Service Contract

With Most Products

Free Shipping

On Most Products

Price Match

On Most Products

Factory Warranty

On Most Products

Expedited Shipping

On Select Products

Electric Wheelchair Buyers Guide

YouTube video

Note: This blog post was was written in 2015 and likely references products that are discontinued. To view our current selection of power wheelchairs, visit our online wheelchair store.

electric_wheelchairWhether you have paralysis or you’re unable to walk for long periods of time, buying an electric wheelchair requires product knowledge. In order to make the right purchase when looking to buy an electric wheelchair online, you should know about the major brands, types, and models that are available on the market. Most manufacturers do not sell power wheelchairs to consumers but rather a dealer who sells them to the end-user which is you. If you don’t thoroughly research the product that you are going to buy, you could end having to pay restocking fees and turning your purchasing experience into a nightmare. We pride ourselves on adding as much valuable information on every product page and by having a blog, forum, and FAQ section that is constantly being updated. Learning a thing or two about the industry and product that you are going to buy is a great way to ensure your buying experience is a pleasant one so let’s get started.

What Are The Best Power Wheelchair Brands?

Pride, Golden, and Drive are the most popular manufacturers that make electric wheelchairs and they provide great products with excellent manufacturer warranties. Each manufacturer offers a service contract which is important because over time electric wheelchairs are known to need service and repair.

Pride Mobility Corp is based out of Pennsylvania with several distribution points and they have been in business for over 20 years (since 1986). Some of the most popular power wheelchairs made by Pride are the Quantum, Jazzy series, and the Go-chair. They have excellent products and they offer a very appealing warranty on all power chairs made by Pride.

Golden Technologies has based in Pennsylvania as well and has also been in since 1985. They have warehouses throughout the US and product quality products as well. They provide a 1-year in-home service contract with each sale just like Pride. Some of the popular electric wheelchairs by Golden Technologies are the Alante Sport, the Compass (and Compass HD), and the LiteRider.

Drive Mobility is based out of New York and has been around since 1984. They have excellent pricing and quality products. They are also known to provide excellent customer service and service contracts with each sale. Some of the more popular electric wheelchairs by Drive Medical are the Trident, the Cirrus Plus, and the Titan.

Types of Electric Wheelchairs

YouTube video

Standard electric wheelchairs are those that don’t fall into the travel/folding category or into the heavy-duty category but more of a mid or full-size category.

merits-p312-electric-wheelchair

These are generally a bit faster and more versatile, they aren’t really known to have extremely high weight capacities but certain models can go a long way like The P312 which is made by Merits Health that has a travel range of up to 18 miles. If you’re an average weight and size you will find that standard or full-size scooters are the most comfortable way to go.

literider ptc

Travel Handicap Power Wheelchairs are much lighter than standard or heavy-duty power chairs and mostly all of them disassemble into smaller pieces making them very easy to store away and transport while traveling. They usually have a smaller body frame as well which allows them to squeeze through tight spaces such as doorways or hallways with little to no hassle.  A prime example of a reliable and durable travel power chair would be the LiteRider PTC Portable by Golden Technologies. This lightweight electric travel wheelchair breaks down into 5 pieces in total weighing 116 lbs and can easily go in the back of even the smallest of trunks. Although they do not last as long as most standard or heavy-duty power chairs electric travel chairs are the most convenient way to get around both in and outdoors.

Folding Electric Wheelchairs are also technically considered a type of travel power chair as they are able to fold and fit into compact spaces like an airplane overhead or in the trunk of a car. Electric wheelchairs that fold are known to have a weight capacity that is lower than average typically because the framework is made with lightweight material not capable of supporting heavyweight. However, there are exceptions to that and they can be found in products like The P181 by Merits Health. Available with quite a few different seating options, this folding handicap power chair is capable of holding anywhere between 450 and 700 lbs as maximum weight capacity.

Jazzy 614 HD Power Wheelchair. Photo via Mobility Scooters Direct.

Heavy-Duty Electric Wheelchairs are best for going outdoors and for supporting above average-sized riders. There are many options to choose from that can carry anywhere from 400 to 700 lbs in weight capacity, one example is the Jazzy 614 power wheelchair. Heavy-duty models usually have a lot more torque to add to their performance and also a longer-lasting battery life allowing all heavy-duty power wheelchairs to go quite a traveling distance. Most importantly a majority of heavy-duty power chairs come with solid or flat-free tires making them durable enough to smoothly ride through most rugged terrains.

Tips From The Technicians

I decided to ask our tech team for a few tips for someone shopping for a power chair for the first time and they had some great insights. Below are some of the tips (in no particular order) I received from our technicians regarding what they consider to be important considerations for purchasing a battery-operated wheelchair.

Incline Rating – Many customers don’t realize that if they purchase a wheelchair with a typical incline rating of 6 degrees or less, it won’t be suitable for inclines that are generally found in states with hills or steep driveways. It’s important to consider the types of terrains you’ll be using the chair on and how that relates to the manufacturer’s incline rating for the chair you’re buying. We recommend getting a chair with a minimum incline rating of 8 degrees or more unless you only plan to use the chair indoors in which case you can choose any indoor power wheelchair. If you plan to go outdoors, you should certainly consider an outdoor power wheelchair or even an off-road electric wheelchair if you plan on going on trails or traveling a lot.

Weight Capacity  – A lot of customers have had issues with repairs because they purchased a power wheelchair with a weight rating that is just a few lbs above the user’s weight. When you operate a motor with a maximum load continuously, you are bound to have issues. This is why our technicians and sales members always stress the importance of choosing a chair with a weight rating that is substantially heavier than the user. When a motor runs with a weight load that is not near the maximum capacity, it operates more efficiently, with less stress and overall will ensure that the motor lasts a long time.

Batteries – Knowing which type of battery chemistry and capacity your chair has is important, especially if you plan on traveling. Many airlines restrict lithium batteries that are of a certain capacity threshold. You should always consider the current airline rules and laws that pertain to traveling with a power wheelchair on an airplane before purchasing any mobility product. We offer replacement batteries for power wheelchairs that can be used as an upgrade to increase your unit’s travel range. We strongly recommend checking to see if the unit you’re interested in has the option to upgrade the batteries and what type of chemistry is being used (i.e. Lithium or Sealed Lead Acid).

Replacement Parts – Another important factor to consider when purchasing any mobility product is the availability of replacement parts. Some manufacturers that make cheap power wheelchairs overseas are known for not being able to provide customers with replacement parts. This can be very frustrating if you buy a chair and then you need new tires but they’re not for sale anywhere. We recommend going with a manufacturer/brand that is well-known and likely to provide replacement parts in the future.

Things to Avoid When Using Your Electric Wheelchair

For first-time users there a few things to remember never to do when using your power wheelchair otherwise you will take a risk of damaging or possibly breaking your handicapped power chair. For one when using your power chair to drive uphill make sure that it is designed to go up an incline or have a good climbing degree anything between 8 degrees and 12* will perform well uphill, this does not mean that you should constantly ride uphill. By doing so you make your power chair perform under more power and if this is constantly done it can ruin your batteries or motor. Also, make sure you never go over the weight capacity, it is usually best to stay at least 20 to 30 lbs under the capacity so you do not make your power wheelchair provide more power to move than necessary, as a result, your battery can drain faster or if over the limit you can ruin the motor or possibly break the frame or smaller parts. Another very important thing to remember is never to leave your power chair out in the rain or outdoors all the time. Parts can get rusted or even worse defected and they will not be covered under most warranty’s if this is the reasoning for the damage. Remember these simple things and you will be able to keep your power wheelchair in great shape for a long period of time.

Do you have a better understanding?

Now that you have been given this information you know the basics of what to look for and not to look for when searching for something based upon your preference. With the information, I have provided above now you know some of the best brands, models, and the types of scooters available, as well as what you should avoid doing while using your reliable electric wheelchair. I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for reading!