Mobility in Motion launches assisted transfer lift to improve accessibility in SUVs and taller vehicles
Vehicle adaptation specialist Mobility in Motion has announced the launch of the new MPL XR Person Lift, the latest evolution of its long-established Milford Person Lift, designed to make assisted transfers easier in today’s increasingly tall SUVs, crossovers and other larger vehicles.
As larger vehicles continue to become a popular choice for drivers and passengers, their increased ride height can present new challenges for wheelchair users and people who rely on assisted transfers to get in and out of a vehicle.
The new MPL XR has been engineered specifi cally to address these challenges, offering greater lower reach beyond the vehicle edge, helping to improve positioning where a wheelchair sits signifi cantly lower than the vehicle fl oor.
The MPL XR replaces the existing MPL while retaining compatibility with many existing accessories and vehicle-specifi c installation kits.
The MPL XR introduces a number of design improvements aimed at making assisted transfers easier in larger and taller vehicles, including enhanced lower reach to improve transfers in SUVs and other high-sided vehicles and greater compatibility with modern vehicle types.
It is compatible with many existing accessories and dedicated vehicle kits and reduces the need for dropped extension arms in all applications. No changes to existing warranty periods or current pricing are required.
By allowing the lift to extend below its mounting point and further beyond the edge of the vehicle, the MPL XR can help address one of the practical challenges created by taller vehicles: the difference in height between the wheelchair and the vehicle seat height.
This can be particularly relevant for wheelchair users and passengers who rely on assisted transfers and for the installers and mobility professionals supporting them.
Matt Fieldhouse, Group Managing Director at Mobility in Motion, commented: “The vehicles people choose are changing, and accessibility solutions need to change with them. The increasing popularity of SUVs and other larger vehicles can create additional challenges when it comes to assisted transfers.
“The MPL XR has been developed to address those challenges while maintaining the reliability and compatibility that installers expect from the Milford Person Lift.”
While the MPL XR introduces important engineering improvements, Mobility in Motion has focused on making the transition as straightforward as possible for its installer network.
All existing dedicated vehicle kits remain compatible with the MPL XR, while a range of existing accessories – including extension arms (when needed), sill brackets, spacers, handsets and power leads – can continue to be used.
The introduction of the MPL XR means that in most cases a drop arm won’t be required and a standard extension arm can be used instead as the person lift fulfi ls the drop requirement.
Existing warranty periods and current pricing will remain unchanged as part of the UK launch.
The Milford Person Lift has supported assisted vehicle transfers across a wide range of applications for almost four decades. The MPL XR builds on that experience with a design developed around the changing vehicle landscape, helping mobility providers and installers deliver practical transfer solutions for people who need additional assistance getting in and out of their vehicles.
“Accessibility shouldn’t have to be compromised simply because the vehicle someone needs or prefers to travel in has a higher seat height,” added Matt. “The MPL XR is about making sure assisted transfer technology keeps pace with the vehicles people are actually using.”
Mobility in Motion reecently launched a new nationwide survey to better understand how disability, long-term health conditions and limited mobility affect people’s ability to use a car, whether as a driver or passenger.
