If you are struggling to get around these day, then you may well have been considering a battery mobility scooter. These very modern solutions to an age old problem, are generally designed with a seat mounted over the rear wheels. They have a flat platform for your feet, bags etc, and handlebars up front. These turn one, or sometimes two wheels. Many designs also have a seat that swivels outward to make getting on and off easier.
They generally have all the controls you will need, mounted on the steering column. These may include a control to toggle between forward and reverse and another to alter the speed. These may be in the form of a switch, a lever, or even motor-sport style paddles! Electric models far outnumber petrol-powered models these days, given the efficiency and economy offered by electric motors. They are also, of course, much kinder on the environment.
Battery mobility scooters are generally rear wheel drive and a charged via connection to an external power supply. When looking at their advantages and disadvantages, they really have to be contrasted against electric wheelchairs.
It should be recognized that their main rival for your hard earned money is a conventional electric wheelchair. It has to be said that their core appeal has to be that they are not actually wheelchairs!
They are great for people that lack the arm and shoulder mobility and strength to use a conventional wheelchair. The swivelling seat arrangement is also a lot easier to use than the movable footrests on a wheelchair. In al, they are particularly suitable for people with systemic illnesses but who are not, yet, at the stage where they require the additional torso support a wheelchair offers.
The main disadvantage is closely linked to this last point. The do still need a reasonable amount of stamina and flexibility fro their users. They are also, physically, much larger than standard wheelchairs and suffer from all the hindrances that this entails.
They generally have all the controls you will need, mounted on the steering column. These may include a control to toggle between forward and reverse and another to alter the speed. These may be in the form of a switch, a lever, or even motor-sport style paddles! Electric models far outnumber petrol-powered models these days, given the efficiency and economy offered by electric motors. They are also, of course, much kinder on the environment.
Battery mobility scooters are generally rear wheel drive and a charged via connection to an external power supply. When looking at their advantages and disadvantages, they really have to be contrasted against electric wheelchairs.
It should be recognized that their main rival for your hard earned money is a conventional electric wheelchair. It has to be said that their core appeal has to be that they are not actually wheelchairs!
They are great for people that lack the arm and shoulder mobility and strength to use a conventional wheelchair. The swivelling seat arrangement is also a lot easier to use than the movable footrests on a wheelchair. In al, they are particularly suitable for people with systemic illnesses but who are not, yet, at the stage where they require the additional torso support a wheelchair offers.
The main disadvantage is closely linked to this last point. The do still need a reasonable amount of stamina and flexibility fro their users. They are also, physically, much larger than standard wheelchairs and suffer from all the hindrances that this entails.
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