Hello from Essex

[NeilJ]

Hi there I'm Neil,
I'm a wheelchair user and as such I am unable to ride a bike so hadn't paid much attention to Ebikes until a few years ago when I thought maybe I could chop the front off the bike and stick it on the front of the wheelchair! After a bit of internet searching I found that this idea did in fact exist but they were a phenomenal price so decided to have a go at sorting it out for myself.
To cut long stories short for the past 3 years I've been using a nearly all surfaces wheelchair (doesn't like sand) up and down old railway lines, across fields etc accompanying friends who are on their bikes which is just amazing to be able to do.
The time has now come to upgrade and build a new front end so advice on that would be appreciated.
What is the best part of the forum to post about this in?
Thanks, Neil.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Have you seen this:

http://cnebikes.en.made-in-china.com/product/dSgxGksDCach/China-12-24-24V-180W-Electric-Wheelchair-Conversion-Kit-Electric-Wheelchair-Kit.html

 

[soundwave]

http://www.bga-reworking.co.uk/e-bike-batteries/wheelchair-electric-conversion-kit.html

 

[danielrlee]

I notice that both of those wheelchair conversion kits feature direct drive motors. Unless I'm missing something, there's certainly an argument that geared motors would be better for the task due to their ability to freewheel when propelling the wheelchair with your arms.

 

[NeilJ]

Thanks for the links.
I think you are right it looks like it is just controlled by the joystick thing and you wouldn't be able to push by hand, and it's probably slow!

 

[flecc]

Welcome to the forum Neil, I think you may already know of Team Hybrid who were pioneers in adding power to wheelchairs and handcycles. Link
.

 

[NeilJ]

Thanks Flecc!
I have seen them, there seems to be a few companies now selling these.
Modern technology is certainly helping mobility, just a shame anything to do with a wheelchair costs an absolute fortune!

 

[Danidl]

Thanks Flecc!
I have seen them, there seems to be a few companies now selling these.
Modern technology is certainly helping mobility, just a shame anything to do with a wheelchair costs an absolute fortune!

...... It is a case of charging what the market will bear (I might have said bare but don't want another of fleccs pictures). In this case the market is the local health authority with a bottomless(oh dear) budget.