A wheelchair run by batteries is called a powered wheelchair. This kind of wheelchair is used by those people who are unable to propel a wheelchair with their own arm strength. People who use powered wheelchairs generally have limited strength in their arms, and thus need to use an external power source to enable them to move around. Power wheelchairs use either gel cell or wet cell batteries that must be recharged on a regular basis. Power wheelchairs come in several basic styles. A powered wheelchair usually is significantly heavier than a manual wheelchair to accommodate both the weight of the battery and the weight of additional adaptive equipment, such as body supports or respiratory equipment.

Designs of Powered Wheelchair

• The most traditional design for a power wheelchair is similar in appearance to the standard manual wheelchair frame with a battery mounted under or behind the seat.
  
  
• Another design being used by some manufacturers today is a more stylized seating unit on a pedestal mounted atop a power platform. This is the platform-model powered chair
  
  
• A new design introduced in 1993 utilizes a round platform base with a seating system affixed to it.
  
  
• Finally, several manufacturers offer power pack attachments which allow manual wheelchairs to be converted to powered chairs.
  
  
• Some wheelchairs can be used on different ground surfaces such as pavement, dirt, and sand. Some battery-powered wheelchairs can be used to climb steps, or raise a person to reach objects.
  
  
• Battery-powered wheelchairs may have a switch that moves the wheelchair, or a mouthpiece may be used if you cannot use your hands. The wheelchair moves by puffing into, or sipping on the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be attached to a tube which is connected to the motor.
  
  
• Another type of battery-powered wheelchair can be moved with a chin device. This chin device may be attached to an arm of the wheelchair that is connected to the battery cable.
  
  
• Most power wheelchairs have a folding frame that can be folded once the batteries have been removed.