can tolerate two to four hours at 2.5 to 5 mph (4.02 to 8.04 kph). However, driving uphill and an old battery can reduce the total distance on a single charge.

Of course, being able to go that far will depend on the model of Power Wheels you have, the terrain, the level of charge and condition of your battery, and the speed at which you're driving. Follow along as I discuss just how far Power Wheels can go!

How Far Can a Power Wheels Go?

As mentioned above, most Power Wheels are equipped with a 12-volt battery. These batteries can offer you a run time of anywhere from two to four hours when used on a full charge. 

Some Power Wheels that can go for 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) on a single charge include:

At 10 miles (16.09 kilometers), Power Wheels can save the average person around 150 minutes of walking. There are also Fisher-Price Power Wheels models that can run for 3 to 6 miles (4.82 to 9.66 kilometers) per hour on the same 12-volt batteries, such as:

You can probably get an additional 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) with a fully charged battery for these models. Further, there are still Power Wheels models for younger kids rated to run 1 mile (1.61 kilometers) per hour with a battery of 6 volts, such as the Power Wheels Thomas & Friends Thomas with Track. These models can go as far as 0.75 to 1 mile (1.21 to 1.61 kilometers) as 6-volt batteries are rated to last from 45 to 60 minutes on a charge.

What Can Affect the Range of Your Power Wheels?

Getting as far as 12 miles (19.31 kilometers) from your starting point on Power Wheels is ideal. Several factors can limit how far you can go on that Power Wheels ride-on, and it mostly has something to do with your battery. The general rule is that a new and fully charged battery will get you the farthest. 

So what factors affect your battery’s juice?

Battery Run Times on Power Wheels: What Is the Baseline?

The running time of a fully charged Power Wheels battery varies wildly. Some sources say that the battery can provide anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes of driving fun, while other sources put the range closer to 45 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the voltage you get from the battery. And if you modify the Power Wheels to have a 24-volt battery, then you might even get more than 4 hours of operation.

However, the running times of Power Wheels can be shorter by several factors, including:

The Battery Is Not Fully Charged

Charging the battery fully will help you get more running time out of your Power Wheels. Depending on the battery that your Power Wheels have, a full charge may take a while.

The charging times are as follows:

Further, initial charging time, or the first time you charge a new battery, will take significantly longer. Power Wheels recommend an initial charging time of at least 18 hours and regular charging of at least 14 hours but not exceeding 30 hours.

Old Batteries

All batteries will have a defined lifespan. The Power Wheels battery lasts for an average of one to three years before needing a replacement, depending on how often you use it and the conditions where your kids play. Before eventually dying and not holding their charge, old batteries will deteriorate.

If you charge it, it may not get as much juice as new ones.

Overloading

Power Wheels have a maximum weight capacity. For example, the Fisher-Price Power Wheels Jeep Wrangler has a weight limit of 130 pounds (59 kilograms). Generally, the heavier the child, the shorter the run time.

What's more, exceeding the weight limit might cause your Power Wheels to run sluggish or trip the embedded thermal fuse and shut down automatically.

Going Uphill

Rougher road conditions and going uphill can also take a toll on your battery and reduce the running time. Like overloading, running your Power Wheels in stressful driving conditions can make the motor work harder.

What’s more, the motor on your ride-on toy car might not be powerful enough to navigate steeper inclines. It's also not recommended to drive a Power Wheel model on rough terrain, and you should only use it on level ground.

Driving at Higher Speeds

Power Wheels often operate at two maximum speeds. For instance, the Power Wheels Wild Thing has two modes that allow your child to stay safe while riding them. One mode will allow your kids to drive the Power Wheels to 2.5 miles (4.02 kilometers) per hour, but older kids can have more fun and higher speeds at 5 miles (8.04 kilometers) per hour.

As you can guess, driving at higher speeds will take its toll on the battery. This, in turn, will result in shorter running times.

Buying Extra Batteries

If you are looking to get more battery juice so that your kids can go farther with their Power Wheels, the best way is to get new batteries to replace old ones that might be failing already. Or you can use the new battery as extras, allowing your kids to continue driving as the original battery runs out of juice.

If you’ve been using the battery for a long time, it might be time for a change. As we’ve indicated before, a battery's ability to hold its charge diminishes as time goes by. The good news is that excellent replacement batteries are available. You can check out Fisher Price's recommended list of online stores or buy from Amazon.

Check out products such as these:

  • Technical Precision 12V Battery
  • Power Wheels 12V Rechargeable Replacement Battery
  • Power Wheels 12V Rechargeable Battery

Getting an extra rechargeable battery is also a good idea so that your kids can have longer playtimes. You no longer have to wait until the battery finishes charging. Once the battery runs out, you can swap it out with the standby while the old one is recharging.

Modifying Your Power Wheels To Get More Battery Juice: Don’t Do It!

Like regular adult-sized cars, there are ways to modify your Power Wheels. In fact, there are several online communities such as Modified Power Wheels that provide resources on how to upgrade everything on your ride-on car, from motors to batteries.

If you know what you're doing, you can tinker with the electricals and get more out of the battery, as shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN8K1tLhoFY

Adding a battery makes your Power Wheels faster, as shown in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGY1LhygUwc

However, none of these modifications are recommended by the manufacturer. 

The added speed makes it more dangerous in the event of an accident. Plus, improperly tinkering with the wires might make it prone to short circuits. In short, modifying your Power Wheels might be more trouble even when it does give your car more battery juice.

Conclusion

Most Power Wheels can go for 10 to 12 miles (16.09 to 19.31 kilometers) on a new and fully charged battery. Several factors can reduce that range, but overall, these little ride-on toy cars can take you far.