How Folding Electric Wheelchair Foldability Reduces Transportation Effort

The carrying of the old-fashioned rigid electric wheelchair is a work out. A 35-45 kg chair must be lifted into a trunk with the help of a dedicated vehicle lift, a spacious van, or the efforts of two people. This effort usually restricts where and when users can go to because they rely on their family members or taxis. An electric wheelchair will make a difference. At Ningbo Baichen Medical Devices Co., Ltd. we produce aluminum, carbon fiber, magnesium and steel folding power wheelchairs. Four methods that foldability decreases transportation effort are listed below.

One-Person Lifting Without Strain

The most immediate reduction in effort comes from weight and folding design combined. Our carbon fiber folding power wheelchair weighs as little as 15-18 kg, light enough for most users or caregivers to lift with one arm. The aluminum model (20-25 kg) is also manageable for a single adult. But weight alone is not enough. Weight is not sufficient. Even a hard 15 kg chair is cumbersome to fit in a trunk. Our folding design folds the frame in a lateral position forming a small, balanced package that is easy to handle and pick. The user just folds the chair, bends his or her knees and up no second party is needed.

No Special Vehicle or Lift Needed

Rigid electric wheelchairs can also compel the family to purchase a wheelchair accessible van or install a powered lift in their existing car, which costs them $10,000-$30,000. A fold up electric wheelchair will do away with this requirement. Our folding power wheelchairs will be small enough to fit in regular car trunks, back seat and even some small hatchbacks. As an illustration, our carbon fiber model can fold down to a very small size 30-40 cm in width sliding easily behind the front seats or standing upright in a corner of the trunk. This implies that you can ride any family car, taxi or ride share without prior planning. The transportation effort shifts from “Can we take the accessible van?” to “Which car is closest?”

Easy Multi-Modal Travel on Buses and Trains

Another transportation burden is the public transit. The space available in buses to wheelchairs is limited and aisles in trains may be very narrow. A rigid chair means that you have to locate an available space, position yourself and hope that no one stands on the way out. A fold-up electric wheelchair will allow you to overcome these limitations. Before boarding, fold the chair, it is best to fold down and then carry it to a bus or a train as luggage and then keep it next to your seat or in a luggage rack. For commuters who combine driving and train travel, the folding chair actually enables a seamless transition, drive to the station, fold the chair, walk (or roll it folded on its wheels) to the platform, board any train car, and unfold at your destination. No more waiting for the single accessible spot on each bus.

Quick Loading and Unloading in All Weather

Transportation effort does not only entail strength, but also time and exposure. Being in rain, snow, extreme heat and having difficulty with loading a wheelchair is a miserable and unsafe experience. Our electric wheel chairs can be folded within less than 15 seconds. The user folds the chair, picks it up in the trunk and enters the car, without being soaked or overheated. To caregivers who assist several times a day (visiting the doctor, therapy, socializing), this time savings accumulates to hours per week. The reduced effort needed to make a trip implies that the user is having an increased number of trips which, in turn, directly enhances the quality of his or her life.

Summary

Folding electric wheelchairs are lightweight, do not require special vehicles, enable easy multi-modal transport and can be loaded easily in any weather. We produce carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium and steel folding power wheelchairs at our 20,000 m2 plant at Ningbo Baichen Medical Devices Co., Ltd. With 60 frame processing machines and 4 assembly lines, we deliver mobility that fits your life. Contact us today to experience effortless transportation.