It will take approximately 3 hours to charge the battery fully. The battery can be charged/discharged 500 times and still maintain full charge. After 500 cycles, the battery capacity is still at least 70% capacity. That said, temperature extremes will affect the lifespan of the battery - so if you live in a very hot or cold climate, it's worth taking that into consideration when purchasing a Segway.  In terms of how long the battery will power the Segway, this depends on a few factors, such as terrain, the weight of the rider, and whether you're using extras such as headlights. However, you can expect to get around 12 miles out of a full charge.