| Electric wheelchairs are either rear or front wheel | | | | used. As such, public transports like buses, trains and |
| driven. Some of them are center driven or four wheel | | | | airplanes specifically provide electric wheelchair |
| driven. These powerchairs come in many varieties like | | | | carriers. Buses with low boarding platforms that can |
| small portable models, foldable models, and models that | | | | literally lift wheelchairs into the buses have also been |
| can be dis-assembled. Large, full-featured electric | | | | designed to serve such people. Such platforms are |
| wheelchairs that are called rehab chairs are also | | | | electrically or hydraulically operated. Nowadays, in the |
| available. Powerchairs are designed for persons who | | | | United States, sales and service facilities for electric |
| have arm and leg disablement. Such people would find | | | | wheelchairs are quite widespread. You do not have to |
| the operations of hand propelled wheelchairs quite | | | | go too far to buy an electric wheelchair of your choice. |
| difficult. Electric wheelchairs are fitted with electric | | | | As these powerchairs are made-to-order types, |
| motors that are powered by 4 to 5 ampere | | | | deliveries take some time but are normally very |
| rechargeable batteries. These motors are outboard | | | | reliable. Electric wheelchair parts repair has also |
| boat engine types. The batteries come in dry or wet | | | | become quite easy, reliable and economical due to the |
| types. Dry type batteries are the most preferred ones | | | | healthy competition between the various electric |
| due to ease of operation and maintenance. Electric | | | | wheelchair manufacturers. Operation of an electric |
| wheelchairs are also fitted with battery chargers so | | | | wheelchair by patients or disabled persons carries a |
| that plugging into standard wall outlets is easy. | | | | certain amount of risk. Accidents could not be avoided |
| Operating either a joystick or a controller usually | | | | at one time or another. Such accidents could be minor |
| controls electric wheelchairs. Hand controllers, chin | | | | or major. Hence, insurance companies provide both |
| controllers, puff/sack controllers are specifically | | | | accident/life insurance policies, as well as medicare |
| designed for persons with varying degrees of | | | | policies to cover such risks. It is always advisable to |
| operational difficulty. The controller is the most | | | | take suitable insurance policies for physical and |
| expensive part of powerchairs and is quite delicate. | | | | financial protection. Electric wheelchairs and medicare |
| Electric wheelchairs come with several optional | | | | go hand-in-hand for persons confined to wheelchairs. |
| functions like tilting, reclining seat and leg elevators, etc. | | | | Electric power scooters, or mobility scooters as they |
| to facilitate healthy and functional operations. Electric | | | | are called, are normally fitted with two rear wheels, a |
| wheelchairs for kids are generally those used by | | | | seat with a flat area to place the feet and a handlebar |
| mentally disabled children or children affected by polio. | | | | in the front to operate one or two steerable front |
| These wheelchairs are custom made to suit the age | | | | wheels. Swiveling seats are also available. Electric |
| of the child as well as the usage like indoors or | | | | power scooters are invariably electric powered by |
| outdoors or both. Polio affected kids and paraplegics | | | | rechargeable batteries that could be charged from |
| were using hand supports till a few decades ago. Such | | | | standard electric outlets. Certain models of mobile |
| hand supports normally resulted in severe body strain | | | | scooters are gasoline-powered. Such electric power |
| to the kids. The advent of electric wheelchair for kids | | | | scooters have been most welcome for persons |
| has greatly relieved such kids of their suffering. Travel | | | | confined to wheelchairs. They find such scooters |
| had been on the rise and persons using wheelchairs | | | | handy for commuting to schools and colleges as well |
| are no exception. Traveling on vacation, travel for | | | | as to workplaces and shopping. Electric power |
| education, employment or participation in sports meets | | | | scooters are normally cheaper than powerchairs. |
| and general commuting for shopping, etc. have | | | | Insurance companies and healthcare agencies like |
| become indispensable for persons using electric | | | | Medicare prefer to insure or extend medicare facilities |
| wheelchairs. Portable and foldable models of | | | | for people using such scooters. |
| wheelchairs require storage space, when not being | | | | |