The wheelchair is transformed into a kind of spider to give the disabled a mobility never seen before. The project is by Italdesign, Giorgetto Giugiaro’s historic company and today owned by the Volkswagen Group, which has created the WheeM-i, a system that “incorporates” the classic wheelchair, transforming it into something very different. In what? In a fully electric (also pretty cool) vehicle that’s available to everyone.
Yes, because the WheeM-i is designed from the outset to be shared: users book the mobility system via an app. Then the user approaches the WheeM-i hub and activates his “machine”. The fully electric system then lowers a slide, pulls out an access ramp and the user physically “enters” the WheeM-i with his wheelchair. And the journey begins.
The safety systems are also important: in addition to being completely electric, WheeM-i is also equipped with an integrated collision avoidance system to help the pilot reach his position safely. And it is always connected to a control unit to know its exact position.
by Vincenzo Borgomeo