Written by Mike Price, OT
Wheelchairs are a great invention, allowing those with limited lower body strength or dexterity to move around more easily. However, because the movement of manual wheelchairs depends on the user’s own upper body strength or the assistance of another person to propel the chair forward, it can sometimes be challenging to use them for long periods, or over more difficult terrain.
If you love your manual wheelchair, but you’re experiencing difficulties with the physical strength needed to mobilize everywhere you want to go, the SmartDrive MX2+ Power Assist is the answer.
Although power wheelchairs may seem like the best option for those having difficulty with mobilizing manual wheelchairs, they come with a few of their own disadvantages. Power wheelchairs are not the best choice for everyone, so it’s important to consider the pros and cons.
Conversely, people love their manual wheelchairs because they’re lighter in weight, easy to transport, have fewer moving parts to maintain or repair, and are much simpler to navigate in tight spaces and through doorways.
For every reason that folks don’t like their manual wheelchairs, such as lacking or losing the strength to mobilize the chair, finding it impossible to go up slopes or travel for longer distances, and creating shoulder wear and tear, the SmartDrive MX2+ Power Assist is the perfect solution.
With both rigid and folding manual wheelchair compatibility, the ingenious new SmartDrive MX2+ Wheelchair Assist enables you to enjoy the lightweight maneuverability and portability of your favorite manual wheelchair along with the convenient, exertion-saving battery power of an electric wheelchair.
Weighing only 12.5 pounds, this state-of-the-art propulsion assist system is made up of a lithium-ion battery, a brushless DC motor, and a proprietary Omni-wheel. It is easy to install on the back of most types and sizes of manual wheelchairs.
Able to travel up to 12 miles on non-resistant terrains, the SmartDrive MX2+ will wheel you through thick, plush carpeting indoors, and up inclines and hills outdoors, without any exertion required from you or a caregiver. All you need to do is steer and direct the movement of the device with the PushTracker.
The other half of the SmartDrive system is the innovative PushTracker, which is worn on your wrist like a smartwatch. The easy-to-use device allows you to change its tap sensitivity, top speed parameters, mode of operation, and more.
It allows you to easily track and control the movement of your wheelchair, and includes a free smartphone app for convenient wireless control. By connecting to the app, you can track a range of propulsion metrics, such as coast time and push count, helping to monitor daily habits, and reduce injury risks.
The SmartDrive MX2+ wheelchair assist is quickly changing lives for the better, enabling manual wheelchair users to attain a whole new level of independence and mobility. Some of its most outstanding attributes include:
For such a small assemblage, users are often surprised by how much power this wheelchair assist delivers. It features a 250 W brushless DC motor, and a 36-volt lithium-ion battery, allowing users to navigate the steepest ramps, hills, and other inclines, and travel for longer distances on a single battery charge. Its anti-rollback design ensures safety, even when stopping and restarting on an incline.
Compact, robust, and lightweight, the SmartDrive MX2+ is simple to attach to the back of just about any style and model of manual wheelchair. It’s compatible with folding, rigid, reclining/tilt-in-space, standing, and one-arm drive manual wheelchairs, in a range of various sizes.
The PushTracker wristband operates the movement with a couple taps to speed up, a single tap to coast at the selected speed, and two more taps on the brake to stop. Super easy for just about anyone to use, the PushTracker also enables users to create personalized changes for the tap sensitivity, top range of speed, and more, customizing its function to suit every unique person.
Delivering reliable performance and dependable functionality, this wheelchair assist gives manual wheelchair users the capability to do more. Not only does it provide the power you require to mobilize indoors and out, but it also allows you to hop off curbs, perform wheelies, and spin in place. It engenders independence, and the freedom to overcome the obstacles that manual wheelchair users are often challenged with.
“Been using a chair since 1983 and have seen many products come down the pike claiming to change the world. The smart drive is the first one that has truly delivered and it is a game changer. It is simple and intuitive to use and I've been surprised at how much I use it in everyday settings. I push myself and then double-tap it on to boost when I need it. For me, it's a quality of life saver and worth every penny.” - Stephen Miller
“...I am paraplegic and use a manual wheelchair and prior to receiving this item, everyone who I spoke with who had experience with it, loved it!”...”I love how you control it with the armband/watch and how light it is that it does not affect my routine at all like getting in the car or taking a shower. I love how my manual wheelchair is now basically a powered one. It’s a MOPED now instead of a bike and I’m loving it. I am now trying to find any excuse to go "push" myself somewhere, so anything that encourages one to be more active is a beautiful thing.” - Ligaya A.
“One great thing about it is that, unlike with a power wheelchair, if you run out of power, you're not stranded. You can still push yourself. When no electricity is going to the motor, the SmartDrive does NOT make a wheelchair significantly slower or harder to power or maneuver than it would be with the SmartDrive removed.”...”If I was going to design a system it would look like this.” - M Elvey
To learn more about the SmartDrive and other amazing products that make life more accessible for wheelchair users, check out the full selection of wheelchair accessories at Rehabmart.com and browse our entire catalog of helpful articles on Caregiver University.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
