That wild looking vehicle that you see above is called Der Ziesel. It's hardly the first wheelchair designed to go off road, but it has to be one of the coolest. This product of Austria is basically a tracked ATV that lets disabled people go anywhere, or it could just be a wild personal mobility device, if that's what you need.
The company behind it, Mattro Mobility Revolutions, offers the Ziesel in three levels of power. There's a basic version with a 6.3-kilowatt-hour battery and 16-horsepower-peak electric motor, a mid-range unit with a 7.9-kWh pack and 18.7 hp and finally the Pro model with a 10.8-kWh battery and 24 hp. Top speeds are as high as 21.7 miles per hour.
That electricity spins two big tracks, and it's all controlled by a joystick. The company claims that this wheelchair tank can take a 60 percent grade in any direction. In case things get hairy, there's a four-point harnesses holding the driver in place and a roll bar extending over the top for added safety.
Of course, there has to be a downside to something that looks this fun. In the case of the Ziesel, the company doesn't currently list a US distributor on its website. Also, these wheelchairs aren't exactly cheap. The basic model starts at 19,980 euros and prices range up to 23,890 euros for the top version. You have to admit that you at least want to try one, though.
The company behind it, Mattro Mobility Revolutions, offers the Ziesel in three levels of power. There's a basic version with a 6.3-kilowatt-hour battery and 16-horsepower-peak electric motor, a mid-range unit with a 7.9-kWh pack and 18.7 hp and finally the Pro model with a 10.8-kWh battery and 24 hp. Top speeds are as high as 21.7 miles per hour.
That electricity spins two big tracks, and it's all controlled by a joystick. The company claims that this wheelchair tank can take a 60 percent grade in any direction. In case things get hairy, there's a four-point harnesses holding the driver in place and a roll bar extending over the top for added safety.
Of course, there has to be a downside to something that looks this fun. In the case of the Ziesel, the company doesn't currently list a US distributor on its website. Also, these wheelchairs aren't exactly cheap. The basic model starts at 19,980 euros and prices range up to 23,890 euros for the top version. You have to admit that you at least want to try one, though.
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