The Sunrise Medical Empulse R20 Powerpack can be attached to almost any box-frame wheelchair, allowing you to use it with your existing wheelchair - or we can supply it alongside a new wheelchair from the leading UK manufacturers. With a weight capacity of up to 190 kg, the R20 can be used for almost everyone, including paediatric and bariatric users.
The incredibly simple to use control system requires just one button to be pushed to go. Unlike traditional powerpacks, steering is a breeze with no hindrance at all from the powerpack, allowing tight manoeuvring, for example with indoors. The easy to read display shows both your speed and battery gauges, while the speed can be changed between three settings - up to a maximum 3 mph, a good walking pace.
With a powerful 250 W brushless motor and lithium ion battery, your power-assisted wheelchair has a 9 mile range, can climb kerbs up to 5 cm, and manage 10° slopes with ease. The handlebar is height adjustable to ensure the attendant remains comfortable whilst operating the R20.
It is the only powerpack on the market that can be folded up with the wheelchair, making it the easiest powerpack to transport. It weighs just 4.5 kg, letting you lift both wheelchair and powerpack easily into and out of a car boot, or store them discreetly out of the way when back home. Should you wish to remove the powerpack, the inquitive easy to grip two-peg design allows easy mounting and removal without the use of tools.
Reliability is assured with an extended 3 year warranty on the motor, and 2 year warranty on the Lithium Ion battery. The brushless motors do not wear out over time versus traditional brushed motors, and the tyre is robust and long-lasting.
Our Verdict
Powerpacks are becoming more and more widespread these days, as people struggle with the strain of pushing. However, traditional powerpacks have always had some limitations - they are relatively heavy, need to be mounted and dismounted to transport in a car - which can be a fiddly process, and they make turning tricky. The R20 is a significant progression from these old models, and addresses all those issues. It is light, can be folded and lifted with your wheelchair, is easy to mount and remove, and offers no resistance to turning.
We think the Empulse R20 is the best powerpack available on the market - light, convenient and reliable. For those on a more limited budget, the TGA Powerpack Duo is worth considering. Alternatively, the Ypush is a modern wheelchair with fully integrated power-assist that offers an all-in-one solution.
