Mobility Scooters

[gromike]

It seems that we all get older, and maybe two wheels has become an issue, but has anybody thought about buiding into the future.
Someone said to me recently why not build a hotwheels thing to appeal to the boomers. As some sort of upgrade to those four wheel chairs that some use to get around.
It would seem to be a good thing for someone to build a capable chair that could do ebike performance.
Just the way to the future for some of us, I guess.

 

[glennb]

I’ve repaired a couple. No speed upgrading though. In my jurisdiction they’re classed as wheelchairs … restricted to footpath/sidewalk and 10km/hr. Any faster, they’d have to be on the road, roadworthy, and registered.

 

[Papa]

Built this for my 90 YO Father some years back. 18" (kitchen chair) seat height. Frame separates for transporting. Pair of 28V Milwaukees, 65 pounds. He road it everywhere for 5 years, then toasted the controller.

 

[fill]

The 'Whoops!' what another fatal accident?? approach to a solution.. I like it

 

[gromike]

View attachment 360889

What parts did you use from the mobility chair in the after build?

 

[Papa]

gromike,

I retained the complete transaxle assy. & seat. Everything else was scrapped, including the controller & wiring. I used a Minarik PWM controller because it had adjustable 'soft start' and speed limiting (this was a 750W brushed motor). I restricted the speed to 12mph.

 

[amberwolf]

It seems that we all get older, and maybe two wheels has become an issue, but has anybody thought about buiding into the future.
Someone said to me recently why not build a hotwheels thing to appeal to the boomers. As some sort of upgrade to those four wheel chairs that some use to get around.
It would seem to be a good thing for someone to build a capable chair that could do ebike performance.
Just the way to the future for some of us, I guess.

You've seen my SB Cruiser trike, right?

I have an old Schwinn trike that's next. (posted about in the SBC thread a few days ago)

 

[gromike]

You've seen my SB Cruiser trike, right?

I have an old Schwinn trike that's next. (posted about in the SBC thread a few days ago)

Yes I have. Seems to be a very capable cargo hauler.

I'd love to find a trike like you acquired. It will take some effort in the search, unlike the two-wheeled bikes that have flooded into my life in the 2+ years that I have in this hobby.

 

[amberwolf]

Depending on your locale, there are almost certainly some trikes wasting away in a yard or garage near enough to you to be worth picking up--possibly even for free, if the owners advertise them anywhere (trashnothing (used to be freecycle), craigslist, thrift stores, etc).

They probably aren't the type that drive both rear wheels like the one I got, but you can get peerless differentials / transaxles relatively cheaply depending on the torque / weight it has to carry. Or adapt a powerchair's transaxle like Papa did. That only matters if you are going to use a middrive running the rear wheels (which is my eventual plan); if you're using hubmotors in the rear it would be better to not have that (it'd be a waste).

 

[gromike]

Then, as winter progresses I'll be looking for a good, unloved trike waiting to be rescued from rusting away.