Wheelchair Power Assist: A Guide to Choosing the Right System

go further, faster, easier.

Whether you’re tackling hills, travelling further, dealing with fatigue, heading off-road or simply trying to reduce the effort required to get through the day, power assist systems can give you an extra boost without moving away from the manoeuvrability and flexibility of a manual wheelchair.

But with so many different systems available, choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward. There are compact rear-mounted systems, front-mounted power attachments and powered wheels – all with a massive range of options.

Some are designed to provide a gentle push when you need it, while others can turn a manual wheelchair into a seriously capable outdoor machine.

You don’t have to be unable to self-propel to benefit from power assist.

For some wheelchair users, the issue is distance. You might be perfectly comfortable pushing around the house or to the local shop but struggle pushing on long days.

For others, hills are the problem. Steep inclines can be a nightmare for shoulder fatigue and upper body/ cardio endurance.

For someone else,  exploring without worrying about whether they’ll have enough energy or struggle to get home is a huge priority

Power assist systems provide a vital middle ground between a manual wheelchair and a powerchair by allowing you to retain all the benefits of an active manual wheelchair while adding assistance when you need it.

What is a wheelchair power assist system?

A wheelchair power assist is an electric system designed to provide additional power to a manual wheelchair. Rather than replacing your manual wheelchair with a fully powered chair, a power-assist system works alongside it to:

• Provide additional assistance while you push.

• Propel the wheelchair for you.

• Help you tackle hills and longer distances.

• Make outdoor and uneven surfaces easier to manage.

• Reduce the effort required for everyday wheelchair use.

• Extend how far you can comfortably travel.

Which is the best system?

This is probably the most common question we get and unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. The best power assist isn’t necessarily the one with the highest top speed, longest range or biggest motor – its the one that works seamlessly with you, your wheelchair and your lifestyle.

Think about:

1. Where do you use your wheelchair?

2. How far do you normally travel?

3. How much assistance do you actually need?

Can I fly with my power assist?

Flying with a wheelchair can be daunting but with the helpfulness of power assist, your holiday doesn’t have to be hard work.

Most airlines restrict individual lithium-ion batteries in the cabin or cargo to 300Wh max (or two 160Wh spares) but with flight safe batteries you can take your power assist system with you and spend more time enjoying your break than worrying about getting around.

Flight safe batteries are under 300Wh (around 8Ah to 9Ah) and allow you to drive right up to the plane door before taking the battery off with you and checking the main system. Some power assist system already have smaller batteries, some may require the smaller IATA-compliant flight batteries – its always best to check your battery watts and clarify what’s allowed by your airline.

Typically its two very simple steps:

1. Pre-Check: Notify your airline at least 48 hours before departure and check your specific model’s Watt-hour (Wh) rating label.

2.Battery Removal: Detach the lithium battery from the power assist unit and take it into the passenger cabin with you, while the main system is gate-checked.

The importance of a proper assessment

We recommend an assessment where we can look at your existing wheelchair, how you use it, where you want to go and what you want to achieve before recommending a system that will work for you and your needs. We offer a range of wheelchair power assist systems with several held as demo units for you to try.

We don’t believe there is a single “best” wheelchair power assist – We believe there is a best option for you.