The Wheelchair Guide
Your Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Resource
Mobility Scooters: The Accessibility Accelerator
September 7th, 2009
One of the most common types of mobility vehicles used by seniors to improve accessibility and make it easier to get around is the electric scooter. These devices have been around for over fifty years, but they did not become popular until the 1980′s, when the price of electric scooters was decreased.
Basic Mobility Scooter Design
Electric scooters, which are most often referred to as mobility scooters or adult scooters, are intended to be used by those who have difficulty walking for extended distances. The user sits in a chair that is mounted to the base of the mobility scooter, controlling it by a set of handlebars, called the tiller, that extend from the front of the device.
Using the tiller, which can be adjusted to accommodate people with different arm spans and of differing size, the senior can control the direction of the mobility scooter, its speed, and any other components the scooter may have, such as its headlights.
The tiller extends from the front of the mobility scooter, while the chair is positioned more towards the rear. As a result of this design, it is not possible to drive a mobility scooter directly up to a table in the same way you could a wheelchair. Instead, it is necessary either transfer to an actual chair or parallel park the mobility scooter next to the table.
This is the major difference between mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs, making mobility scooters more practical for those who are able to walk on their own. However, there are some wheelchair users who like to use mobility scooters for outdoor use, but do not rely on them for their daily activities. Among wheelchair users, the heavy duty mobility scooter is most popular, as it is designed to be driven over almost any type of ground, has a much larger per-charge traveling distance and top speed than most wheelchairs.
Rechargeable Batteries and Range
Like electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters use a rechargeable battery system for power. Depending on the model and type of mobility scooter, the range of these devices can greatly vary. Typically lower end mobility scooters have a range of less than 5 miles per charge. Higher end scooters have a much larger range, usually between 10 and 20 miles per charge, with some heavy duty scooters exceeding 40 miles in a single charge.
Usually the price difference between a low end model and one that has a better per charge range is not very large, especially when you consider the difference in quality.
Advantages of Battery Packs
Some mobility scooters use a battery pack system, which allows the battery to be removed easily by simply pushing a release button. Others use a battery system more similar to an automobile, which has wires that must be removed in order to replace the battery.
One of the main advantages of a mobility scooter with a battery pack is that users can purchase an extra battery pack for the scooter. When one battery pack runs down, they can then quickly switch it out and be ready to go again, leaving the other battery pack to charge. This is popular amongst those who do a great deal of traveling with their scooter or consistently drive further than its single battery range.
Mobility Scooters: Three Wheel or Four Wheel?
September 4th, 2009
Mobility scooters are one of the most common types of mobility vehicles. These devices have been around for over 50 years and there are many different types and models available.
In many ways, mobility scooters are very similar to electric wheelchairs, however, these types of mobility vehicles are designed for different purposes.
Mobility scooters are typically designed as supplements for those who have difficulty walking. However, due to the way they are set up, you can not drive a mobility scooter directly up to a table. Instead, it is usually necessary to transfer to a chair.
Electric wheelchairs, on the other hand, are designed for those who are not able to walk at all, so you would be able to drive an electric wheelchair directly up to a table or desk.
There are many different mobility scooter manufacturers and countless models, so choosing the right electric scooter can seem difficult, but it does not need to be. By learning about the different types of mobility scooters offered, you can narrow down the options and select the one that will best fit your needs.
One way that mobility scooters are classified is by the number of wheels the devices have. Mobility scooters can be classified as three wheel scooters or four wheel scooters, with both offering their own advantages and disadvantages.
Three Wheel Scooters
Three wheeled mobility scooters are popular because they have a very small turning radius. They have two rear wheels and one front wheel, which makes them very maneuverable. This makes three wheel scooters an excellent choice for primarily indoor use or in areas that might have tight quarters.
Three wheeled scooters also typically weigh a little less. Travel scooters, which are designed to be taken apart easily for transport, often use a three wheel design to help reduce weight.
Four Wheeled Mobility Scooters
Four wheeled mobility scooters are not quite as maneuverable, but they do offer improved stability. This is because the weight is more evenly distributed across four wheels, the scooter. As a result, four wheeled scooters are a better choice for those who wish to use the device outdoors or need a scooter with a higher weight capacity.
Heavy duty scooters, which are designed for increased weight support and to be driven over virtually any terrain, almost always make use of a four wheel design, as this is a much stabler for off road use.
Putting it all Together and Selecting the Right Mobility Scooter
Since mobility scooters are used to help make getting around easier, it is important to select the right type of mobility scooter. It is a good idea to spend some time thinking about where you will be using the scooter, as well as the physical attributes of the rider.
First, plan out where you would like to be able to drive your mobility scooter, such as around the neighborhood or the grocery store. Then, evaluate the type of terrain you would be driving over. This, along with the size and general abilities of the driver, will help you narrow down your options and selecting the right mobility scooter.
Manual Wheelchairs Explained
September 2nd, 2009
The wheelchair has been used in some shape or form for thousands of years, however over the last 100 years, the technology behind the wheelchair has been greatly improved and a standard created for manual wheelchairs. Despite the increasing popularity of electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs remain to be the most popular mobility vehicle used by those who have difficulty walking.
Manual Wheelchair Basics
The manual wheelchair of today is based off of the E&J manual wheelchair design, which was first developed and sold during the 1930′s. Most use hollow steel tubes, or another light but durable metal, for the frame of the wheelchair.
The frame is designed in a manner that allows it to be folded up when not in use, allowing a manual wheelchair to be placed into the trunk of a car. By using the lightweight metal, it is often possible for the wheelchair user to transfer into a car or van, putting up their wheelchair without assistance.
The seat is most often made out of thin piece of vinyl that attached to the frame securely with stitching. Other fabrics are available and becoming more popular, with stain resistant breathable materials being very popular. Since the seat and backrest are made out of a thin piece of fabric, it does not get in the way when the wheelchair is folded up.
Footrests extend from the front of the wheelchair and are attached to the frame of the wheelchair. The footrests can often be removed from the frame completely or folded when not in use, making it easier to transfer into and out of the wheelchair. The footrests and the bars that hold them in place are referred to as the front rigging.
Self Propelled Wheelchairs vs Transport Chairs
Self propelled manual wheelchairs have large rear wheels and smaller front wheels. The large rear wheels have a rim that surrounds them, allowing the wheelchair user to grasp the rim and turn the rear wheels. This allows the wheelchair to be moved and turned, but does not require the person touch the part of the wheel that makes contact with the ground, which would be unsanitary, or risk tangling their hands in the wheels spokes.
Transport wheelchairs, on the other hand, have four sets of smaller wheels, because they are designed to be pushed by a caregiver and not self propelled. Two handle bars extend from the top of the seat, allowing a caregiver to walk behind the transport wheelchair and push its occupant.
Many self propelled wheelchairs also have handlebars for caregivers, but this is not always the case, especially on sports wheelchairs.
Anti-Tip Casters
To help prevent falls and the wheelchair tipping over, anti-tip casters are usually installed on the rear of the wheelchair frame. The anti-tip casters are designed so that if the wheelchair is tipped back far enough, the casters make contact with the ground and keep the wheelchair from completely tipping over.
Anti-tip casters are found on most other kinds of mobility vehicles as well, including mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs.
Mobility Scooters vs Electric Wheelchairs
August 31st, 2009
Today, many seniors make use of mobility scooters to allow them to get around easily and safely. These devices have actually been around for many years, with the first mobility scooters dating back to the nineteen-sixties. However, the modern mobility scooter offers many advantages over earlier models and is a great deal different from the first models.
Differences Between Mobility Scooters and Wheelchairs
Mobility scooters, which are often called adult scooters or electric scooters, offer a service that is similar to a wheelchair. This is because the user sits in a chair and then allows the scooter to do the work of moving around. However, the way that a mobility scooter is laid out is quite different from that of an electric wheelchair, resulting in several differences in how these two types of mobility vehicles are used.
The biggest difference between a mobility scooter and an electric wheelchair is the way the chair is positioned.
On an electric wheelchair, the chair is positioned at the center of the base, with only a footrest in front of the chair.
Mobility scooters, on the other hand, have a much longer and wider base. The chair is positioned towards the rear of the mobility scooter and a set of handlebars, called a tiller, extends from the front of the base, allowing the scooter to be controlled.
This difference provides additional stability for the scooter, but means that it can not be driven directly up to a table in the same way that a wheelchair can be. Instead, it is necessary to either transfer out of the scooter and into a chair at the table or to position the scooter parallel to the table. This can make mobility scooters more difficult to use for those who are unable to walk at all.
Aside from the design of the base and chair, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters share many similarities, both in the way they are designed and the way they are used.
A Quick Word About Mobility Scooter Range
The range of a mobility scooter can greatly vary by model, as well as how and where the adult scooter is driven. For example, a scooter that is near weight capacity and driven uphill will loose its charge much more rapidly than a mobility scooter that is not near weight capacity and is driven downhill.
It is also very important to regularly charge the mobility scooters batteries, based on how often the scooter is used. Those who use their mobility scooter on a daily basis will typically need to charge their scooter on a daily basis, while those who use their scooter only once a week, will not need to charge the battery as frequently.
TIP: Many users that need to travel more than 10 miles everyday invest in an extra battery pack for their mobility scooter. This way, while one battery pack is being used, the other can be charged, allowing them to be swapped out easily.
While the range and top speed of a mobility scooter can greatly vary, most can travel at least 10 miles on a single charge and at speeds of around 5mph.
A Quick Look at the Power Chair
August 24th, 2009
Electric wheelchairs, which are often called power chairs, have been around for over fifty years and are very important, because many people are not able to use a manual wheelchair, which requires a great deal of upper body strength. However, power chairs have changed a great deal since when they were first invented.
The power chairs of fifty years ago were simply manual wheelchairs that had been fitted with an electrical motor. The E & J manual wheelchair was very popular at the time and consisted of a foldable frame made up of hollow steel tubes. A number of companies began to develop power chair converter kits, which could be easily added to the E & J frame, turning it into an electric wheelchair. Today, while the influence of the E & J design can still be seen in most manual wheelchairs, power chairs are actually much different.
Modern power chairs consist of a molded plastic base, which consists of the wheels, electric motor, rechargeable battery, and other electrical components. A chair is attached to the base, which in someways looks similar to a high-end office chair, except many also include an adjustable headrest.
The chair, which is referred to as the Captain’s Chair, usually has an adjustable height and armrests that can be raised or lowered to make it easier to transfer into and out of the electric wheelchair. Typically, the chair can be quickly removed from the base of the power chair, to make it easier to transport.
While there have been many changes to the power chair over the years, one thing that has remained the same is the way the wheelchair is controlled. Of course there have been many technological advances, but the joystick has been the traditional wheelchair control since they were first developed. The joystick of the wheelchair allows the wheelchair to be moved in any direction by simply pushing the joystick in the desired direction. An electric throttle, which controls the speed of the power chair, is also usually attached to the captain chair’s armrest.
The joystick control usually only requires a single finger to operate, but for some using the standard control is not possible, so a number of alternate controls exist. Alternate controls can be as simple as a allowing for head movements to move the electric wheelchair, but there are many much more advanced control systems available.
Today, portable power chairs are becoming more popular and manufacturers have begun to manufacture travel power chairs, which are designed to be quickly and easily disassembled into several easy to manage pieces. Individually the pieces are typically rather light, which means the wheelchair can be transported without requiring a wheelchair lift or other type of wheelchair carrier. Of course, to help reduce weight, they usually lack features and do not have as comfortable of a chair. However, portable power chairs can be very useful for those who will be traveling on a plane or other form of public transportation.
Power chairs are today very common, but the manual wheelchair is still the most used type of wheelchair.
The History of the Modern Manual Wheelchair
August 21st, 2009
Manual wheelchairs are one of the oldest types of wheelchairs known to man and records of their use can be traced back thousands of years. However, up until the end of the nineteenth century, there was very little standardization when it came to manual wheelchairs and they were often only available to people who had the resources to hire a professional builder.
Wicker and Wood: Early Wheelchair Designs
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, however, the wicker basket wheelchair began to become very popular. These wheelchairs provided a wicker seat for the person using the wheelchair, which had a very long and high back. These wicker wheelchairs had three wheels and were not only incredibly bulky, but also very heavy.
As a result of how these wheelchairs were designed, it was very difficult to transport a wicker wheelchair and it was also very difficult for the person using the wheelchair to move it on their own. Instead, they were forced to rely on nurses and family members to push the wheelchair if they wanted to move around.
In addition to the wicker wheelchairs, there were also several popular wooden wheelchairs, which were also incredibly heavy and difficult to transport, but were easier to self propel than the wicker wheelchair.
The Development of a Lighter Easier to Use Manual Wheelchair
Despite all their flaws, the wicker wheelchair would remain the standard in wheelchair design for over two decades until the 1930′s, when the first foldable tube framed manual wheelchair was developed. This new wheelchair was created by two inventors named Everest and Jennings and would come to be called the E & J Wheelchair.
Harry Jennings set out to build a newer lightweight wheelchair when he saw the difficulties his friend Herbert Everest was having using the standard wicker wheelchair. Together, they came up with a very innovative wheelchair design, which used hollow metal tubes and a foldable frame. By using metal tubes, they were able to create an incredibly strong wheelchair frame, which was also relatively lightweight.
The E & J Wheelchair frame could also be folded up and placed in a carriage or other vehicle, making easily traveling with a wheelchair possible for the first time. As the E & J Wheelchair was being developed, the build up to the Second World War was beginning and the E & J Wheelchair would soon have a number of users.
The First Electric Wheelchairs
The E & J wheelchair was also used as the base of the first electric wheelchair, when inventors in the 1950′s developed an electric motor that could be attached to the frame of an E & J wheelchair. This allowed the E & J wheelchair to be easily turned into an electric power chair and several companies began selling conversion kits for the E & J Frame.
The Wheelchairs of Today
The E & J manual wheelchair quickly became the standard and was used worldwide. Today, E & J wheelchairs are still available and their influence can be seen in virtually all modern manual wheelchairs.
A Look at Vehicle Wheelchair Lifts
August 19th, 2009
One of the most difficult aspects for many users of electric wheelchairs is figuring out how to safely and easily transport their mobility vehicle.
Often times, portable models are available, but most portable electric wheelchairs are lacking in features and functionality, in an effort to reduce weight. As a result, even though portable power chairs are often much easier to transport, they commonly lack the range, speed, and comfort that is offered by a full sized power chair. Fortunately, vehicle wheelchair lifts provide a easy and reliable way to transport most electric wheelchairs.
Hitch Mounted Wheelchair Lifts
The Hitch Mounted Wheelchair Lift is the easiest type of wheelchair lift to install or remove. All it requires is a square hitch installed on the vehicle. Most vehicle wheelchair lifts require at least a Class II hitch and to get the full weight capacity of the lift, a Class III hitch.
To install a hitch mounted wheelchair lift, it is simply slid into the square hitch and secured with a pin. For electrical models without their own battery pack, most can simply be plugged into the vehicles trailer light plug.
There are actually several different types of hitch mounted wheelchair lifts available, but most use an electrical lifting platform, which lowers to the ground and allows the wheelchair to be driven onto. The platform is then raised and the power chair secured. Some include an automatic lockdown arm, which holds the wheelchair in place as the wheelchair lift rises. Other require that the user strap down the power chair.
There are also tilting models available that use no power at all, which are popular for lighter electric wheelchairs.
The major advantage of a hitch mounted wheelchair lift is that it can be installed in only a few minutes without any modification to the vehicle. Subsequently, it can be removed just as easily.
Crane Wheelchair Lifts
Crane Wheelchair Lifts operate similar to a crane on a construction site. A harness is attached to the wheelchair, which is then hoisted off of the ground and moved into the vehicle by the crane lift. Often, crane lifts are installed into the trunk of a car or other area with minimal space. In these cases, the seat of the wheelchair will typically have to be removed before raising the wheelchair off of the ground.
There are also hitch mounted crane lifts available, which are especially popular on trucks, as they can quickly and easily move a wheelchair into the bed of a pickup truck and do not require any permanent installation.
When investing in a crane wheelchair lift, it is a good idea to go with one that has powered rotation. Powered rotation means that the cranes boom can be operated with a remote control, so swinging the wheelchair into the vehicle does not require any more effort than pushing a button.
Internal Wheelchair Lifts
Internal wheelchair lifts are very popular and use an electric platform to extend a platform from the vehicle. The wheelchair is driven onto the platform, which then lifts the wheelchair and stores it inside of the vehicle.
Internal wheelchair lifts are probably most recognized as van lifts, which are installed in the passenger compartment of a van, after a row of seats has been removed. However, they can also be installed into the trunk of an SUV or Van.
One of the major advantages of using an internal wheelchair lift is that the wheelchair is stored inside the vehicle, away from the elements. Of course, this comes at the cost of lost space. For those who drive themselves around, a van wheelchair lift can make transferring into and out of the drive seat much easier though.
Internal wheelchair lifts require a more permanent installation than other types of wheelchair lifts.
Vehicle Mobility Scooter Lifts
For mobility scooter users, vehicle scooter carriers are available that are similar to those described above. In fact, there are a number of universal vehicle wheelchair lifts that can be used with both electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters. However, there are also some that will only work with wheelchairs or scooters. For mobility scooter users, it is important to know how many wheels the mobility scooter has, either three or four, as this is one of the most important factors when determining if a wheelchair lift will work with a mobility scooter.
Mobility Scooters Explained
August 17th, 2009
For the elderly, it is common for diseases like arthritis to make it very difficult to walk for extended periods of time. This can have a very big impact on the seniors life, as they are no longer able to spend as much time with family or even walking around a store. Many seniors will use rolling walkers, which are called rollators, or canes, but even when using this type of mobility aid, it still requires a great deal of effort to walk. For more extended use, a mobility scooter often provides a much more practical walking aid for seniors.
Mobility Scooter Basics
Mobility scooters are similar in function to electric wheelchairs, but they are designed quite differently and usually cost a good deal less as well. For example, typically a low end power chair costs as much as a high end mobility scooter, so for seniors who have difficulty walking, a mobility scooter is often the best choice.
The mobility scooter provides a platform with three or four wheels, upon which a chair is placed. The chair is positioned more towards the back of the electric scooter and a set of handlebars extends from the front. The handlebars, called a tiller, not only controls the mobility scooter, but also usually operates its running lights, contains a throttle to control speed, and a battery charge indicator. It is also not uncommon to place a basket on the tiller to hold groceries or other goods.
Three Wheel Scooters vs Four Wheel Scooters
The number of wheels that the scooter has, three or four, is an important consideration, as this relates to both maneuverability and stability. A three wheeled scooter will have better maneuverability at the cost of stability. A four wheel scooter, on the other hand, has better stability as the weight of the user is more evenly distributed. However, this improved stability comes at the cost of a decrease in maneuverability.
As a result, a three wheel scooter is a great choice for indoors and occupants with lower weights. For a higher weight capacity adult scooter or one that will be used a great deal outdoors, it is better to go with a four wheel scooter.
The Three Basic Types of Mobility Scooters
There are three basic types of mobility scooters, travel scooters, heavy duty scooters, and standard scooters.
Travel scooters are designed to be lightweight and taken apart easily. The individual pieces typically do not weigh more than thirty pounds and so it is not necessary to use a vehicle scooter carrier to transport a travel scooter. They are also easily transported on planes.
To reduce weight, most extra features are cut, including lighting systems, lower weight capacity, the type of seat used, and extra body panels to protect against low impact collisions, such as running into the leg of a table. Most travel scooters are also usually three wheel scooters, as this is also lighter. They also have a significantly lower per charge range and top speed.
Heavy Duty Scooters are almost the exact opposite of a travel scooter and are designed for off road use. They have a very high weight capacity and many extra features. This includes larger tires, improved suspension, upgraded body panels, reinforced bumpers, complete lighting systems, higher ground clearance, and an upgraded captain’s chair. Heavy duty scooters also have a very large per charge range and top speed.
Of course, due to the size of a heavy duty scooter, it is almost always necessary to invest in a vehicle scooter carrier to transport the device and they are not always as well suited for the tight quarters of a living room.
Standard scooters form the middle ground, offering improved functionality, features, range, and speed when compared to travel scooters, but less so when compared to heavy duty scooters. Typically, transporting a standard scooter also requires a vehicle scooter carrier.
Vehicle Wheelchair Lifts
August 15th, 2009
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are very important mobility vehicles used by millions all over the World. Since many people do not only stay at home, it is typically necessary to find a means of transporting these types of mobility vehicles in your car or truck.
One option is to simply place the mobility vehicle in the trunk or back seat of the automobile. This is of course not possible with large electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, but it is often a choice when dealing with manual wheelchairs, travel wheelchairs, and travel scooters. However, in the case of the latter two, many features have been removed to make these devices lightweight and easy to disassemble, so for everyday use, a travel scooter and portable wheelchair is often not preferable.
Wheelchair Lifts
Using a wheelchair lift, on the other hand, allows the mobility vehicle to be transported in a car, truck, SUV, or van without having to disassemble the wheelchair or scooter. There are different types of wheelchair lifts available for the three basic types of mobility vehicles; mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, and manual wheelchairs, but they operate similarly.
One of the most common types of vehicle wheelchair lifts available is the hitch mounted wheelchair lift. These are popular because they can be slid into a standard square hitch and installed with little or no actual modification to the vehicle. The Class of the hitch, either Class I, II, or III, is important though, as this is a factor that affects how much weight the wheelchair lift can support.
Usually a hitch mounted wheelchair lift will provide an electronically powered lifting platform that the wheelchair can be driven onto and then automatically raised. Often, as an accessory a swing away arm is available, that allows the wheelchair platform to be swung away so the trunk area of the automobile can be accessed. There are also un-powered models available, which are popular for manual wheelchairs, that use a tilting system.
Another type of vehicle wheelchair lift, which is very popular in cars, is the crane wheelchair lift. Crane lifts can be installed in the trunk of a car and swivel away from the vehicle. A harness is attached to the wheelchair, which is subsequently raised and moved into the trunk.
One thing to consider when using a crane lift is whether or not it has powered rotation. Powered rotation means that instead of having to push the cranes arm and wheelchair into and away from the trunk, you can simply push a button and it will swivel electronically.
Usually crane lifts require that the seat of the wheelchair be removed to save space if it is being used in the trunk of a passenger car. There are also hitch mounted crane lifts available, which are popular for use with trunks or extremely limited trunk space.
The other type of vehicle wheelchair lift is the internal platform lift. These are installed inside of a vehicle, often in place of a row of seats in a van or in the back of an SUV. The platform extends from the vehicle, allowing the wheelchair to be driven onto the platform, which then retracts storing the wheelchair inside of the vehicle. These wheelchair lifts are popular because the store the wheelchair safely inside the vehicle, however they require a more permanent installation and can take up a great deal of internal vehicle space.
Choosing the Right Electric Power Wheelchair
August 14th, 2009
For wheelchair users, the choice between an electric wheelchair and a manual wheelchair often revolves around the physical abilities of the wheelchair user. However, there are a number of other considerations, including personal preference, budget, and the place the wheelchair will be used.
For those that have decided to invest in an electric wheelchair, selecting the right power chair is very important, so it is important to understand some of their features and some of the different types of electric wheelchairs.
Rear-Wheel Drive Power Chairs vs Mid-Wheel Drive Power Chairs
There are several ways to categorize electric wheelchairs, but the drive system is one of the most important considerations. Power chairs are either driven by a mid-wheel drive system or a rear-wheel drive system. Understanding the difference between the two is important, because they both offer advantages and disadvantages.
A rear-wheel drive power chair, as the name implies is driven by the rear wheels. Rear-wheel drive power chairs typically have only two sets of wheels, one in the front and one in the back, with the back wheels being responsible for moving the wheelchair. They may also have anti-tip casters, but as far as actual weight bearing wheels, there are usually only four. Since the weight of the wheelchair user is spread out evenly amongst the four wheels, the rear wheel drive system provides a very stable platform. This makes it a better choice for outdoor use or higher weight capacities.
A mid-wheel drive power chair, on the other hand, has three sets of wheels and is driven by the middle set of wheels. This main advantage of a mid-wheel drive power chair is that it is very maneuverable, which results in a smaller turning radius than rear wheel drive system. However, the weight distribution is not as even on a mid wheel drive system, as the middle set of wheels supports the most weight. This makes them not quite as stable as a rear wheel drive system, but an excellent choice for indoor use, because mid-wheel drive wheelchairs are so very maneuverable.
Portable Power Chairs vs Standard Power Chairs
Deciding whether to go with a portable power chair or a standard power chair is also an important consideration and depends a great deal on the needs of the user and where the electric wheelchair will be used.
Portable power chairs, which are also sometimes called travel power chairs, are designed so that they can be taken apart into several easy to manage pieces. These individual pieces are light enough that they can usually be lifted by most people, so that the wheelchair can be transported without using a vehicle wheelchair lift. However, it is important to note that even though portable power chairs are designed to be as light as possible, the heaviest piece is usually around fifty pounds, so some might still find this too heavy to lift.
In order to reduce weight, portable power chairs have reduced features, such as smaller seats, and also typically have a slightly lower top speed, range, and weight capacity.
Standard Power Chairs, on the other hand, weigh a great deal more than portable power chairs and typically require a vehicle wheelchair lift to transport. Standard power chairs can typically still be easily disassembled, but the individual pieces are typically heavier than those of a portable power chair, with the heaviest piece usually weighing around ninety pounds.
While standard power chairs are not as easily transported without a vehicle wheelchair lift, they are typically more comfortable and include more features. Standard power chairs usually have a more comfortable chair, a higher per-charge range, higher top speed, and a greater weight capacity than travel power chairs.