When you’re planning a fun and memorable experience for kids at your amusement park, one of the things that always gets them excited is bumper cars. But when you’re a business owner, it’s important to know which type of bumper car to buy. You want to make sure the cars are safe, durable, and fun for the kids. It’s even more complicated when you have multiple options in front of you, each with its own features, costs, and maintenance requirements. If you don’t know the differences, you could end up with cars that don’t do what you want them to do or don’t attract the kids you want to attract. Don’t worry. We’re here to help you understand the types of kids’ bumper cars that are available, so you can choose the best one for your amusement park.
Different Types of Children’s Bumper Cars
1. Battery-Powered Bumper Cars
These bumper cars have batteries inside them, so you can use them anywhere. They’re easy to operate and don’t require much maintenance because you don’t need an outlet to power them. Battery-powered bumper cars are generally less expensive than other types but still very good quality.
2. Ground-Grid Dodgem Bumper Cars
These bumper cars use a ground grid system where two poles are connected to supply the power. It’s installed right into the ground grid plate. These cars are known for having the most comfortable seats and are a nice, smooth ride for the kids. You can control how fast these cars go, so they’re safe for little kids, too. But this type of bumper car is usually a little more expensive because of the extra stuff you have to put in the ground.
3. Ceiling-Grid Electric Bumper Cars
These bumper cars use a ceiling grid system where the power comes from up above. They’re usually more expensive and require more maintenance because you have to put a ceiling up and install the power grid. These cars are tough and give the kids a cool experience, but you might not want them because they require more maintenance.
How Do Children’s Bumper Cars Differ from Each Other?
Kids’ bumper cars are different from each other in several ways. These differences can affect how they’re designed, how they work, and how much fun the kids have when they’re riding.
1. Power Source
Battery Bumper Cars: These are usually powered by batteries, like 6-volt or 12-volt systems, which makes them great for little kids. They have steering wheels, seat belts, and can spin around in a circle, which makes the kids love them even more.
Remote-Controlled Bumper Cars: Some models of bumper cars come with remote controls, so the parents can run the car while the kid rides. This is a great feature, especially for little kids.
2.Speed and Control
Variable Speeds: Many electric cars have different speeds, so you can set the car to go slow for little kids or fast for big kids. For example, some cars have two speeds that you can set based on how old the kid is or how comfortable they are driving.
Steering: The steering wheel and how it turns can be different, which makes the car easier or harder to drive. Some cars have steering systems that are easier to use, which is good for little kids.
3. Design and Size
Size and Weight: Bumper cars come in different sizes, which makes them good for different ages. You can get cars that are made for toddlers or cars that are made for a little bit bigger kids. The weight of the car also makes a difference in how easy it is to drive and move.
Looks: Bumper cars come in all kinds of themes, colors, and designs. Kids can pick from cars that look like animals or cars that look like characters from popular cartoons.
4. Safety Features
Seat Belts and Bumpers: Most bumper cars have seat belts and padded bumpers to keep the kids safe when they crash.
How the Cars Are Built: The materials used to build the cars can be different, which affects how long the car will last and how safe it is when the kids play with it. If the car is made out of good materials, it will last longer and be safer for the kids.
What Are Bumper Cars Called Now?
Dodgem: This is a term that’s used a lot, especially in the UK, and it comes from the old way the ride used to be made. The name emphasizes that you’re supposed to dodge the other cars rather than bump them.
Bumping Cars: This is another name that’s used a lot, and it describes what you do when you’re riding the ride—bumping the other cars.
Dashing Cars: This is another name that’s used, but it’s not as common as dodgem or bumper cars.
Amusement Cars: This is a more general term, and it can be used to describe all kinds of rides, including bumper cars.
Basically, while bumper cars is the name that everybody knows, the other three words are used interchangeably, especially in different areas, and they all mean the same thing. It’s just a fun ride where you dodge and bump into people.
What Are Ice Bumper Cars?
Ice bumper cars are a newer kind of bumper car that takes the classic bumper car ride to the next level by letting you slide around on the ice. The cars are specially designed to slide across the ice so you can bump into people while you’re slipping and sliding all over the place.
Features
- Ride Duration: Usually, you get to ride for about 10 or 15 minutes. Some places give you a quick lesson or a safety talk before you start driving.
- Age and Height Requirements:Kids usually have to be at least 6 years old and 48 inches tall to drive a car by themselves. Kids who are 3 to 5 years old can ride with an adult, but the adult has to be in the car with the kid and follow the rules.
- Safety Measures: Ice bumper cars have seat belts and sensors to keep you safe while you’re riding. You have to wear closed-toe shoes, and you can’t wear anything loose or have long hair flying all over the place while you’re riding.
- Operational Environment: You usually find ice bumper cars at ice rinks. They have a special section of the ice rink just for the bumper cars. The rest of the ice rink is open for skating.
- Pricing:The cost to ride in the cars can be different depending on where you go. Usually, it’s between $10 to $20 to ride in the cars, and sometimes they have family deals.
- Unique Features:Some places have more stuff to do with the ice bumper cars. For example, they have lasers you can shoot at the other cars to make them spin around.
How Do Bumper Cars Work?
Bumper cars can run in different ways, and each way makes the cars work a little differently.
Overhead System (OHS): This is the way bumper cars have been powered for a long time. The cars have a pole that goes up and touches the ceiling. The bottom of the car touches the floor, which makes the electricity flow from the ceiling, through the car, and back into the floor. The ceiling and the floor have different electrical charges, so the cars get the power they need to run the motors.
Floor Pick-Up (FPU): This is a new way to power bumper cars. Instead of having stuff on the ceiling, they have metal strips on the floor with spaces between them. The cars have brushes that touch these metal strips and get electricity. The cars have to touch at least two strips at a time to get the power they need to run.
Battery-Powered: Some bumper cars, like the ones on cruise ships, have batteries that you can recharge. These cars don’t need metal stuff on the floor or ceiling to get electricity. This makes it easier for the people who run the bumper car rides to set up the arena the way they want it.
Bumper cars are made to be safe. The big rubber things all around the car keep you from getting hurt when you run into other people. The cars are made so they won’t tip over. The person who runs the ride watches to make sure you don’t drive too fast and that you have your seat belt on.
Bumper cars are a fun and safe way to have a good time because they use electricity and the rules of physics. The way bumper cars are made and how they work allow you to hit other people and have fun without getting hurt.
What Are Bumper Cars Made Of?
1. Body Material
Fiberglass: This is the stuff they use to make most of the outside of bumper cars. It’s light, strong, and doesn’t rust, which is good when you have cars bumping into each other all the time.
Plastic: Some bumper cars, especially the ones for little kids or not as rough places, are made out of high-density plastic. It’s not as tough as fiberglass, but it’s less expensive and easier to put together.
2.Frame
Steel: The inside of a bumper car is made of steel. Steel is strong and stiff, which is what you need to hold everything together and to protect the parts inside the car when you hit other people.
Aluminum: Sometimes, you use aluminum instead of steel for some parts of the car, especially in cars that use batteries. Aluminum is lighter than steel, but it still holds up well.
3.Bumpers
The bumpers all around the outside of the car are made from really thick rubber. The rubber is there to absorb the shock when you hit other people. It keeps you and the car from getting hurt.
4. Seats
The seats inside bumper cars are cushioned and covered in vinyl. Vinyl lasts a long time and is easy to clean, which is why they use it in rides where a lot of people come. The cushion under the vinyl is usually foam, which is soft and squishy when you hit people.
5. Wheels and tires
The wheels on bumper cars are made from solid rubber or polyurethane. Rubber wheels are what you find on most bumper cars, but some cars use polyurethane wheels, especially the battery-powered ones, to make the ride smoother on different surfaces.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the differences in how they’re designed, how they’re controlled, and the materials used to build them will help you make better decisions that are in your best interest, so you can provide a fun and safe experience for your guests. By taking these factors into consideration, you can select bumper cars that will not only meet your operational needs but will also create great memories for kids and their families.
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