India’s first indigenous motorised wheelchair vehicle called NeoBolt developed by IIT Madras

• NeoBolt can be used on roads as well as on uneven terrains.
• It has a maximum speed of 25 kmph and it can travel up to 25 km per charge.
• It was developed to empower wheelchair users a convenient, safe and low-cost mode of outdoor mobility as compared to cars, auto rickshaws and modified scooters.
• It is powered by a Lithium-Ion Battery.
• NeoBolt is a motor-powered attachment that converts the wheelchair into a safe, road-worthy vehicle.

India currently imports 2.5 lakh of wheelchairs out of total three lakh wheelchairs that are sold in India annually. This is because, products with comparable features are available only in international market. But those wheelchairs are three to five times more expensive as compared to what has been developed by IIT Madras researchers.

Researchers collaborated with organisations and hospitals that are working for people with locomotor disability to build this wheel chair considering their experiences and making design adjustments.

Wheelchair has been developed by Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development, of the IIT Madras. This vehicle was commercialised by means of a startup called “Neo Motion”.

Wheelchair will be available for users at a price of Rs 55,000.