When shopping for a wheelchair you need to think about buying a car. What color you want, size, features, warranty, how much you have to spend, etc. In addition to that you need to take measurements of the smallest places you need to go with it as well as any weight limits for lifts, ramps, bridges, walkways, etc.
Most electric wheelchairs weight around 300 pounds. Some are lighter, others heavier. Few have an option for smaller batteries, others do not. Smaller batteries will reduce how far you can travel on a charge, but may allow you to use your existing lift or bus line lift. Some have an option for larger batteries, this will make the chair heavier, but it will travel farther per a charge. When recharging a wheelchairs batteries it can take 5-12 hours depending on the size of the battery, size of the charger and how low the batteries are when you recharge them. Most powerchair ranges are over estimated, expect 6-12 miles from a chair. The less you drain the battery the better, this is why you should get the right size if not larger ones, but you have to do what you have to do. If you get smaller batteries and run them low, then they will not last as long.
Next comes size. Most powerchairs are smaller then regular wheelchairs because the drive system is under the chair then beside it. Some wheelchairs are longer then others cause the manufacture sticks a battery behind the chair to allow you to sit lower. Make any measurements of existing tables and or your van, so you can get a chair that allows you to sit low to use your existing stuff. This is a feature on some called hemi height.
If you have problems with pressure sores and or back pain, try a power seat. Most wheelchairs have an option for a recline, tilting or both on a chair. This is usually operated by a button or through the controller to recline the seat like a recliner or tilt the whole thing back. Some chairs offer a manual recline or tilt that uses a hand grip to unlock the seat to reposition it. Some manufactures offer a bucket style seat like what people use in their cars. For some who use a powerchair frequently but not totally depended on it, this may be a great alternative then to buy a seat and back cushion. These seats are weather resistant and some have a manual recline feature. Few manufactures offer a Recaro style seat. This seat is a nice commercial seat used when people modify their cars, trucks, etc. It is available with both manual or power features. You can get heat, air, power recline, power tilt, lumbar and sac air bladders, width, leg length adjustments. This is a special order item on some chairs and works best for those with muscular problems.
Once you decide on the type of seat you need to get seat and or back cushions. Depending on your condition and needs is which cushion you use. For those who can't move or have pressure sores then a ROHO seat cushion is for you. It is an air cushion that is the best. Next come the foam and gel style cushions. Although you do not have to worry about them leaking like the ROHO, they do require pressure shifts to keep from breaking your skin down. Next you need a back cushion. Some people can make due with the standard sling back, but most can't. Many back cushions exist on the market and have different features. For those with strange curves of the back then a foam filled or formed one can be had to fit your exact needs. Some use foam wedges, air or flex to fit your back shape to help support you and distribute your weight to avoid pressure sores. Some have an angle adjustment to help give you that few of degrees for added comfort. Some have an option for a head rest.
Last but not lease is the performance. Do you need to travel across a street or several miles to and from places? Do the cracks in the sidewalk and or small bumps bother you as you travel? If these are the cases then you need to look into speeds and suspension. Chairs are like cars, you need to test drive them to decide which one will fit your needs, budget, dimensions, etc. Lastly look at tires. Wider tires offer better flotation and traction outdoors, where narrower tires can make the chair smaller. Also look into ways of securing a chair to ride in it while it is transported. Some chairs have an option for a system called EZ-Lock.
If you can not afford a powerchair have you looked at scooters? Most scooters have an option to use a standard wheelchair style seat to offer the support and ability to use seat and back cushions. Some scooters go faster then powerchairs and offer suspension too. The only draw back between a scooter and powerchair, is that the powerchair is less likely to flip. The powerchair can make U turns like a tank, where with a scooter you have to make 3 point turns like you do with your car in tight places.
When buying a piece of equipment, look at the warranty. Most local dealers charge an upfront labor charge to cover any warranty work in the future. Most warranties on chairs cover parts, but not labor. The manufacture suggest the dealer to charges extra to cover this. Net dealers can give a big break on the price, but you may have to pay the labor at a local dealer and or ship the bad part/s or whole chair to get it fixed.
Here is an excellent source of different manufactures, makes and models of equipment on the market.
http://www.wheelchairdealer.com/
