I recently purchased an Elesmart A8 motor attachment for my Quickie Revolution wheelchair. With a quiet ride, top speed of around 25 MPH and a range of up to 60 miles, this trike attachment is great fun. Mine came with a 48V, 20 AH, 1000W battery which lives up to the stated perfomance specifications.

Assembly and Setup

The trike required very minor assembly and mounting to the chair is pretty straightforward. I probably spent too much time adjusting the connecting arm to get the kickstand wheels at a height suitable for traversing uneven terrain while not tipping the chair too far back. Included instructions and online video provide sufficient assembly information. Other videos are available online for adjusting the lift/tilt angle, changing the tire, removing the battery and more. The manufacturer was very responsive to my inquiries although you will undoubtedly notice that this attachment is made overseas. The controller and battery appear to be standard e-bike components. Information regarding custom programing of the KT-LCD display can be seen on a video here. The only changes I made to the out-of-the-box configuration was to change to Imperial Units of Measure.

In Practice

I’ve used the trike on paths and roads around our community and a trip to Big Bend National Park in Texas. Travel along pathways is quite enjoyable. The ride is quiet, comfortable and controlled. I can easily travel along with others that are walking or riding bicycles. So far, I haven’t come close to running out of battery charge and I’ve frequently reached the quoted speed of 25 MPH. On the trip to Big Bend, I took it along a hard sand path along the Rio Grande (below). With a running start, I was able to climb a sand covered rise of about 10 degrees, but the wheel would spin if I slowed down. The issue is traction and not motor-power.

I also have a Permobil SmartDrive. The Elesmart Trike is great for traveling longer distances, particluarly if you can use its higher speed capability. I like the ability to easily pop it off the wheelchair and park it as you would a bicycle. Due to its size, you may not want to use it in a store – I use a bicycle lock to secure it outdoors. The SmartDrive is a better choice for going to a concert or the ball park where you are likely to encounter a lot of people or tight spaces.