Anyone around who uses an electric wheelchair

[ManyNameChanges]

And would be happy to share their knowledge/experience with me?
(In chat as I’m hoping it will be more visible)

I need to get an electric wheelchair. I’m currently using a manual one but DH has to push me (I can’t move it myself) so I’m still feeling very stuck at home.

BUT, as I am starting to look at powered chairs, I’m feeling really overwhelmed and I dint seem to get a feel of what would be best.
In many ways, I feel like there is no wheelchair that can do all the things I’m hoping to do with it…..

So if you have any word of wisdom, things you have learnt are actually important, or even recommendations, I really welcome them.

At the moment, I’m looking at folding chairs so they can go in the boot if the car. Lithium battery so I can take the plane and go to see my parents in Europe. On the light side but I’d love one that could also handle a rougher terrain so I can have a ‘stroll’ in NT places.

@BasilParsley That looks really interesting, though I am slightly worried about the weight. My hoist does take up to 40kg however, its more for when I need to get it in and out of taxis, up kerbs etc. Do you find it heavy/awkward to lift?

This is my issue. I have a rare fluctuating neurological condition so some days I can walk and other days I can barely lift my head. People have really battles trying to get PIP and I just cant face that. I'm able to work thankfully as my job is sedentary but I feel so housebound for long stretches
I can't use a manual chair as my arms are actually worse than my legs

I think one of the really big differentiating factors is whether you have a car.

If there is one car which you will regularly drive or be driven in, then you can fit a hoist and have a heavier wheelchair.

If like me you don't have a car, and you're reliant on lifts and taxis and the chair being hefted into the boot by today's lucky driver, then the lighter chair becomes more important.

My most frequent visitors are elderly: there was a lot of discussion about how much we could lift between us!

@WhatIsFairForAll I am fortunate that I have some mobility still so I can fold the wheelchair up (v. easily) without me in it. I don't do the lifting. I attach the 'lifting bar' then use an electronic remote control type of thing that lifts it up so I can then swing the bar into the boot of the car and lower the chair into the boot electronically . The hoist I have installed will take a weight up to 40kg so all is good as the chair itself weighs less than that. It's this one... basnw.co.uk/product/brig-ayd-40kg-folding-hoist/

It's this one

pride-mobility.co.uk/powerchairs/igo-fold/

Does cobbles pretty well, although I wouldn't particularly choose them in any chair! Can do bumpy grassland and dirt paths, but can't do long grass, and sinks into thick gravel.

Problem with NHS wheelchair services is that they'd only give me a manual, if I was lucky. I don't use it inside the house so by their calculations I'm fine. I can't walk far enough to get to my nearest shop though, so if I didn't buy a chair I'd be totally isolated and reliant on other people to do everything for me. I can't push a manual myself, so I'd still need someone else to help, and anyway I hate being pushed.

Actually I've just double checked the information for the wheelchair services (I'm in Wales) and according to that, the range of possible chairs issued doesn't include folding powerchairs. So no good for so many people, would need an adapted vehicle etc.

I’ve been wheelchair user all my life, for the last 18 years, I’ve used a powerchair at least part of the time.

My first powerchair was a lighter one (although not as light as some of the ones you can get now). It was a real work horse and I rarely had issues. But it had no real suspension so a whole day in it was tricky. It was also still quite heavy so even though family talked about getting it in their cars it never really happened.

Things to think about/remember:
You’ll never get the “maximum miles per charge” thats based on new batteries, flat terrain, low weight in the chair. When in reality hills and cobbles and kerbs exist and we all end up loading the chair down with bags of shopping and the like.
It’s really worth speaking to a mobility supplier who really knows powerchairs rather than mostly selling scooters.
Try to get them to bring one to you to trial and take it for a walk around your area - can it handle the ramp from the car park or the slightly dodgy dropped kerb? My current one I had two trials of.
A good wheelchair cushion can be expensive but makes a huge amount of difference to how much you can use a chair.

My sister has this one

www.quingoscooters.com/product/connect/

easy to fold, battery comes out easily, get it in the boot of the car ok

Just bumping this excellent thread!

In the end, I got this one

Very pleased with it too.