Xref: utzoo sci.energy:508 sci.electronics:7456 sci.med:11652
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!bellcore!att!cbnewsl!spf
From: spf@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Steve Frysinger of Blue Feather Farm)
Newsgroups: sci.energy,sci.electronics,sci.med
Subject: Re: Electric cars?  Start with wheelchairs.
Message-ID: <1526@cbnewsl.ATT.COM>
Date: 18 Aug 89 14:24:25 GMT
References: <3659@internal.Apple.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 44

From article <3659@internal.Apple.COM>, by ems@Apple.COM (Mike Smith):
> A friend is in an electric wheelchair.  It is, in all
> important respects, a miniature electric car.  It has
> steering, batteries, electric motors, etc.  It also has
> a rather old an crude level of technology.
 
> It has no built in charger.  

Sears carries fairly lightweight 12-volt chargers.  Space may be
a problem, but she could probably find one less than 10x6x6".
If nothing else, she might want to keep one at school.

> It cannot be recharged from her van.

Of course it can!  All she needs is a connector (probably dashboard
mounted).  The alternator and voltage regulator of the van will do
the rest.  This is the same principle as jumper cables.  Hooking a
dead car's battery to a live car's battery allows the live one's
battery (and alternator) to charge the dead one.  You could probably
rig up a connector to do this for your friend, and it sounds like
it would be much appreciated.

> It uses plain old lead acid batteries.

In the above I've assumed that these are 12-volt.  If they are
6-volt she should either by a 1940s van (just kidding) or she'll
need a convertor in her dashboard connection.  Still no big deal.
 
> To get real exstream, there is a fixed (and rather small) range
> to the on-board battery.  Why is their no 'power trailer' that
> could be pulled behind the chair with either more batteries.

It sounds like this is something you could easily build yourself.
 
> So tell me, why are electric wheelchairs at the trailing
> rather than the leading edge of electric vehicle technology?
> 'If you can dream it, you can do it'  Walt Disney

I am not disagreeing with you - such techologies should certainly
be a part of the wheelchair product.  But with your friend's interest
at heart, and your Disney quote in mind, I offer these suggestions
so that you can help her situation improve.

Steve Frysinger