In 2026, a Japanese start-up aims to launch an all-terrain electric wheelchair capable of climbing and descending staircases as well as boarding trains and buses unaided. They also intend to create a version that can manage escalators.
The wheelchair created by Lifehub Inc., which typically moves on four wheels across level surfaces, features caterpillar tracks for navigating stairs, inclines, and rough terrain.
The Avest wheelchair from this firm modifies its seat angle when going up and down stairs with an inclination of up to 40 degrees, as stated by Lifehub. The device has a range of approximately 40 kilometers per full battery charge.
Although comparable stair-climbing wheelchairs are already on the market, many require riders to face backwards when ascending, the company claims.
The Lifehub will provide 50 units of the initial release, with each unit costing 1.5 million yen ($10,000). It’s worth noting that in Japan, electric wheelchairs do not incur sales tax.
The firm based in Tokyo is working on a new model designed to enable users to use escalators independently, marking what could be the first-ever wheelchair globally equipped with this feature, as reported by Lifehub.
At a press conference, Lifehub CEO Hiroshi Nakano stated his intention to "address the issues encountered by wheelchair users through our technological capabilities."
Although Lifehub will primarily concentrate on providing Avest wheelchairs to individuals with disabilities, seniors, and people who have sustained injuries, they intend to promote these devices as personal transportation options for use in locations like shopping centers and big retail outlets, according to Nakano.