Platform Lift

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New Scooters

Electric mobility scooters, power chairs, disability scooters. These are all terms for exactly the same device which is gaining increased popularity and providing mobility for seniors and the handicapped at a fantastic rate.  Most seniors that are hunting for one of these scooters may wish to know if they are covered by their insurance plan or medicare.  For many cases the patient does not qualify for coverage even though an electric mobility scooter mayprovide them with freedom and a higher quality of life.

Fortunately whether or not medicare or a private insurance policy does not cover the cost of electric mobility scooters because they are not medically necessary, you may still be able to afford one, as the prices have dropped significantly lately. If you are in need of a very affordable electric scooter then you may even consider purchasing a used motor scooter Depending on your need outside of budget, the most popular kinds of electric scooters are the 3 wheel, 4 wheel, travel, and heavy duty styles.

The 3 wheel mobility scooters have a tighter turn radius and allow greater mobility in the house. They are also capable of higher speeds and long battery life, and they are created for use on relatively smooth terrain. They are ideal for short trips to the market or driving around in a neighborhood.   The 4 wheel scooters make the perfect choice for longer outside use, as they tend to have larger tires and much longer battery life. The 4 wheels provide much greater stability. Most 3 and 4 wheel electric mobility scooters demand a scooter lift in order to be transferred in a vehicle.

Travel scooters are generally three wheel scooters that disassemble into 3 or 4 manageable pieces that can effortlessly be transported in the trunk of a automobile. They generally have compressed and lightweight frames that give a lot more mobility in tighter spaces. Heavy duty scooters were created for patients who have become disabled by morbid obesity. These scooters have sturdy frames, well designed suspensions, anti-tips, and broader seats, so they can support weight over 350 lbs.

Advances in personal mobility products including scooters and electric wheelchairs have returned convenience, freedom, and independence to many seniors suffering from limited mobility. These advances, because there are now so many quality choices, have also necessitated a thorough review of options and needs to ensure that the eventual purchase of the mobility product results in the best solution for each individual. The following is a review of both personal mobility products including descriptions as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Mobility Scooters:

These scooters allow for low cost mobility without the psychological weight of being confined to a wheelchair. Options include a variety of styles, colors, designs and upgrades and cover the full spectrum of uses from shopping to navigating uneven terrain.   These scooters come in three different model types:

* Three wheel – These models typically offer better handling in tight quarters and more leg room than other options.
* Four wheel – Built for a bearing weight of up to 500 pounds, these scooters offer more stability and heavy duty mobility than the three wheel mobility scooters.
* Compact scooters – For situations where storage or transportation options are limited, these scooters fold down to allow for placement in smaller areas whether in the house, car, or van.     
Steering and control of electric mobility scooters is usually done via handlebars much like those seen on bicycles and work best for owners that are not suffering from upper body mobility issues. Top speeds average around 8 miles per hour, with higher power models usable on roads, uneven terrain, and up steep hills. Another advantage of these scooters is that transporting them requires only a simple trailer which can easily be attached to the back of a car or van.
Personal mobility scooters are an extremely cost-effective solution toward re-building an individual’s mobility, freedom and independence. Scooters, ranging in price from $1,000 for a basic model to $5,000 for one that is fully loaded, are much lower in price than electric powered wheelchairs.

Electric wheelchairs:
Advances in electric wheelchairs have all but eliminated the old perception of the “loaner chairs” available at airports, shopping malls and amusement parks and replaced it with a personal mobility option loaded with high tech features and capabilities. These chairs come with four to six wheels, easy maneuverability, and programmable joysticks for ease of navigation.

Built for individuals with greater mobility issues, these electric wheelchairs offer durability, stability, and a wide array of seat movement options including motorized stand, tilt, support, and recline functions which can be tailored to individual needs.
Three major drawbacks of electric wheelchairs are that they don’t fold down, their considerable weight, and their cost. The weight and non-foldable nature of the chairs severely limits their use with standard cars, lifts and light duty trailers. These chairs function much better in customized vans where four point tie-downs make for a much safer and stable ride. Cost-wise, electric power wheelchairs are the most expensive type of personal mobility vehicle with prices for upgraded electric wheelchairs going up to around $15,000.
Determining the right personal mobility product comes down to an assessment of needs.

Mobility scooters are work best for people who:

* Do not have upper body mobility issues
* Are using the scooter for relatively brief periods of time
* Will need to transport the scooter in a car

Electric power wheelchairs are probably best suited for those who:
* Need joystick based navigation due to upper body mobility issues
* Need posture support
* Will be in the chair for extended periods of time

The scooter lift is an invention that enables elderly and handicapped individuals to enjoy further independence. Loss of mobility has made it increasingly difficult for them to move around; the use of mobility scooters has given them a large degree of independence, and a scooter lift helps them to take their independence around with them at home or on vehicles when travelling.

Buying a scooter lift should be looked upon as a long-term investment for these individuals. It is therefore important to appreciate the positive influence that the right scooter lift can have on such people and their families. The selection of an appropriate scooter lift is an essential part in achieving this objective.

For transporting a scooter, the lift can be attached behind a vehicle, a mobile home or a trailer for holding and carrying their mobility scooters with complete ease. This lift has the capacity to raise the scooter and to manoeuvre it into the correct position for the journey. A further advantage is that with a scooter lift, the mobility scooter being transported can be held in place outside the vehicle allowing more interior space for luggage and other accessories.

Scooter lifts are available in various makes and models with a large range of features. They don’t weigh too much but can lift, hold and carry approximately 300 pounds of weight. They are affordable, easy to use and easy to maintain and clean. When not in use, scooter lifts can be disassembled for easy storage. Their dimensions vary according to the model being purchased; platform and jack-type models are available.

Most models offer steel construction, a protective coating finish, twelve volt DC motor with optional battery pack. Easy-to-use controls allow safe, simple and reliable operation. They are designed to provide ease of mobility and accessibility for the difficulties experienced by the disabled and elderly in their daily lives.

Electric wheel chair users do not exert too much strength of arms and torso because they do not apply more physical energy but they use an external power source in order to use an electric wheel chair.

The external power of an electric wheel chair is a battery (a gel cell or a wet cell), which is rechargeable in nature. Before you use your electric wheel chair, make sure the battery is fully charge to avoid later headaches.

Electric wheel chair is heavier than other manual wheel chair because it has a house for battery and other adaptive gadget, which adds weight to a wheel chair.

It’s good to talk to a physical therapist or to another person who have used an electric wheel chair so that you can get some ideas, information and advice that will help you use a wheel chair easily.

Electric wheel chair lift and scooter will help you in taking your electric wheel chair in a car like

wheel chair lift van does for easier transport from place to place. You may also use a wheel chair van if you know how to drive.

You don’t have to worry about your wheel chair because you can bring that in every place. Now you can travel with your electric wheel chair with even farther distances with the help of wheel chair van.

In buying electric wheel chair lift and scooter, consider the following guides:

Look carefully for the model you will buy because some models of electric wheel chair lift and scooter was hitching the back of a car or other motor vehicle.

It’s important to know the model and the measurement of your electric wheel chair lift or scooter which will surely fit to your car.

You must also consider the design and features of your electric wheel chair lift. If the lift has the features you need, which will be very useful to you, make it your first criteria in choosing a lift.

Next will be your budget as your second criteria. Most wheel chair lifts are expensive in nature. Choose the one with good quality but with fair price.

Be wise and careful in buying electric wheel chair lift and scooter. Here are some tips where to buy an electric wheel chair lift and scooter:

– Buy in a store with a good trademark in selling wheel chair lift products.

– A dealer that offers a good and high quality electric wheel chair lift and scooters, is what you should consider

– Another way is to browse the Internet for wheel chair lift manufacturers that sells an electric wheel chair lift and scooter.

I make it a frequent habit to browse forums, blogs, YouTube etc. in search of innovative transportation and technology. It is not until recently that I noticed the plethora of discussions regarding three wheel scooters. Granted, three wheel scooters are not “innovative technology” they have been readily available for decades. Most notably known as “mobility scooters”, these vehicles are normally catered to the handicapped or elder population. However, the three wheel scooter is not necessarily feeble and its goes well beyond its traditional stigma as an “elder” person’s transportation.

While mobility scooters maybe geared towards an older population that does not mean they lack performance by any means. Let us take for example your normal two wheel scooter that your kids ride. The two wheel scooters usually weigh around 35-70 lbs compared to the 3 wheel electric scooters beefy 250 lbs. However, the speeds are nearly identical at 15 mph. That’s right, little Joey’s two wheel scooter is just as fast as his grandparents’ 3 wheel electric scooters.

Not to worry, it gets worse. Mobility scooters offer better stabilization (sit down with three wheels), much more cargo space, longer range, and in most cases an extended warranty. Considering its purpose, the mobility scooters are designed to be as slim as possible in order to squeeze into doorways. There is one more benefit that is often overlooked, versatility. Ride your two wheel scooter in a mall or grocery store and see how long it takes till security catches you. On 3 3 wheel electric scootersno one will look twice. The general population has not only accepted the presence of mobility scooters in buildings but encourage the practice. So you are considering a 3 wheel electric scooters for whatever purpose, what is a promising choice?

The trade off to all this fine luxury is weight. Three wheel scooters are heavy which reduces its convenience to simply store it. If you are planning a trip you will need a truck or a lift. If you decide to purchase a cheaper scooter you often sacrifice range and some amenities. Some units allow more freedom by offering more range and speed, around 15 miles per hour. This allows the rider to travel much longer distances, to perhaps the grocery store, without packing the scooter into a transport vehicle. These units cost more but the freedom often makes up for the increase in cost. So you are considering a three wheel scooter for whatever purpose, which one is a promising choice?

It depends on what you’re looking for in the scooter. There are numerous companies that offer a multitude of choices ranging in size and colors. A good portion of people looking to buy mobility scooters are elderly or handicapped in some way that compromises physical motor function. More expensive units, costing well over a couple of grand, come with finer amenities like leather, seat belts, LCD displays etc. However, some manufacturer’s like X-Treme offer an affordable version of the mobility scooter, the XB-420M. These three wheel scooters have excellent stability but lack luxuries like on-board screen displays. They come with a seat, basket and three wheels that keep the cost down but offer an immense range, 30 miles, and speed.

Man is the only creature on this global planet we call earth who has the ability for amazing adaptability. There seems to be no end to what man can achieve. In fact, we seem to be limited only by our own imagination. It is only a matter of time before man can achieve all of his dreams, hopes and aspirations.

This creativity and superb adaptability of man has revolutionized the way we do and see things and this is particularly beneficial to individuals with problems with mobility. Innovative scooters and wheelchairs are now available in the market to aid individuals maintain a proper quality of life by improving their mobility.

To further supplement these, there are lifts available for scooters and wheelchairs for use on vehicles or at home. Use of lifts for scooters and wheelchairs are necessary for increased mobility for the mobility impaired.

For the best options and deals on lifts for scooters and wheelchairs, below are some handy and helpful links to aid you on your search.

Price Grabber

Grab increased mobility at the right price at http://www.pricegrabber.com Here you can browse their many mobility aids for all your increased mobility needs. Recommended in particular is the AmeriGlide 200-SD Stow-Able Wheelchair Lift and Scooter Lift. This particular lift for scooters and wheelchairs allows one to lift your power mobility device on the floor of a vehicle with total ease. What’s more is that this lift can be disassembled with parts you can store individually for space optimization. Its best quality however is that it is one of the lightest lifts available in the market. This lightweight is a heavy lifter.

Scooter Link

Another good place to look for a lift for scooters and wheelchairs is at http://ww2.scooterlink.com Recommended from this site is the Harmar AL050 Micro Power Chair Lift. This lift is light and will securely transport your scooter and wheelchair into compatible vehicles. It boasts of being lightweight and affordable and it is true. Although, the product mentioned in the previous paragraph is still much lighter and inexpensive when compared to the Harmar AL050 Micro Power Chair Lift. What’s more is that the AmeriGlide 200-SD Stow-Able Wheelchair Lift and Scooter Lift can lift more weight.

Pronto

Talk about automation heaven. The Harmar Mobility AL690 Hybrid Platform Lift is amazing. This product is extremely user friendly because of its automated ease of use. Push button efficiency is this product’s key feature. Compare prices and grab this fantastic product pronto at http://www.pronto.com

With the high cost of gas I have spent the past month looking into alternative transportation. With the Electric Scooter getting so much attention locally and nationally I have not only researched but talked to local dealers in my effort to determine if they are really worth the investment. Since the Vectrix Maxi has received the most media coverage I have focussed this article on this particular machine. It is my opinion the Vectrix is not worth the price, at least not now.

In my state they are considered a motorcycle and must be treated as such. The same laws that apply to all motorcycle riders in the state i.e. motorcycle endorsement, license and registration, insurance, etc. applies to scooters. This is a good thing, since these vehicles are designed for use in normal traffic and on public roads. As sales for scooters have increased a problem with driver’s license endorsement has come to light. The scooters by their very nature and size are far more maneuverable during a road test than larger less maneuverable motorcycles. This makes receiving a motorcycle endorsement easier. People that have no experience with motorcycles sometimes believe, since they have the endorsement, they can simply jump on a larger Harley, Honda, or some other motorcycle and it will be the same experience. Most find out there is a world of difference.

You will find on other sites glowing reviews for the electric scooters but I have found there is more hope and marketing hype than there is truth. Some websites are not being completely honest. This is also true of the local dealers I have spoken to in my state. It seems they are more interested in making a sale than full disclosure of the capabilities the Victrix Maxi. There are plenty of other misleading ads currently running on youtube.

Sales have risen in 2008 but in 2007 out of 2,002 vehicles built only 123 sold to actual customers. Reference source AutoblogGreen.

Checking out the official website of Vectrix I discovered the truth may not be the same as all the hype I have read and been told by the dealer. One local dealer told me you could achieve 50 miles on a single charge at 62 miles per hour. He said the hills and mountainous terrain would have no effect on the range or speed. He also led me to believe the warranty on the battery was 10 years. Here are the facts from Vectrix:

Constant Speed Range 25 mph 65 miles 35 mph 54 miles 40 mph 48 miles 45 mph 44 miles 50 mph 36 miles 60 mph 20 miles

Notice that for every 10 mph increase, your range decreases an average of 11 miles before the battery is depleted.

In the Q and A section the following info came out concerning range:

Q: Does Acceleration Affect Range?

A:

Acceleration is the rate which you are attempting to increase the speed of your Maxi-Scooter. The greater the acceleration the faster you are depleting the energy in the battery pack. The harder and more frequently you accelerate the more adversely you will affect the range of your Maxi-Scooter. Being “first off the line” means you will also be the first to drain your energy supply.
Hard Acceleration = Reduced Range

Q: Does Weight Affect Range?

A:

The Vectrix Maxi-Scooter at approximately 500 lbs plus a 180 lb driver equates to a gross vehicle weight of 680 lbs. If you add 50 pounds of cargo the total weight you are attempting to move is 730 pounds or 7.3% increase in weight. If then you add a 175 pound passenger the total weight is 905 lbs or a total weight increase of 33%! The more mass you are pushing/lifting the more energy it takes to accomplish the mission. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your Maxi-Scooter since it will impact your range.
Added Weight = Reduced Range

Q: Why Do I Get Less Range at Higher Speeds?

A:

It takes more energy to push a Maxi-Scooter faster because you encounter aerodynamic resistance. The faster you attempt to travel the more important this factor becomes. Also it is a fundamental characteristic of battery energy storage systems that the amount of energy you are able to extract from the battery is inversely proportional to the rate at which you drawing out the energy. If a battery pack is rated for 30 Ah if you draw 10 amperes of current you will deliver more energy that if you are drawing 100 amperes of current. Bottom line is that the more conservative you drive the further you will travel on single charge.
Faster Speed = Reduced Range

Factor in all of these variables and the distance I could travel would be extremely limited in my area. Another reason I have my doubts about Vectrix or any other electric scooter came from reading some of the posts of people that own Maxi Scooters, most are not good.

It is hard to tell if this type of vehicle will last with the general publics interest or not. At a cost of $11,000 one thing is for certain, sales will not pick up in this area for years to come. These type of vehicles may be fine in Paris, Rome, or Berlin but I don’t see a future for them in America.

You can find the original post with resource links and comments from Maxi owners at:

State_of_America

No Bulky Heavy Platform DID YOU KNOW ?! TRILIFT ULTRA-LITE IS THE LIGHTEST LIFT ON THE MARKET – Slimmer Profile – Unmatched by any other Lift – Easiest to Load – Your customers will love its simplicity – Locks Automatically – No Cumbersome Straps or Clamps to Mess With. – More stable – Your customer will hardly know it’s there even when driving on rough roads. – Lowest Weight – Weighs half as much as a typical platform lift weighs making it easier to install or transfer from one vehicle to another. – The Most Ground Clearance – This advent age will allow most customers to load their scooter in the garage and have enough clarence to back out into the street. – Simpler Design – One technician can assemble and install in less time then what a conventional platform lift requires. – Less Maintenance – Simple and secure design almost eliminates service comebacks – The Best Choice – For use on smaller cars and SUV’s. – Easy to Store – Slim and light weight design make it easy to remove and store in vehicle or home. The MOBILITY Center 1748 W Chapman Ave Orange CA 92868 800-708-6399

• The desire for closer access inspired the AL690 Hybrid Platform Lift.
• This lift will deliver a power chair or scooter right next to the driver or passenger’s door.
• Simple, one button operation and drive-on, drive-off simplicity make the AL690 one of the most user friendly lifts available.
• Lifting Capacity 275 lbs
• Headroom Required 32″

Product Description
The desire for closer access inspired the AL690 Hybrid Platform Lift. This lift will deliver a power chair or scooter right next to the driver or passenger’s door.

Simple, one button operation and drive-on, drive-off simplicity make the AL690 one of the most user friendly lifts available.

Specifications

* Lifting Capacity 275 lbs

* Headroom Required 32″

* Depth Required 58.5″

* Platform Dead Space 4.5″

* Max Verical Reach 33.5″

* Platform Size 21.5″ – 28.5″ x 38.5″

HARMAR AL690 SCOOTER POWER/CHAIR HYBRID PLATFORM LIFT