Autoblog

It could have been a horrible tragedy, but at the end of it all, no one was injured, and there were no hard feelings, either. Michigan State Police were skeptical when they started receiving calls saying that a big rig was pushing a wheelchair down the Red Arrow Highway in Paw Paw, Mich., but when the calls didn't abate, they headed out to investigate.

The rig was found in front of a local trucking company and to everyone's shock, there was a wheelchair attached to the front. With a man in it, no less. The occupant was unharmed, and the astonished truck driver had no idea he was even there. Apparently, the wheelchair was in the process of crossing the road in front of the truck. Too low for the driver to see, it was driven into. Miraculously, the chair was positioned in such a way that the handles lodged in the rig's grille and it wound up facing forward. Think about it -- it could have just as easily been knocked over and then run over -- a nightmare scenario for all parties involved.

Instead, the worst thing that happened was that the man in the wheelchair apparently spilled the soda pop he was drinking during his high-speed trip. Of the experience, he told authorities, "It was quite a ride."

Friends, that's today's candidate for understatement of the year.

[Source: South Bend Tribune]

General Motors announced today that in addition to the standard free year of service that comes with every vehicle equipped with OnStar, customers purchasing a GM vehicle with aftermarket equipment for the disabled will receive an extra two years of free OnStar service. The deal works through GM's Mobility Reimbursement Program that since 1991 has been reimbursing disabled customers an extra $1,000 when they buy or lease a GM vehicle and adapt it with one of 35 eligible aftermarket mobility modifications such as scooter hoists, wheelchair lifts and GM's own Sit-N-Lift Power Seat. GM sees OnStar as a service that provides additional benefits to the disabled and seniors with its ability to make hands-free calls, 24-hour emergency assistance and remote door unlocking capabilities, among others. After a person's three years of free service ends, the cost of continuing OnStar would be either $199/year for the Safe & Sound plan or $399/year for the Directions and Connections plan that includes turn-by-turn navigation.

[Source: GM]

From sister-blog Engadget comes word of an adorable new Suzuki that should have people rolling in the aisles. Not because it's funny looking, but because it will offer mobility to those who need the aid only a wheelchair can provide. And guess what? It's one of the greenest vehicles on the planet too. Ditching the old-school lead-acid batteries of its forefathers, the new Suzuki MIO uses a so-right-now fuel cell-powered motor. Well, it doesn't forego batteries altogether, using a "large capacity Li-ion secondary battery." Range should be around 25 miles per 4 liter methanol fill-up.

And check out the other slick features on this broken-hip whip. The MIO uses armrests that double as safety barriers, ergonomic handlebars, a ventilated mesh seating surface, and an LCD panel that displays fuel level and power status. Suzuki insists the MIO is simply a prototype, and offers no pricing details while it "judges consumer interest."

[Source: Engadget]

When we think of transportation designed for the physically challenged, a picture of a Dodge Caravan converted to be wheelchair accessible pops in our heads. But your average Mr. Money Bags doesn't find himself scoping out Caravans when it comes time to replace his chauffer-driven Rolls, so why should those who roll in a wheelchair have to? It's an interesting question that Dignity Transportation felt compelled to answer with its Dignity Star wheelchair-accessible limo, believed to be the first of its kind in North America. Based on a 2006 Dodge High Roof Sprinter 2500, the Dignity Star's cargo hold has been converted into a limo with all the opulent trimmings one would expect in any stretch, including 15- and 20-inch LCD TVs, a DVD/CD player, five-speaker sound system with wireless headphones, and full dark window tint. There's also a curved leather couch inside that seats six and enough room for two wheelchairs to come aboard via the rear-mounted lift. You know what that means? No more cruisin' to the country club in a Caravan.

[Source: Dignity Star]

"This is crap. Real all-terrain wheelchairs have tank treads."

This was Autoblog reader Shiznannigan's reaction to the Superfourin chair posted earlier. He then graciously referred us to the Tank Chair.

The Tank Chair (TC) is a one-person vehicle that uses tracks (like a tank) instead of standard wheels. While the inventor doesn't give much in the way of technical specs, the TC has reportedly been tested in snow, mud and sand. Each chair is custom-built to customer's specifications-- a 300-pound person with a T1 spinal break would have an altogether different chair (including suspension characteristics)--than someone who is, say, a 150-pound paraplegic.

Pictures, video, and additional information can be found at the link.


[Source: TankChair.com]

Sibling-site Engadget posted about the Superfourin chair, a modified wheelchair/ATV developed by the German organizations Fraunhofer Institute for Information and Data Processing IITB and Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH. The chair not only allows a disabled person to traverse rough terrains with ease, but tracks them via the built-in GPS system while other systems monitor the driver's vital signs. In the event of a problem, such as the driver suffering a seizure or the chair's wheels lock up, an alert is instantly transmitted.

Other details, such as the hybrid engine and fleet monitoring, can be found at Engadget.

[Source: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft via Gizmag via Engadget]