The innovative lift makes it possible for people with disabilities and senior citizens to board private and public buses as also use it for other purposes
In India, people with disabilities seldom travel by buses, whether it is a private or a public bus. They always find it inaccessible and this unfortunate situation includes our senior citizens as well. Taking this scenario into consideration, home-grown company Elektra has stepped in to change this once and for all. The Chennai-based firm has introduced a wheelchair lift to make public transport by bus completely inclusive. The ‘Elektra’ step lift is a product specifically designed for city buses. Mounted at the side door of the bus, it occupies the space where the access stairs is located.
At rest, it functions as stairs for pedestrians to step in and out the bus. When deployed, the system is automatically transformed into a lift platform to assist wheelchair occupants to embark or disembark the vehicle. The Elektra SL650 lift is unique because it is not just for public buses but can also be installed in private buses to provide accessibility with the same design and with no loss of seating capacity. The operation of this lift is easy, safe and reliable with a maximum loading capacity of 300 kg.
Meanwhile, the application spectrum is wider because of its unique design and simple installation. This lift has a typical characteristic: the platform can be used as a step of the vehicle, which saves space and operating time. There is an anti-skidding device on the platform which can ensure the safety of the wheelchair during lift application. Also, the front roll-stop can be made to stand up, thus protecting the wheelchair further. The product is a boon for any wheelchair passenger who can now easily travel across the city with the help of this product.
In addition, the lift has an emergency manual mechanism installed that can be used to operate the lift in case of an electrical failure. Commenting on this product development, Ashitha Sudhakar, co-founder of Elektra, said, “These lifts have been designed and developed as per AIS153 standards and have been tested by a leading electric bus manufacturer in South India. Having got confirmed orders for these lifts from various state transport agencies, we are looking forward to supplying 500 of them in the initial tranche. ICAT and ARAI approvals are also in progress and we will have them very soon.”