BEST ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR COLLECTION FOR YOU
Each power wheelchair has a base which is fitted with four or more wheels. Power wheelchairs usually have two large drive wheels and two or four smaller wheels called castors for added stability. The drive wheels can be located at the front, middle or rear of the power wheelchair base.
- Types
Front-wheel motorized wheelchair
Mid-wheel drive motorized wheelchair
- Cost
- Weight
- Width
- Portability
- Controls
In addition to joysticks, a growing number of alternative controls have recently emerged, including switches, touchpads, mouse controls, flick joysticks, and sip and puff controls.
- Airline approved
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), passengers can carry one lithium-ion battery (up to 300 watt-hours) or two lithium-ion batteries (up to 160 watt-hours) in their carry-on luggage. Most high-quality electric wheelchairs are designed with these restrictions in mind; they either fall within these restrictions or offer airline-approved options.
- The best brands:
Quickie motorized wheelchair
Quantum motorized wheelchair
Zoomer motorized wheelchair
Zinger motorized wheelchair
Hoveround motorized wheelchair
Jazzy motorized wheelchair
Invacare Pronto motorized wheelchair
eWheels motorized wheelchair
Pride Mobility motorized wheelchair
Merits Health motorized wheelchair
Air hawk motorized wheelchair
Shoprider motorized wheelchair
Kd smart motorized wheelchair
Eficentline motorized wheelchair
Eagle HD motorized wheelchair
1. Sit on the electric wheelchair and adjust the cushions on the head, back, arms and feet.
2. If the electric wheelchair is key-powered, insert the key into the slot and turn to switch on the power.
3. Press the power button, disable all brakes, and set the speed to low when used to it.
4. Move the joystick forwards, backward, left, and right to get a feel for how it moves.
5. You can gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable using it.
6. Release the joystick when you want to come to a stop.
7. Press the power button, turn the key opposite, and remove it from the slot.
8. Apply the brake, leave the electric wheelchair and lift yourself up using the armrests of the chair.
However, the average price of an electric wheelchair for the average user can be expected to be in the region of US$2,000 to US$3,000.
Given the above, if you are looking for a mid-range electric wheelchair, we would suggest a budget of around US$4,000 after considering the chair itself, accessories, modifications, and any additional batteries you may need.
However, if you consider a standing electric wheelchair, you will need to be prepared for a significantly higher price.
Some electric wheelchairs can travel for around 8 to 10 miles on a full charge, while more expensive models can travel up to 20 miles on a single charge. You will find that the specification sheet for each electric wheelchair model will give you all the relevant information.
Remember that failing to charge your chair correctly, or continuing to use batteries that are already in optimum condition, will affect the performance of your electric wheelchair.
If you want your electric wheelchair batteries to perform well, you must carefully and regularly maintain them. This means charging them correctly and at the right time.
To charge the batteries of your electric wheelchair using the off-board charger.
Place your powerchair next to a standard power outlet.
Ensure that the controller is powered off and the power chair is in drive mode.
Plug the off-board charger into the off-board charger/programming socket on the controller.
Plug the external charger into the mains socket.
Once the battery is fully charged, unplug the external charger from the power socket and then from the controller.
The LEDs indicate different charger conditions, including:
Charger is powered on
Charging
Charging complete
If the LED does not indicate that charging is complete within 24 hours, unplug the charger from the socket.
The frequency with which you use your powerchair determines how often you charge the batteries. If you use your powerchair daily, please charge the batteries immediately after using the powerchair that day.
We recommend that you charge the batteries of your powerchair for at least 8 to 14 hours after daily use. If you use your powerchair infrequently, we recommend charging the batteries for 8 to 14 hours twice a week for a maintenance charge. We do not recommend charging your powerchair for more than 14 hours.
- Factors to consider
- The expertise of the repair technician
- The price of replacement parts
- Geographic location
- Time required
- Costs to consider
The cost of parts varies depending on the model of the wheelchair. Parts for older wheelchairs may be cheaper.
- Cost of labor
In addition to the cost of replacement parts, repair companies charge a fee for repair labor. The average price is between $125 and $200 per hour.