The Wheelchair Car

The Wheelchair Car
By ARIANNE COHEN
Published: December 10, 2006


Most handicapped-accessible automobiles are designed for the general public and only later adapted for wheelchairs, resulting in awkward compromises, like the notoriously sluggish wheelchair lifts seen on public buses. But now there’s the Kenguru, a snazzy mini-hatchback designed to give total independence to wheelchair users on the go.

The Kenguru’s hatchback flips open so a wheelchair can roll right in and lock into place, which means the driver doesn’t have to climb into a driver’s seat. Because the steering column is a joystick, paraplegics and those with limited arm range can steer. The car is powered by a rechargeable battery and has a peak speed of 25 miles per hour.

The Kenguru was manufactured by Rehab Ltd., a Hungarian rehabilitative-services company. The designer, Zsolt Varga, is something of a solo-transport guru, having also created an electric scooter and an urban minicar. Crash tests for the Kenguru are slated for February in Germany, and the car will be available stateside in mid-2007 for approximately $14,500.


- Youtube video viewers comments (Without nicknames):

* They picked the cutest disabled person they could find. Looks like a good vehicle for disabled people. What if they need to take a passenger though or if they have luggage?

* i tink it is just great! but i have to say that i doesn´t look to safe for the person inside the vehicle.

* this is going to be very helpful for ppl in wheelchairs!