It is small, light, electric and can be operated using hands only. Buzz, car adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, has been built by Cracow University of Technology students. Instead of having to move from the wheelchair to the car, Buzz allows a disabled person to ride the wheelchair directly into the car.
Small, electric vehicle intended for people in wheelchairs has been built by 5th year students of the Institute of Motor Vehicles and Internal Combustion Engines at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of Cracow University of Technology: Jerzy Pajerski, Filip Przybylski, Dawid Żmuda and Jarosław Rusek, under the supervision of Prof. Witold Grzegożek.
"These types of vehicles are not available on the automotive market. Persons with disabilities usually have to use ordinary cars with costly modifications to adapt them to needs of the disabled to even a small extent" - said one of the designers of the vehicle Dawid Żmuda, and added that Buzz was designed specifically for needs of people with disabilities.
The car can be conveniently and safely driven using hands only. In addition, the user does not have to get out of the wheelchair to get into the car, he rides the wheelchair into the vehicle, locks it and it becomes the driver\'s seat. According to the car designers, the interior of Buzz is "large and regular" - without projections and wheel arches. Entry into the vehicle is possible vie the bottom flap, falling onto the road surface and closed easily along with the top flap with a single handle.
Body weight is just 50 kg, and a total weight of the vehicle (without batteries) is only 200 kg. "Buzz weight is its primary advantage, considering that it is an electric drive vehicle. It increases the range" - emphasised Prof. Witold Grzegożek.
The prototype built by students reaches the speed of 40 km/h, with a range of about 50 km. Electrically powered vehicle can be recharged from a standard wall outlet. Due to small size (the car is 1.55 m wide and 2.2 m long) it is easy to park in small spaces, it can even enter narrow doors and wheelchair ramps. The body can be built without special equipment, only tools available in an average mechanical workshop are required. Wheel suspension elements are made of carbon fibre.
The constructors have already registered the vehicle as EU Registered Industrial Design, which means that its appearance will be protected throughout the European Union. "In the global market, there aren’t many green vehicles for people with disabilities. Ours has the advantages of low price, simple design and twice lower weight" - said Prof. Witold Grzegożek.
Ultralight vehicle is one of the environmentally friendly vehicles built in recent years by Cracow University of Technology students for graduate projects. Their achievements include hybrid urban vehicle, tilting three-wheel scooter and a race car. The vehicle was presented on April 28 during the Day of Inventions at Cracow University of Technology.
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