FIRST HAND RESEARCH

To explore what type of vehicle we will be designing our system/ product for we decided to go to a few car garages and have a look at which cars could be adapted to become a mobility vehicle we also looked at cars that couldn't yet be adapted but had potential to be.

We first went to Citroen, where we spoke to their mobility specialist. We asked to measure a few of the cars to find out if they were accessible for a wheelchair to enter the side door rather than the boot space like most WAV's. We took measurements from two of their models. 

1. Citroen Berlingo multispace 
This vehicle has sliding doors and 3 fully removable rear seats to allow space for a wheelchair or mobility scooter in the rear of the vehicle. 

Door Sill height to ground- 46cm
Door sill height to inside roof- 112cm
Door width open- 64cm
Door width closed- 94cm

2. Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
This was the most popular mobility/adaptable vehicle that Citroen currently have on the market.
This vehicle has standard hinge doors and fully removable rear seats to allow space for a wheelchair or mobility scooter in the rear of the vehicle. 

Door Sill height to ground- 42cm
Door sill height to inside roof- 108cm
Door width open- 85cm
Door width closed- 108cm
Hypotenuse of door opening- 90cm

  
We next went to Williams who had a good range of cars. We selected two cars that had a small door sill height to ground (cm), that would create a realistic angle for a wheelchair to be pushed up, if a ramp were to be integrated. We then took measurements.

1. Ford Grand C-Max 
This vehicle has sliding doors and 7 seats; 2 of which (central) can be folded away to create a central 'walk-through' corridor. The other seats in this vehicle cannot be fully removed as standard. 

Door Sill height to ground- 40cm
Door sill height to inside roof- 108cm
Door width open- 64cm
Door width closed- 116cm

2. Volkswagen Touran
This vehicle has standard hinge doors. It has 7 seats, 5 of which (rear) can all fold completely flat. This would allow space for a wheelchair in the rear of the vehicle. 


Door Sill height to ground- 40cm
Door sill height to inside roof- 110cm
Door width open- 74cm
Door width closed- 102cm
Hypotenuse of door opening- 100cm

From this primary research we have decided to aim our designs around existing vehicles that have not yet been adapted for wheelchair accessibility. By doing this, we aim to provide a product that large car companies would want to adapt their vehicles for to suit and accommodate more disabled users and their families.