A new era in pushchair design, have your say.

[danbeck]

I am a final year mechanical engineering student who has been given the task of designing a new, user friendly, electrically powered pushchair. If you have any ideas, particular requirements that are not being currently met by your pushchair or any other points of interest please contact me.

[email protected]

Regards Daniel

I've posted on your other thread, but here goes again!

I would like a device - ultra lightweight, obviously! - to convert umbrella-fold handles to one handlebar, IYSWIM. Like the Maclaren Techno handles point slightly towards each other, so there would be a curved bar which swung up from one handle arm and attached to the other, so that you could push one-handed for example.

Oh, and how about an 'umbrella' so that the buggy-pusher doesn't get soaked!

have just returned from bvi with my buggy that lasted for five flights and a weeks holiday ( beaches, boats and walking!) but American Airlines bust it on final get off! Following the thread : mine's an inglesina zippy with a one handed mechanism that just about works if you are not too stressed. Has a couple of deisgn faults - the built in rain cover doesn't completely cover the car seat /carrier bit that attaches on to it - couple of extra inches of fabric needed! hasn't got anywhere to put loose change,bus tickets and keys. but is easy to carry once folded and in a small flat the fact that it stays upright ( most of the time) when folded is very useful. small shopping basket on it is a bit annoying and has several "bits" that can detach easily and get lost easily ( see first sentence!) by the way - did you knoiw that ailines consider a buggy to be fragile even if you have it inthe cabin and thet won't accept responisbilty ifit gets damaged ....nor did our travel insurance cover it ( don't you just love small print!) water pistol a bonus and could act as a silent horn? !

Yes, I like the umbrella concept - how many times have I seen totally protected baby and soaked to the bone mummy?! No offense Dan, but I don't think I would want an electrically powered one, I don't find pushing it a problem as long as it is a pram that is well designed re: bulk of weight over main centre of gravity. Standing up while folded would be helpful (esp if you take buses). I think that it is tricky about the weight of the chassis - I feel my lightweight one is too flimsy. A couple of plastic lined pockets easily accessible to the pusher would be great - to hold all those banana skins, half eaten apples, leaves, grubby toys etc that inhabit my pockets. Good luck!

I like the idea of an electrically powered pushchair - especially when going up hill as its usually now my toddler insists on standing on the buggy board. I want a pushchair that's light, easy to fold, but sturdy with a built in toddler seat that folds out the way, decent shopping basket. I also hang bags on the handles of the buggy so don't want it to tip and really, really like the idea of an umbrella to keep dry. How long will the battery last, how heavy will it be and how long will it take to charge up?

I wonder whether it's possible to have a 'battery' that charges as you go downhill, and boosts the buggy as you go uphill. I think that's the only motor power that I'd want - I need the exercise!

i need a light frame and easy to push pushchair which has a bumper bar and padded seat for comfort and cup holders for baby and one for me one handled so i can hold an umbrella in the rain and push the pushchair and i have a bad back so must have easy fold i live in the malverns so ease of pushing uphill and good breaks essential and a large shopping basket for all the kids school stuff to be dumped in lol

I don't know that I would need an electric buggy, but in Germany lots of older people have electric bikes. They call it a "Hilfmotor" a helping motor, it just gives you a wee push. I think that it charges itself. The motor itself is not big.

I agree with easily collapsible, one handed. Decent intergrated raincover so that you don't have to fiddle with a cover.

Changeable wheels is a great idea. As is a foldable toddler seat.

I NEED an electric buggy with a buggy board be me to ride on.

ha, warmfuzzy, that's exactly what I was going to say except I was going for a fold-out seat for me to sit on and enjoy the ride...

although i would probably be better off getting the exercise

I keep meaning to try and fit one of those bicycle lights that charges up and then runs from it's own charged battery - in the winter I have to do a fair bit of walking in the dark. But then I remember the hash I once made of fitting such a thing to the contraption it was designed for...

And I've never found a raincover I don't find irritating. Effective, maybe, but irritating. I know that's not very helpful...

• rear-facing option
• lightweight
• love the changeable wheels idea
• easy fold and small when folded
• 2 handles with optional attachable bar to make into single bar handle (I thought about this a few years ago and now see that the new Loola has it - should have patented!)