Wheelchair Lifts For Vans And Cars

By Jill Pinciotti

How long has it been since you ventured out since your problem? Ages! Going out is an arduous task for most people who cannot move about by themselves. They need to take the help of others and this makes them lose interest in going out.

Wheelchair lifts bring a new sense of freedom and joy, the joy of not having to depend on others anymore, the joy of being able to feel the freshness in the air.

Hospitals and others have always used wheelchair lifts for transporting patients with wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are heavy and traveling in a wheelchair is no mean task, either for the patient or for the person assisting. Getting in and out of the car is not the only challenge, storing the wheelchair is also a challenge by itself.

For people with limited mobility, wheelchair lifts assist in easing the wheelchairs in and out of the car. The lift is installed in the car or minivan, into a recess created in the rear of the van floor and bumper.

They are easy to use and can be dissembled easily. There are other types that can lift the unit into the trunk of the vehicle or the back.

There are manual and powered wheelchair lifts. Powered wheelchair lifts lift the wheelchair into the vehicle without any manual intervention. They are more expensive than the manual ones but also most sought after.

Lifts, which operate manually, are easy to install and professional assistance is not required. All you need to do is slide the lift into a hitch that is attached to the back of the vehicle. But for an electric wheelchair lift, an experienced mechanic may be required to install it. Drilling of holes may be required and the lift will need to be wired to the battery.

Before buying a wheelchair lift for your van or car, you will have to check if the make and model of your vehicle is suitable for the wheelchair lift you plan on using. This ensures that you don't have problems after buying the lift. Keep in mind that individual needs differ; consult with an expert before choosing one.

Jill Pinciotti is a free lance writer and reviewer of mobility products. To learn more about wheelchair lifts and how to select the proper one for your car or van, visit http://www.usmedicalsupplies.com

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Reshaping the Mini-Van to Increase Aerodynamics for Efficiency

Today’s modern minivan and SUV are quite stylish, however aerodynamically speaking quite lacking in laminar airflow efficiency. Convert this statement in gas mileage and you can readily see the need for massive aerodynamic improvement. The Modern Soccer mom needs a complete retrofit in her transportation choices. Drastic shape changes should be made but unfortunately those companies, which make too advanced or radical changes early on are not able to meet the demands of the mass-market consumer. For instance it doesn’t look like a minivan or SUV, it is ugly, not hip or cool.

Some early adopters may opt to buy and drive a radically new design in a minivan or SUV however unless that design can gain “Cool, The Bomb, Trick, Awesome” status then wide spread acceptance will not continue the trend. Car manufacturers test new ideas at auto shows and with artist’s conceptions in trade journals and do lots of surveys before introducing new models. They know in advance what will sell and what will not, sometimes they will throw caution to the wind with a radical design, but there are plenty of failures from the EDSEL to modern day models such as the Pontiac Aztec, which flopped

http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa?for...essageID=216123

Re-tooling for a new model costs millions and the R and D involved takes years to recoup. We need a more aerodynamically and efficiently designed SUV, but society needs to put their money where their mouth is? We see that environmentalists are upset with large SUVs, some extremist rogue criminal elements of the environmentalist movement have taken to arson of car dealerships selling the largest of SUV, the Hummer. It might be interesting to see these groups turn their efforts to the public to entice them through proper reasoning and education to buy the most efficient SUVs and minivans.

The best design for an efficient minivan would be one with a full undercarriage shell, rear wheel covers or fairings, a bulbous nose and rounded tapered rear. The bulbous nose would need to be rounded in the front and then come back to a contoured indentation which would be similar to the indentation on a shoe arch after the first 1/3 of the vehicle, however the indentation would need to be all the way around; top, bottom and both sides. The second two-thirds of the vehicle would need to contour back out to the widest point of the bulbous nose and continue back to the end of the vehicle. As the vehicle come to an end it would be rounded out and slightly tapered to complete the shape.

Scientists have studied these concepts in fluid dynamics for boat hull design, light aircraft design, over the road trucks and racecars.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Is a Hybrid Minivan on the Horizon?

By Joseph Then

With new hybrid cars and SUVs now being released in the United States, there are many people who are wondering if there is a hybrid minivan on the horizon too. While the cars are great and extremely popular, many people need the convenience of a minivan for hauling their kids around. So, is there a hybrid minivan on the horizon? Well, it appears that a hybrid minivan has already been released in Japan and that there are environmental groups that are hoping that the minivans come on over to the United States as well.

The Toyota Estima Hybrid Minivan Already in Use in Japan

The Toyota Estima hybrid minivan has already been introduced in the country of Japan and it is being used as well. This was introduced in Japan back in 2001 and it was the very first hybrid minivan to be created. The new minivan looks great and it also provide great performance and fuel economy as well. This minivan was actually the first vehicle that has been mass produced to use a unique four wheel driving system that is totally electric. The starting price in Japan is about $32,000, which really is not a bad deal for what you get.

Environmental Groups Want Hybrid Minivans in the U.S.

Since a hybrid minivan has already been released in Japan, there are now environmental groups that want this new minivan to be sold in the United States as well. They feel that having hybrid minivans well help to boost fuel economy, reduce the amount of fuel consumed, and that the environment will be preserved as well. One group, the Union of Concerned Scientists, has actually started a petition with Toyota to have them bring their hybrid minivan from Japan to the United States as well.

Hybrid Minivans Will Help Families Financially

For those who have larger families and need the convenience of a mini van, having a hybrid minivan could really help out financially. Most minivans are very expensive to drive around with the price of gas; however, the hybrid minivan would not use as much gas, which would save many families a huge amount of money.

So, will we see the hybrid minivan in America in the next few years? More than likely we will see these new minivans sold, especially with the huge demand that there seems to be for these minivans to be sold on American soil.

Learn more about Hybrid Cars. Compare the various hybrid cars and understand their benefits. Know what to take note when buying such car. Visit Joseph's website on Hybrid Cars for more useful information.



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Disadvantages of owning a Hybrid Car

With increasing gas prices all over the country showing no signs for decreasing in the future, hybrid cars have become the new economic and fashionable vehicle. With the advantages being thrown in the consumer's face at every ad, the disadvantages to purchasing this vehicle are quietly swept under. No vehicle is without its own problems, and it is time to pull the rose-tinted glasses off of hybrid vehicles in order to have an informed opinion during your next trip to the dealership.

1. Household Size Matters - Buying a vehicle normally entails knowing what styleof vehicle one wants to find, such as a sedan, convertible, 4 x 4, among others. Know that when looking at hybrid cars, the typical convertible would be larger than its hybrid counterpart, and guarantee that the difference can be significant. Being aware of the consumer's needs mean a strong consideration to space, because in an effort to be more fuel-efficient, hybrid cars are less car and more technology.

2. Bigger Might Be Better - In a fight between a pick-up truck and a compact, there is no question as to which vehicle will win. In fact, pick-up trucks continually win decisive victories against smaller cars, and even with the fuel crisis, people are not turning in their pick-up trucks and SUVs in droves. So, while the consumer may be more fuel-efficient, be aware that hybrid cars have much lower rankings for safety and that these smaller cars will be more vulnerable on the road.

3. A Need for Speed? - While many hybrid cars can compete with typical vehicles on the highway, it is very important to realize that this may not always be the case. Many of these hybrid vehicles are unable to accelerate at nearly the same rate that conventional cars can. That is not to say that hybrid cars cannot travel along highways, just that drag racing may not be the career of choice for the driver of a Prius.

4. The Dreaded Air Conditioning Monster - While that may be dramatic, the truth is that the air-conditioning systems in hybrids may give you some cool air, but ultimately will destroy the gas mileage benefits of the vehicle. A hybrid's engine is much smaller and less weighty, so the additional taxing effect of air-conditioning outweighs its momentary relief.

5. Trust: Always an Issue - Like every big purchase, hybrids are under warranties, and for the most part, the newer models have not come to the end of their warranties. So, that leaves the consumers to wonder just how much these vehicles can be trusted after the warranty is expired. Batteries are not always under warranty, and even when they are, there is no telling how much replacing one may cost a consumer out of warranty, especially when the battery drops out of the bottom of the used hybrid purchased by the unaware consumer.

6. To Fix or Not To Fix - Hybrid cars may look deceptively innocent on the outside, but the technology inside is incredibly complex, and probably will require a different mechanic than the minivan you used to own. So, before deciding to purchase a hybrid, it would be wise to look for a mechanic that you know could handle the repairs that may need to be effected to your vehicle, or consider speaking to your dealer about this situation as well. If not, it might be time to think about another vehicle.

No car is perfect, whether it is a "gas-guzzler" or a fuel-efficient hybrid, so it is important to make sure you weigh all of your options before deciding on a vehicle. If the situation doesn't feel right, do not make the purchase, and make sure you feel comfortable with the vehicle before you buy.

You can also learn more about hybrid cars at hybridcarchat.com and discus this in the hybrid car forums(http://www.hybridcarchat.com/forum/).


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