Written by Megan Smith, PT
In Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future Part II, moviegoers were awed by the fictional depiction of a near future where flying cars would dot the landscape of urban homes.
While the year 2015 came and went without the debut of this radical invention, technology has boomed across all modes of transportation, allowing designers to dream up bigger and better ways to safely get us from Point A to Point B.
One of these exciting advancements has been in the field of solar technology. Once a niche way to power rural farming areas, innovators have discovered new ways to harness the power of the sun and convert its energy for practical, everyday machine use.
The Liberator Solar Powered Wheelchair is the first power wheelchair on the market today that runs primarily on solar energy, thanks to its innovative Solar Companion—a unique sun converting solar panel designed exclusively for the Liberator chair!
This breakthrough mobility product is a collaborative effort between Solar Mobility, LLC and American Seating Company, which has been manufacturing seating for reputable companies such as Caterpillar and John Deere as far back as 1855. Even the Delorean can’t beat that!
The source of the Liberator’s power is its Solar Companion top panel, which absorbs available rays and converts them into sustainable electrical power. This environmentally friendly solar panel increases the chair’s travel range, allowing users to go longer between "charges" by extending battery life up to three times what a plug-in charge can provide. The energy gathered from the solar panel can even continue to power the chair after it's been folded down!
The Solar Companion panel pulls double duty, acting as the source of the chair’s power while simultaneously sheltering users from snow, rain and hail.
Additionally, the panel is equipped with rear facing safety mirrors, which allow users a comprehensive view of their surroundings without ever needing to turn around.
Visibility is one of the biggest challenges faced by wheelchair users. Something many of us take for granted is the ability to ambulate at eye level, where others can see us or expect to encounter movement. In a wheelchair, movement happens closer to the ground, in an area most of us aren’t trained to be aware of.
As a wheelchair user, it can be risky or even dangerous to navigate busy streets when you are situated lower than the cars, if drivers can’t immediately see you.
The Liberator solves this universal visibility problem with three sets of commanding color-coded LED lights: white in front, amber on the sides, and red in back, to make the wheelchair unmistakeable whether users are traveling in the day or at night.
It would be easy to view the innovative Liberator as a supplementary wheelchair, one built for novelty—but one would be mistaken to think so. The Liberator was designed to go the distance as a primary transportation tool, transporting users across town, through college campuses, or on errand runs just as effectively and comfortably as the leading power wheelchair.
Any person who is presently using a motorized or manual wheelchair as their primary method of transportation would find the Liberator to be life-changing.
The less ability a person currently has to comfortably travel via their wheelchair, the more benefit they will experience from making the switch to the Liberator. With its smooth ride, soft seating and ease of positioning adjustment, getting comfortable and staying comfortable is as simple as letting the sun power your travels: simply relax, and let the Liberator’s innovative design take you anywhere you desire to go!
Click here to learn more about the amazing Liberator Solar Powered Wheelchair and how it can make your life safer and more comfortable!
Megan has been a part of Rehabmart since its inception nearly 20 years ago. For the past several years she has been enjoying her role as HR Director while maintaining her Physical Therapy license. When she isn't working on her next in-service or working to find a new team member, she enjoys her five children, helping those who have PT type ailments, baking, practicing yoga, and working out.
