Spotlight: Quickie Q50 R Carbon (Buying Guide)

If you’re in the market for an electric wheelchair, you’re not exactly short of options. There are thousands of different powered wheelchairs out there to choose from and hundreds of different brands, all of which will happily tell you that their products are the best.

The Quickie Q50 R Carbon is no exception. Its manufacturers claim that it’s able to smoothly traverse rough terrain in a way that no other motorised wheelchair can. They say it’s perfect for those planning trips abroad. But are these claims justified?

In this buying guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the Q50 R Carbon and tell you just how good it really is. We’ll put the manufacturer’s claims to the test, helping you decide if this is the wheelchair for you. First, an introduction to the brand behind the product…

An overview of the Quickie brand

Quickie is a sub-brand of Sunrise Medical Group, a global mobility specialist with a track record of innovation that dates back to 1983. After setting up distribution networks in the UK, the USA and Canada, Sunrise Medical acquired the Quickie wheelchair brand in 1986 with a clear mission: to build on the success it had already achieved in the wheelchair industry.

By 1986, Quickie had built a reputation for producing affordable yet ultra-lightweight manual wheelchairs. But a lot has changed since then. Manual wheelchairs aren’t the only option on the market nowadays, with electric models increasingly topping customers’ wishlists.

The Q50 R Carbon is a great example of how Quickie has adapted to this change, fusing its expertise in lightweight design with the very latest technology. Here’s a closer look at what makes it unique.

What makes the Q50 R Carbon unique?

The Quickie Q50 R Carbon is the brand’s lightest folding electric wheelchair, and one of the lightest you’ll find anywhere. Built with flexibility and convenience in mind, the Q50 R is a far cry from the bulky, cumbersome wheelchairs you may have been used to previously. Ultra lightweight and easy to fold flat, it’s perfect for everything from day trips and holidays abroad to weekly visits to the supermarket.

So, what makes the Q50 R so lightweight? The clue is in the name: its frame is fabricated from carbon fibre. If you’re not already familiar with this material, it’s one of the lightest and strongest available. It’s used in everything from spacecraft to the world’s most exclusive road cars from names like Ferrari and McLaren, not only because it weighs less than other materials (like aluminium) but because it’s significantly stronger too. The entire safety cell of a Formula One car is made from the stuff, which just goes to show how tough it is.

It’s not just the strength and low weight of the Q50 R that make it unique, but how easy it is to fold and transport. In moments, this already compact wheelchair can be folded down to just 14.5″ long x 22.5″ wide x 30″ tall, making it easy to load into a vehicle for day trips and weekends away. The Lithium ION battery is IATA (International Air Transport Association) approved too, allowing you to travel abroad without having to worry about renting a powered wheelchair when you arrive.

A look at the numbers

To get a clearer picture of what the Q50 R is capable of, we need to look at the numbers. First up, range. With the standard-fit battery, the Q50 R can travel 7.5 miles on a single charge, with a maximum speed of 4 mph. But with the optional Plus package fitted (which includes another 10Ah Lithium ION battery), the range almost doubles to 14 miles.

Although impressive, range isn’t the Q50 R’s trump card. Instead, it’s weight. That carbon fibre frame we talked about earlier results in a weight of just 14.5 kg with the batteries removed, making it a breeze to fold and transport. Don’t think that means the Q50 R is flimsy or fragile, either: it’s robust enough to support a user weight of up to 136 kg.

With a turning radius of just 800mm, the Q50 R is also remarkably agile. Not only can it traverse rough surfaces in a smooth and composed manner (thanks again to the carbon frame, which can flex to help absorb bumps), it’s nimble enough to navigate tight corridors with ease.

Verdict and where to buy

So, what do we think of the Q50 R Carbon – does it live up to Quickie’s bold claims? In a word, yes. There are very few powered wheelchairs on the market that can match the Q50 R for sheer convenience, thanks to its impressively low weight, simple folding mechanism and 14-mile range. If you’re looking for an electric wheelchair that can do it all, you’ll struggle to find a better option than the Q50 R Carbon.

You can learn more about this particular model and order yours online right here at The Mobility Aids Centre. Alternatively, if you’d like to learn more about our complete range of wheelchairs or book a demonstration, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.