EXCLUSIVE: Todo Drive challenges for the title of ‘world’s lightest’ manual wheelchair power add-on
As the market for power assists for manual wheelchairs continues to grow, mobility supplier RHealthcare has highlighted that a lighter power add-on already exists in the market to that of UNAcare’s UNAwheel Mini.
Designed and manufactured by South Korean mobility specialist Todo Works, the Todo Drive Power Assist enables manual wheelchair users to add a simple kit to the frame of their chair consisting of five components: motor, joystick, computing board, clamps, and a battery.
With a range of 7km and a recommended user weight max of 90kg, the Todo Drive also includes various IoT sensors enabling users to calibrate and control the device with their smartphone.
In addition, the company states that the Todo Drive’s lightest option weighs 5kg, 0.3kg lighter than that the weight of UNAcare’s UNAwheel Mini, which is now being distributed in the UK by Gerald Simonds.
First released in November 2016 to the South Korean market, RHealthcare’s Sales and Product Manager Brent McIvor explained how the UK-based provider of manual wheelchairs and spares became involved with the product.
“Rhealthcare first got involved with Todo Drive at Rehacare 2017 and received our first samples February 18 for field trials,” he said.
“We have shown the product at the OT Show, PMG, Naidex and the Kidz to Adultz events and received very good feedback. The Todo acquired ISO 13485:2016 certification in April 2019 and CE marked May 2019.”
Selling the unique power assist to select dealers from May this year, Brent says that dealers interested in the Todo Drive can find out more at the company’s stands at Kidz to Adultz in Manchester this November of next year’s Naidex, as well as this year’s Rehacare.
Discussing the growth in the wheelchair power add-on market, Brent added that it is a product segment that will prove particularly valuable to bricks and mortar mobility retailers.
“I think the power add-on market is growing with more end-users looking to travel more and be more independent. Dealers should look at this market as the market is changing and it isn’t an internet product so they can hold their margins.
“We will also be bringing out another power add-on before the end of 2019 and we try to offer the best value power add-on price to the market”, he finished.
