The power chair is also known as an electric wheelchair or an electric-powered wheelchair. It is a form of wheelchair that is propelled by electric power instead of manual means. The power is normally provided by an electric motor and a battery attached to the wheel. It is especially useful for those who are unable to propel their own wheelchair and for covering ground that can be very fatiguing for manual propulsion.
This kind of chair was invented by George Klein who worked in assisting disabled veterans of World War II. There are several ways of categorizing power chairs. One can categorize them by the drive system, battery, the controller, the seat, and the use intended for it.
There are many features that you can find in the modern day power chair. That is why it is important to be aware about the different features that you will find and to determine which are the important features for your needs. Here are some of the things that you might find useful when shopping for the best power chair for your particular situation:
1. Portable
There are portable power chairs that are available now. These can be folded and can be transported with ease. This kind of power chair is perfect for those who travel frequently. They can be loaded into the back of a car and even taken on airplane flights. The obvious problem with this kind of power chair is that it does not have a lot of power so you can’t go out for a full day and rely on it, and it has very little when it comes to comfort.
2. Comfort
There are so many features when it comes to comfort in power chairs. You can find chairs with leg rests that can be elevated. Some are even equipped with powered seats that can be raised or lowered. For the ultimate in comfort you can find power chairs that are equipped with seats similar to those that you can find in automobiles. Of course, just like cars, the more power and more comfort you desire, the more you will pay.
3. Outdoors
If you want your power chair to have the ability to go off road then you can find a lot of choices from which you can choose. There are electric powered wheelchairs that can go off-road. They are more like all-terrain vehicles that can handle any type of ground. These types of chairs can negotiate the most rugged types of terrain that you can imagine. The great thing about these outdoor powered chairs is that they can go quite fast. They can go as fast as 7 mph and a single battery charge can last for about 15 miles.
4. Capacity
One thing that you need to remember is that no matter what type of powered chair you get, every single one has a maximum load capacity. It is a good idea to leave some wiggle room for the maximum capacity that it has just to be sure that it can handle your weight. So if a power chair is rated at a carrying capacity of 250 lbs, then I’d like to make sure I don’t weigh more than about 225 lbs.
Remember that you don’t need all the features that are available in all of the best power chairs. You just need to determine your needs and go with the features that most match your situation. If you buy an indoor chair and then decide later on that you are going to need something for outdoor use then that could cause a problem. These power chairs are not inexpensive, costing anywhere from around $1,500 to over $5,000, so take your time before buying the one you need.