Suzuki Motors unveils MIO: the fuel cell-powered wheelchair

If you're trying to get away from that gas guzzling wheelchair, but feel a bit awkward rolling in the less-than-glamorous solar-powered edition, Suzuki Motors has got your back. Taking a leap forward from its previous lead-acid battery-powered electric wheelchair, the MIO is a motor-driven cart that gets its juice from an ultra-green fuel cell. The cell works in conjunction with a "large capacity Li-ion secondary battery," and while we aren't certain of how quickly this bad boy can streak down the quarter mile, it can supposedly cruise for 25 miles on a single fill up (four liters) of methanol solution. Aside from the power source, the MIO sports armrests that serve double duty as safety barriers, ergonomic handlebars, a comfortable mesh seating surface, and even an LCD panel that shows such useful data as fuel level and power status. While Suzuki insists the unit is simply a prototype, and refuses to hand out pricing details while it "judges consumer interest," the MIO should still be a bit easier to acquire than the sold out Tesla should it ever hit stores.

[Via Far East Gizmos]

[iptydafu @ Sep 28th 2006 7:48AM]

Do you look silly? "Beeeep."

Do you want to look silly? "Boooop."

[JamesO @ Sep 28th 2006 8:32AM]

Does this remind anyone of the chair that Captain Pike was in on the original Star Trek?

[Michael Reilly @ Sep 29th 2006 10:33AM]

Captain Pike's chair was instantly what I saw as well and I had to see who else thought so. So does that make this chair futuristic or retro or both?

[griz @ Sep 28th 2006 9:18AM]

So, I'm guessing Suzuki doesn't want people to use this inside? I know it fuel cell technology doesn't produce any harmful byproducts that would harm the indoor air, but it does produce water = slippery trail behind the chair. Maybe its just a ploy to increase their potential market by creating more and more parapelegics.

[o0adam0o @ Sep 28th 2006 9:34AM]

looks like one of those child strollers they have at the mall.

[bobw @ Oct 9th 2006 3:03PM]

The Tesla Roadster is *not* sold out. The first 100 "Signature Edition" roadsters, with all the trimmings and a required 100% deposit have sold out, but you can still get on the waiting list. Now you only need to put down 70%; $70,000.00.

It's a nice car, if you have the cash.

[sweetdee @ Oct 29th 2008 2:10PM]

I love this article! .. What a ridiculous looking cart -_-
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