Wheelchair Access Vehicles
At Amvale Ltd, we only sell Wheelchair Access Vehicles, so we are experts in this field, having seen many different people in many different vehicles.
Wheelchair Access Vehicles encompass a range of vehicles that have been modified to allow access by individuals who are in wheelchairs. The typical modifications performed on a Wheelchair Access Vehicles are lowering the floor and adding a ramp so the chair can be rolled into the van or adding a powered lift that picks the chair up from ground level to the same level as the floor of the wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Wheelchair Access Vehicles Modifications
The general steps Wheelchair Access Vehicles manufacturers undergo to convert a vehicle differ greatly from one manufacturer to another. Most wheelchair accessible vehicles conversions involve the following:
- The floor is generally removed
- Front seating is modified to allow access from wheelchair
- Means of external access added. This is most often a ramp, lift, or turning seat
- Suspension stiffened to allow extra weight of power chairs / additional weight from conversion
- Gas tanks may be modified or replaced with custom models
- Wheelchair Access Vehicles is tested to ensure full operation
Wheelchair Access Vehicles Ramp
Ramp based modifications most commonly performed on Wheelchair Access Vehicles (citation needed). In order to provide usable headroom, the floor on the vehicle is lowered. In rear-entry configuration, floor is not lowered, but rather removed, and a composite or steel tub inserted.
- Folding Ramps (Both motorized and manual)
- Sliding Ramps hidden in floor
- Rear-entry with folding ramp.
Wheelchair Access Vehicles Platform lifts
Full size Wheelchair Access Vehicles require that lifts in the form of a platform that can be raised and lowered from inside the Wheelchair Access Vehicles down to the ground outside. There are many types of lifts available on the market. Mono-arm lifts, double-arm lifts and underbody lifts. Double-arm and underbody lifts are best-able for bigger Wheelchair Access Vehicles such as minibuses or buses used for public transport. They have a bigger platform and higher load capacity so they are suitable even for heavy electric wheelchairs with a heavy occupant (more than 300 Kg. in all). A mono-arm Lift is preferable for private transport because it can fit smaller Wheelchair Access Vehicles. A mono-arm lift is lighter and smaller than the other ones and it ensures a clear view when it's installaed in the back of the car. Moreover mono-arm lifts are preferable for the side-door installation because they are thinner than a double-arm.
Wheelchair Access Vehicles Other Types
Crane type lifts are combined with seats that turn and lower to the ground as a means of providing wheelchair access to some types of wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Rear-entry conversions provide easy ingress and egress for attended applications. They are different from side-entry conversions in that the wheelchair occupant is not driving vehicle, but rather is riding as a passenger. The conversion is very simple and does not carry the complicated engineering and electronics typically found in a side-entry conversion. As a result, they are very well suited for commercial and heavy-cycle applications (i.e.-taxi, non-emergency ambulance, paratransit, assisted living, and dial-a-ride) and geographic areas prone to vehicle corrosion from salt and chloride usage on highways in winter seasons.
