Elbee Drive From the Chair

[mgwmgw]

Elbee mobility makes small cars that open in the front and put out ramps, so people in wheelchairs can drive them from the chair. They only reach 50 miles per hour.

https://www.elbeemobility.com/

Has anyone looked into them and are they useful?

[Burgerman]

Well not to me. I would be embarassed and cant carry others sensibly, or anything else. Can just imagine offering a businessman a lift in that! And it appears you are the crumple zone. 50mph max? You would be runover on our roads here.

Beats me why thy all think that because our legs dont work we all want a tiny slow plastic micro box that has no power!

[mgwmgw]

Would it be useful to send feedback to the company?

[flagman1776]

Yet another limited use vehicle. Less practical than the one listed in the thread below. Certainly not crash worthy. All these ideas seem to lack funding... because nobody sensible will have anything to do with them.

[Irving]

Why would anyone want one?

Despite the funky videos with all the arty shots, you're hard pushed to find an actual demo of the thing being loaded, unloaded, or driven.

And the fact the website opens on 'investors' suggests all you need to know, it's a concept going nowhere fast...

[Burgerman]

It will likely not be cheap either. Single cylinder engine reminds me of the old mobility carriages... Terrible cold, rattly dangerous things.

The disabled are no different to the non disabled. They want the same things, same passenger and luggage/shopping capacity. Same safety, same performance, same as everyone else has. With that in mind, there are already a bunch of conversions. From small drive from wheelchair vans, to larger ones like the VW transporter/multivan/caravelle or the US style minivans, like mine etc.

So really, I just dont get their thinking. And I doubt its even cheaper as limited production costs...
Then theres insurance... Its a what? Does it have an NCAP rating?

My van, full of air bags, and a large steel engine bay with crumple zones scores quite badly compared to most euro vehicles. Athough the left hand drive performed better.
https://cdn.euroncap.com/media/8756/eur ... trough.pdf

God only knows how a small plastic car would perform... But it wont be pretty.