electric wheelchair suggestions?

[MotoCreations]

As some of you know, I daily assist my 92-year old grandfather who is confined to a wheelchair for the past year due to surgery and long-term knee/hip problems.  He is capable of standing and taking small steps with a walker or behind his wheelchair -- so not completely wheelchair dependent. It has worked well -- but his range and capability to get up/down wheelchair ramps is very limited -- ok non-existant.  Thus looking at an electric wheelchair for him.  Totally clueless in what I'm looking at -- and wish I had the time/energy to build him a lightweight titanium chair which is electric motor powered at times  with a lightweight liOn battery and a good controller system. (not 100% of the time as I'd like it to "freewheel" so he still uses his legs)

Problem with most of the electric chairs is they are HEAVY and designed for parapalegics it seems and 100% electric use.  Thus elevating seat, reclining backrest, oxygen holders, etc -- not required.  Plus I don't want him LIVING in the chair all day long.

Looked at the electric scooter carts out there, but most are pretty wankered in terms of functionality, stability or requiring him to steer the bars. (arthritis in his shoulders preclude this option)  Plus if he rolled to the dining room in it, he can't eat while sitting on the scooter at the dining table itself.

So what have people found to solve the problem for  your relatives?

My grandfather really wants a Ducati powered wheelchair with BoomTubes and flashy wheels -- but that isn't going to happen I've told him already...

[Popeye the Sailor]

I'm not familiar with any past the one Dean Kamen built. I went to school with one of the engineers who was involved with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBOT

Probably about the most useful one ever built.

[muskrat]

try looking here http://www.thescooterstoreonline.com/scooters.html

we got one for my grandmother and she loved it.  it's actually fast enough my Dad and I ran it around the neighborhood timing ourselves.

[triangleforge]

We live in a town that regularly crops up on "Ten Best Places to Retire" lists, so I think I've seen a number of these around town:

http://www.allegromedical.com/wheelchairs-c540/quickie-xtender-power-assist-p189918.html

I first noticed something different when I saw a woman in a normal (at first glance) wheelchair in the grocery store; she was pushing just one of the wheels but was going in a straight line; that's when I noticed the electric motors in the wheel hubs.

Here's a review of three different "power assist" technologies out there as of 2002:

http://www.newmobility.com/articleView.cfm?id=567&action=browse

Basically, it's a standard wheel chair fitted with power-assisting wheels. I don't know if his arthritis would limit his ability to push the standard wheel rims, however...

[ID_DUC_MON]

OK, not electric...but if I lost the use of my legs this is what I would want...

[cyrus buelton]

I see commercials on TV for the Rascal.

would that work?