IIT Madras develops India’s first indigenous motorised wheelchair vehicle

Called ‘NeoBolt’, the vehicle can be used not only on roads but also on uneven terrains. It has a maximum speed of 25 kmph and travels up to 25 km per charge. 

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) has developed the country’s first indigenous motorised wheelchair vehicle that can be used not only on roads but even on uneven terrains. 

Called ‘NeoBolt’, it has a maximum speed of 25 kilometre per hour (kmph) and travels up to 25 km per charge. It empowers wheelchair users with a convenient, safe and low-cost mode of outdoor mobility when compared with cars, auto rickshaws or modified scooters. NeoBolt is powered by a lithium-ion battery that will give 25 km for every charge. 

The IITM researchers collaborated with organisations and hospitals working among people with locomotor disability and built the products factoring in their experiences and making constant design adjustments.  

NeoBolt was developed by a team led by Prof Sujatha Srinivasan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, and has been commercialised through a startup called ‘NeoMotion.’  

Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan also led the team that developed India’s first indigenously-designed standing wheelchair called ‘Arise,’ which enables a wheelchair user to shift from sitting to standing position. 

Prof Sujatha Srinivasan, faculty head, TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), IITM, said, “Our centre’s vision is to transform the disability landscape in India by creating functional and affordable assistive devices. How often do you see a wheelchair user at a school, an office, a shop or a theatre? Wheelchair users are typically restricted to the four walls of their home, which affects their community participation and their ability to contribute to the economy.” 

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