All types of power chairs can be configured to suit the needs of the user in almost any aspect in terms of seats, backs, headrests, controls, and accessories. There are also types that can accommodate a wide range of budgets with some starting as low as £1100. Many of the power chairs on the cheaper side tend to be kits that can be retrofitted to a manual chair, thereby maintaining some portability, yet not being as capable as a dedicated power chair. Higher-end chairs are constructed of extremely strong materials and may be equipped with full suspension systems and, in some cases, systems that can control electronics such as lights, powered doors, etc. Insurance companies can offset some or all of the costs as long as the chair can be used and maintained for a longer period of time (about 3-5 years) when compared to a manual chair. Insurance companies may also cover the maintenance costs of the power chair as well when it comes time to change wear-and-tear items such as batteries and tires. We can help you find the one best suited for your needs. The next section will focus on the advantages of the three basic power chair configurations. Power chairs can typically be placed into three categories based on the drive configuration: rear-wheel-drive (RWD), front-wheel-drive (FWD), and mid-wheel-drive (MWD). More commonly used in the UK is the rear-wheel-drive while in the USA they used more of the mid-wheel-drive.
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) chairs used to be the ‘typical’ configuration for power chairs, with the powered wheels in the back and the casters up front. With this chair being set up in a similar fashion to a manual chair, this type of chair provides a very similar feeling for the user, with the exception that no one is pushing them. Because of this, it should be pretty easy for the user to transition into this type of chair. Driving this type of chair is similar to that of driving a vehicle. For users who wish to go fast, these types of chairs can be geared for a fairly high speed, while maintaining stability and control. The balance of the chair in an outdoor environment is ideal. The heavy batteries are located between the rear drive wheels providing good balance in nearly any terrain. The disadvantage to a RWD chair is the lack of manoeuvrability compared to the other configurations. The turning radius is wide making negotiating tight spaces more of a challenge then the other types. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, this may be the ideal chair for you.
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) chairs are a fairly rare configuration to find when compared to its counterparts. As it is described, the powered wheels are in the front and the casters are in the back. The primary advantage to a FWD chair is its extreme manoeuvrability. In an indoor environment, FWD chairs can turn in tighter areas when compared to a MWD and RWD chair. The primary disadvantage to a FWD chair is the lack of stability when braking and traveling down inclines. While FWD chairs do have anti-tippers that will prevent the chair from tipping completely forward, the rear of the chair will lift off the ground when braking hard. This can create an uneasy feeling for the user. The same feeling can happen when driving the chair down an incline. To minimise this issue, these chairs tend to be limited to a low speed, which will turn off users who wish to go fast. While a FWD chair makes a great indoor chair, it may not be the optimal choice if one is active outdoors.
Mid-Wheel Drive (MWD) chairs came about as a compromise between FWD and RWD chairs. The idea of the MWD chair is to try and get the manoeuvrability of a FWD chair with the stability of a RWD chair. It is because of this combination of abilities that this configuration is steadily becoming popular amongst power chair users. Out of the three configurations, the MWD is the most stable in any environment. Manoeuvrability is great with the turning radius being essentially zero since it can turn on its own axis. While it is much more agile indoors compared to a RWD chair, it is just as capable as a FWD chair in all but the tightest situations. As for performance, these types of chairs are just as quick as RWD chairs, except at its absolute limit. As many people are realizing, this configuration is ideal in almost any environment.
