Description
a chair-accessible electric vehicle designed for wheelchair users who want to remain seated in their wheelchair while driving.
Kenguru is an EV for wheelchair users
The electric vehicle market has seen incredible growth in the past decade. There were 7.2 million EVs on the road in 2019, despite there being less than 20,000 in use just nine years earlier. New models emerge all the time – and the Kenguru is easily one of the most intriguing. Kenguruev
In an innovative and competitive market, the Kenguru manages to stand apart from other EVs. It’s not the fastest electric car, nor does it have the longest range, but it does have one notable claim to fame. It’s the world’s first EV made specifically for wheelchair users.
What sets the Kenguru apart?
The Kenguru has just one door, which takes up the entire back panel of the vehicle. At the click of a button, the rear panel lifts, and a ramp automatically extends. When drivers turn on the ignition, the ramp retracts, and the door closes.
Kenguru EV for wheelchairs. Kenguruev
The Kenguru is also so small and lightweight that it classifies as an electric scooter. That means you don’t need a driver’s license to operate it, making it even more accessible.
How does the Kenguru stack up against other EVs?
Compared to other EVs, the Kenguru isn’t particularly fast or feature-rich. It has a top speed of 28 mph and a range of 43 to 68 miles. There’s also no room for any passengers and limited storage space.
Kenguru EV for wheelchair
While the Kenguru may not be comparable to an ordinary car, it does precisely what it’s supposed to. It gives people who use wheelchairs an affordable, accessible way to move around the city. Transportation can be a considerable barrier for wheelchair users, but the Kenguru provides an answer.
he Kenguru also fully charges from an empty battery in just eight hours. Since it can charge so quickly, its limited range is less of a concern. The Kenguru has other EVs beat in another category, too. A new electric car costs $55,600 on average, while the Kenguru is less than half of that price.
The EV market is becoming more diverse
A vehicle like the Kenguru is a positive sign for the EV market. Electric car manufacturers are making products with a more diverse audience in mind. There’s a suitable EV out there for virtually everyone.
As more of these more niche market EVs appear, electric cars as a whole will be more appealing. They’ll continue to grow, and emissions will fall as a result. The Kenguru may be a tiny car, but it represents a big step forward.
Istvan’s life-changing vehicle began to turn heads in no time, but when the Hungarian economy crashed and Kenguru lost their loan, they had to turn to fundraising to sustain their business… that is until Stacy Zoern stepped up.
Although she lives all the way in Texas, this disabled attorney found herself in need of a vehicle after her $80,000 modified van was totaled just months after she purchased it. She was discouraged at first when she found that Kenguru was only available in Hungary, but after a few phone calls, a life-changing partnership was made.
Together, Stacy and Istvan have moved the company to Austin, Texas. By 2014, they became fully produced in the U.S. and the demand for them grew higher than ever!
“It’s been fantastic. I mean, we’ve taken this to trade shows all over the world — New York, Germany, Dubai — and everywhere people are so excited,” Stacy said. “We’ve got people on waitlists that want to buy them. I get emails from all over the world, places I’ve never heard of that want to buy Kenguru.”
Although these compact cars can only go 25 mph and 60 miles at a time, they’re perfect for wheelchair users who want the freedom of making a trip to the grocery store or a doctor’s appointment by themselves, something most of us take for granted.
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