Electric wheelchair - written by Joe Golz

Wheelchairs mean so much to those with restricted mobility. Thanks to wheelchairs those with limited movement can become more mobile and recover their independence. There are two main types of wheelchairs and these are the manual wheelchair and the electric wheelchair.

Manual Wheelchair
The manual wheelchair has been in use for decades and has gone through many changes. The constant feature has been that the chair is self moved by pushing on the hand edges that surround the wheels. The user in effect pushes the wheels around and around to get from a place to place. Further more, the footrests to a manual wheelchair can be removed and the owner can walk the chair forward with his feet.

Electric Wheelchair
Electric wheelchairs are of course motorized by batteries. These wheelchairs are larger, heavier and sturdier because they have to be able to hold the additional weight of the motor and the battery. Electric wheelchairs also vary in their sophistication. Some are straightforward and use normal batteries and joy stick controllers. Others use microprocessors and robotic circuitry which make possible the wheelchair to lift itself on to wheels so it can go up stairs. The level of sophistication is shown in the price of an electric wheelchair. The prices can vary from $2000 all the way up to $30,000.

The most advanced electric wheelchair today is the iBOT. The iBOT is so technically advanced that it can climb up stairs, slide across gravel and even raise so the owner can reach high shelves. The iBOT can even self adjust its stabilization to balance for use on four wheels and two wheels.
A special software package called iBALANCE is getting information via various sensors and gyroscopes, allowing the iBOT to maintain stability during certain maneuvers. For example during curb climbing the seat stays level while sections of the frame tilt to climb the curb.
Most people will not be able to obtain such a costly wheelchair as the iBOT. The typical cost for an electric wheelchair today is around $7000. This is for a wheelchair from a well respected brand and licensed dealer. It is not recommended to buy a old electric wheelchair because you can never know if they have been broken or have worn out motors and batteries. Instead, purchase your chair from a licensed dealer so it comes with full coverage for servicing.

Electric wheelchairs use diverse types of drive systems. One technique is the rear wheel drive wheelchair. This is the most common. This kind of wheelchair has good speed but turns can be difficult. Another type is the mid wheel drive wheelchair. These are easier to turn and they are fairly efficient , but they can be unsteady with sudden stops and starts. They are not as speedy as the rear wheel drive wheelchairs.

While choosing an electric wheelchair, take time off and evaluate abilities and cost. Ask for extra information from wheelchair sellers so you can make a correct decision.