B-Style, a leading name in vehicle accessibility solutions, has unveiled its highly anticipated electric Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) conversion kit. The ground-breaking technology has been developed to transform popular models such as the Peugeot e-Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Electric Life, Toyota Proace City Electric, Fiat e-Doblo, and Citroën e-Berlingo into fully electric WAVs, empowering wheelchair users who want to enjoy a new level of freedom and independence in an accessible, greener vehicle with zero tailpipe emissions.
B-Style's new electric WAV conversion kit offers a seamless integration of key wheelchair accessibility features into popular electric vehicles. By combining the reliability of renowned car manufacturers with B-Style's expertise in accessible transportation, the conversion kit ensures a smooth, comfortable and safe ride for wheelchair users.
Converting a standard vehicle to a WAV vehicle involves a major adjustment to the base vehicle. After all, a large part of the body is sawn away from the vehicle.
With the electric Peugeot e-Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Electric Life, Toyota Proace City Electric, Fiat E-Doblo and the Citroën E-Berlingo, this challenge is even greater because the battery pack is located directly under the floor of the vehicle.
Vehicle manufacturers do not allow dismantling or modifications to the battery pack, and doing so can void the warranty. That's why B-Style has developed a conversion that can be carried out without having to make any adjustments to the vehicle's battery pack.
The battery pack remains under the vehicle during the conversion and is unaffected throughout the process. Thanks to this unique way of converting, the B-Style kit ensures that the manufacturer's original warranty remains valid.
B-Style's electric WAV conversion kit represents a significant milestone in the European accessible vehicle market. The kit enables a seamless transition to emission-free mobility while preserving the essential features required for wheelchair accessibility.
Electric WAVs offer numerous advantages over traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, providing a cleaner and quieter driving experience, reducing carbon emissions and noise pollution. Additionally, electric WAVs can significantly reduce operating costs by lowering servicing expenses and eliminating the need for petrol or diesel fuel. This not only helps the environment but also presents a potential cost-saving solution for wheelchair users and organisations (such as Motability) who are looking for more sustainable mobility options.
The electric WAV conversion kit has been painstakingly designed so that it seamlessly integrates with the Peugeot e-Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Electric Life, Toyota Proace City Electric, Fiat e-Doblo, and Citroën e-Berlingo models. The kit ensures that the vehicles retain their original performance and functionality while accommodating wheelchair accessibility. The process incorporates standard WAV features such as a lowered floor, a pop-up rear ramp that can be unfolded with minimal effort and a Braun restraint system to ensure that the wheelchair passenger is safely secured in the vehicle.
The wheelchair area is finished by using a special vinyl that provides extra sound absorption, and the edges are finished with smart stainless steel finishing profiles.
The user-friendly design incorporates high-quality materials and advanced engineering techniques throughout to guarantee durability and reliability, and the finished conversion has been put through rigorous testing to ensure the highest level of safety and performance.
The kit is supplied as standard to conversion companies as a 'five plus one' conversion. This means that after the vehicle has been converted it will be able to accommodate one driver, four passengers and one wheelchair passenger situated in the rear of the vehicle.
For taxi drivers, the design can be adapted thanks to the option to add two extra folding seats on the third row, so that the vehicle can accommodate up to seven (the driver plus six passengers) when not being used as a WAV.
For families, it is also possible to choose two separate seats on the second row, so that easier interaction can take place between the wheelchair passenger and others in the vehicle.
B-Style is a leading provider of accessible vehicle solutions, specialising in vehicle modifications and adaptations for wheelchair users.
With the launch of this conversion kit, B-Style hopes to bridge the gap between electric vehicles and wheelchair accessibility, making emission-free transportation available to a much broader audience. By developing this all-in-one solution for converters, B-Style and their partners aim to improve the mobility and independence of wheelchair users and their families, empowering them to embrace a greener, more inclusive future.
