Take thirty less detours?, Video of young people driving electric wheelchairs | Young people | Wheelchairs

At the age of 30, I started commuting in a wheelchair every day... Recently, videos of "using an electric wheelchair to commute" have attracted attention on social media. In the eyes of many businesses, some young customers are becoming potential buyers of wheelchairs.

Why did this generation of young people set their sights on electric wheelchairs at a young age and enter their "old age" ahead of schedule?

Young people use electric wheelchairs for transportation

Currently, electric wheelchairs are no longer the exclusive means of transportation for elderly people with limited mobility. According to videos on some social media platforms, young people riding electric wheelchairs frequently appear in universities, cafeterias, shopping malls, and even in groups, competing with wheelchairs on some roads.

Zhongxin Finance has noticed that in the Q&A section of electric wheelchairs on e-commerce platforms, many consumers have shown strong interest in electric wheelchairs. "Can young people buy them if they are not sick? It's a bit annoying to walk every day." "Can college students use them?" "Snatching food in the cafeteria! Magic tool." "Young people can also use them, making it easier to travel."

A consumer told a reporter from China News Finance and Economics, "When I buy it for my elderly family, I am curious and occasionally use it. Moreover, if I leave it at home, I may need it sooner or later." Consumers also shared their shopping experience: it is much more comfortable than any sofa, feasible, sitting, or lying down, truly in line with "ergonomics.".

According to JD Health data, the transaction volume of electric wheelchairs increased by over 60% in the first half of 2023 alone. What is worth buying? According to on-site data, during the 618 shopping festival this year, the category of electric wheelchairs saw significant growth, with a 44% year-on-year increase in GMV for related products. Among them, products priced around 3000 yuan were more favored by consumers.

The reporter also noticed that with the hot sales of electric wheelchairs, many companies have set their sights on this "cake".

On e-commerce platforms, in addition to traditional brands such as Yuyue that produce medical devices, including Lenovo and established bicycle brands such as Phoenix, they are all launching electric wheelchairs in a cross-border manner.

Low entry barrier and multiple advantages,

Can you still hang and play esports seats?

Why do young people have convenient legs and feet, but they are interested in electric wheelchairs? Is it pure curiosity or something else?

The user experience shared by a consumer on social media is quite representative - "This thing can be used to hang various esports chairs in all directions! It is comfortable to sit in, can be electrically driven, and can also be placed flat as a bed. It comes with a small table board, anti bedsore mat, and electric massage cushion, which is extremely cost-effective. It is sturdy and durable, with an extended warranty, easy to repair, and can be used for many years."

According to the information provided by JD Health to Zhongxin Finance, due to the intelligence and convenient operation of electric wheelchairs, various segmented application scenarios have been extended, such as those with toilets, those with voice broadcasting, and even those with foldable seats for two people.

On e-commerce platforms, some electric wheelchairs are promoted for their strong performance, climbing ability, good shock absorption, and meeting the travel requirements of different modes of transportation. According to a certain product introduction, electric wheelchairs can easily cope with general bumpy road conditions and can also climb shorter road shoulders.

China News Finance reporter learned from a seller of electric wheelchairs that electric wheelchairs belong to medical devices and can be used on the road normally. The general speed of a wheelchair is 1.2 to 6 kilometers per hour, and it can provide 5 adjustable speeds. The slowest speed is 1.2 kilometers per hour, which is equivalent to the walking speed of an elderly person; The fastest speed is equivalent to a normal person's jogging speed.

At the same time, after replacing with high-capacity batteries, electric wheelchairs can also meet consumers' demand for longer commuting distances. According to the above merchants, after replacing the battery, the maximum range can reach over 25 kilometers, and even over 60 kilometers. Only in terms of range, this is comparable to mid to high-end electric bicycles.

In addition, some netizens have claimed that compared to electric vehicles, electric wheelchairs are cheaper and have various "privileges". They do not need to be registered, are more convenient to use, can be driven on sidewalks, and do not need to wear helmets specifically

"Healthy people" use electric wheelchairs to travel on the road,

Is it a violation?

With the popularity of electric wheelchairs on social media, some consumers must have questions about whether it is possible to travel with electric wheelchairs? How is it currently managed? Does driving it on the road violate traffic regulations?

In response to this, a reporter from China News Finance called Beijing Traffic Management 12123 and received a response, "Currently, only disabled motorized wheelchairs are included in traffic regulations. These vehicles mainly use gasoline as fuel and need to be registered. Electric wheelchairs are not considered as means of transportation, so they will not be managed as motorized or non motorized vehicles."

Although using electric wheelchairs for travel is not illegal, some argue that this behavior should be cracked down on among young people, as it affects road traffic, occupies a large amount of public resources, and is not worth encouraging.

Regarding this, Yan Bing, Senior Partner of Beijing Times Jiuhe Law Firm, told China News Finance reporters that the original intention of designing electric wheelchairs was to serve people with disabilities, but there is no regulation that only disabled people can purchase and use electric wheelchairs. In practice, elderly people who have limited mobility but have not yet formed disabilities are also the main users of electric wheelchairs. "If healthy people drive electric wheelchairs on the road, it can only be evaluated from a moral perspective."

Yan Bing also stated that a basic principle in the field of civil law is that "it is feasible without prohibition", so young people who drive electric wheelchairs into public roads in good health may receive negative evaluations from the perspective of safety hazards and the efficiency of public transportation, but should not be deemed illegal.

What do you think about young people choosing electric wheelchairs for transportation?