SMOOV One

Attachment Description:
A black rectangular attachment with a small wheel at the back that attaches to the rear of the wheelchair frame, and a small remote dial that attaches to the front of the wheelchair frame on one side. The remote is used to switch on (push and hold), switch off (push and hold), increase speed (rotate forward), decrease speed (rotate backwards), or stop (push while moving). The remote can link to a smartphone app to modify speed and acceleration settings and can be easily adapted on the go. The drive unit is lightweight and can be removed easily to turn the wheelchair into a manual chair.

Battery Life:
13-15km

Source Of Attachment:
EPC Wheelchairs

Diagnosis:
Not Disclosed

Personal Opinion:
After experiencing several issues with the SmartDrive, I switched to the SMOOV. I think both devices have their pros and cons, and they are often compared as two power add-ons with similar features, which also attach and remove in the same way to the wheelchair.

I find the SMOOV controller on the frame a lot easier to use than the SmartDrive’s watch. A huge benefit for me is that the SMOOV can both decrease and increase speed; with the Smartdrive, you have to stop and restart if you want to go slower.

The app initially had some compatibility issues with iOS, but now that these are resolved, I have managed to set up the SMOOV exactly as I want. There are a lot of speed/acceleration settings that can be customised, which is good as everyone has different needs. The SMOOV can go up to 10km/h, but I find this a little bit fast, even with an off-road front wheel, so I have limited mine to 7. The range on it is very good; I easily cover 13-15 km on a single charge.

The SMOOV does not work great on grass or rough surfaces (there’s not enough grip), but the good thing is that you can easily turn it off and use the chair manually. Another downside is that the wheel is not free-spinning, which can be tricky in small, tight spaces where the chair is hard to push when the wheel is facing the wrong way round. Therefore, I always have to take the SMOOV off my wheelchair when I come home to align the wheel so it points straight forward. But with practice, it becomes more manageable, and it’s easy to remove and put into a car, which keeps the chair lightweight. The backlight is a nice added feature and really makes you impossible to miss at night!