Electric Powered Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are mobility devices in which chairs are mounted on large wheels. They are mostly used by people who have difficulty in walking such as people who are sick, injured or are physically disabled. There are several types of wheelchairs depending upon the method of working and purpose of using them. Some of the types of wheelchairs are manual, electric, sports or lightweight, junior, pediatric and also, wheelchair lifts and vans. Previously, manual type is commonly used for transportation. However, as the number of people who need wheelchairs have increased, various models along with advanced functions are developed which are designed to meet the special needs of the people.

Electric Powered Wheelchairs

Electric powered wheelchairs or power wheelchairs are operated by motors and batteries. There are also electric powered scooters, designed for using indoors as well as outdoors. Elder people and those who are handicapped need wheelchairs continuously for their day-to-day activities use power wheelchairs, since manual type is a bit tiresome to operate. In this type of wheelchairs, rechargeable batteries are used under the seat in order to supply power to the wheelchairs. Some of the commonly used batteries are wet-cell (light and cheap), gel-cell (heavier, long-lasting) and AGM (expensive, heavy, low-maintenance). Power wheelchairs are cost effective as one can charge the batteries by plugging into electric sockets.

One can use different power wheelchairs for indoors and outdoors. For example, wheelchairs with light frames are suitable for using indoors, whereas those that are expensive and come with strong frames can be used outdoors. In electric powered wheelchairs, the position of the drive wheels (wheels connected to the motor) and the turning radii are most important and should be considered. Let’s see the basic models of electric powered wheelchairs based on the position of the drive wheels.

Rear-Wheel Drive Wheelchairs: These are traditional and most common type of electric powered wheelchairs in which the rear wheels are the drive wheels. They have the highest top speed (about 6 mph) and largest turning radius than the other models. However, care has to be taken while climbing steep elevations, as chances of tipping backwards are high due to poor balance.

Front-Wheel Drive Wheelchairs: Front-wheel type of power wheelchairs are best for using indoors. These have a tight turning radius. In these models, the drive wheels are positioned away from the seating area. The large wheels ahead of the seat makes them comfortable for riding in uneven areas. They have lower top speed (about 5 mph) as compared to rear-wheel type and often tend to skid at higher speeds.

Mid-Wheel Drive Wheelchairs: As the name suggests, the drive wheels in mid-wheel drive wheelchairs are placed in the middle portion. In other words, the drive wheels are in total control of the user. These types of models have the tightest turning radius but have less top speed (about 5½ mph) than rear-wheel type. However, one should be careful while riding in rough terrains, as there may be chances of getting stuck in the front or rear caster wheels.

Overall, electric powered wheelchairs are mostly bulky as the motors and batteries are supported by strong frames. At present, there are highly sophisticated electric powered wheelchairs in which one can climb stairs or ride smoothly in uneven surfaces. It is advisable to know about the advantages and disadvantages and the suitability of each model before actually buying an electric powered wheelchair.