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Motability Operations, the commercial organisation that delivers the life-changing Motability Scheme to disabled people across the UK, reveals eVITA, a next-generation electric wheelchair accessible vehicle (eWAV) concept. Designed and engineered by CALLUM, eVITA addresses the needs of passenger WAV users in the transition to small/medium electric vehicles.
Motability Operations is supporting its 750,000 customers in the transition to EVs by highlighting challenges and finding solutions. It currently has over 34,000 WAVs on the road, with around 4,000 applications each year for small and medium WAVs. The design of today’s EVs poses challenges for eWAV conversion and accessibility for wheelchair users. Without a solution, this would lead to customers in a wheelchair having to opt for larger vehicles than they need when switching to electric.
“The transition to electric simply won’t work unless it’s accessible for all,”
“I’m absolutely delighted that we have developed the eVITA concept with CALLUM that genuinely has accessibility and inclusivity at the heart of its design, demonstrating what is possible.”
- Andrew Miller, chief executive of Motability Operations.
Customer clinics inform design.
The exterior has a bold and striking silhouette, with a sleek roofline that accommodates access requirements and provides appropriate headroom for wheelchair users entering via the rear split tailgate. With a wheelbase of 2,980mm, eVITA measures 4,520mm in length, 1,908mm in width and 1,800mm in height, to also address wishes for a more compact footprint than is currently available.
“Today, electric vehicles are not offering the functionality and flexibility required by WAV users,”
“OEMs, their designers and engineers must plan ahead and embrace inclusive design principles to ensure that WAV users and disabled people are not forgotten in the transition to EVs. With eVITA, form and functionality have been developed in parallel, resulting in a well-considered, user-friendly EV that is both practical and stylish.”
- Ian Callum, design director at CALLUM.
Battery repackaging improves travelling experience.
Critical to the design of eVITA is the positioning of the battery. Its design ensures that the floor between the vehicle tailgate and front row is completely flat. This allows a wheelchair to smoothly travel from the rear ramp through the interior and be positioned nearer other occupants.
With a ride height closer to that of a hatchback car, the wheelchair user has an improved lower seating position with better visibility in the cabin, which was important for many Motability Scheme customers. Having wheelchair users at a similar height to other vehicle occupants helps them to feel more connected to other passengers.
eVITA features two charging ports – one at the nearside rear and a lower front-mounted option for ease of access for all users. The vehicle’s 50kWh battery provides an anticipated range of around 200 miles.
Innovative lighting ‘reserves’ crucial access space.
The cabin has two front and two rear doors, with the rear sliding doors featuring accessible release buttons. eVITA features a split tailgate – the upper section acting as an extension to the roof to keep users dry when entering and exiting in wet weather – with electronic door system for easy opening. The tailgate is a critical functional feature of the eWAV and an area where Scheme customers really emphasised the need for easy operation.
Additionally, customers stressed the common frustration of other motorists parking too close to the rear, making it difficult – and often impossible – to lower the access ramp when returning to their vehicle. To alert other motorists while parked, eVITA uses energy-efficient LED puddle lights to visually project onto the ground the essential space required for the extended ramp at the rear of the vehicle.
Inclusive, versatile interior.
Inside, the functionality and versatility of the eWAV cabin is of the utmost priority for users. A flip seat in the rear provides flexible seating options that can be personalised to the occupants’ preferences.
A key requirement was access to all the infotainment, heating and air conditioning controls and features, as often all these are located in and only benefit those in the front of a vehicle. The solution is a modular ‘utility bar’ in the rear of eVITA that provides easy access to all these functions, ensuring the occupant has full control and independence. Fully customisable, the utility bar also includes charging ports for personal devices, and can feature hooks for hanging coats or bags, as well as easy-to-reach storage, such as cup holders.
“The CALLUM team is incredibly proud to reveal eVITA and to work with Motability Operations on such an important project that has the potential to positively impact so many lives, supporting Motability Scheme customers with freedom and enjoyment of travel as society transitions to electric.”
- David Fairbairn, managing director at CALLUM.
“eVITA shows what can be done..”
- Andrew Miller, chief executive of Motability Operations.
For more information on eVITA and the EV requirements of wheelchair users, visit www.motabilityoperations.co.uk
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