A SmartDrive is a small, battery-powered wheel that fits onto the back of a manual wheelchair and does the pushing for you. You stay in your own wheelchair, in your own seat and cushion, but the motor takes the effort out of slopes, long corridors and rough pavements. It is made by Permobil, and the current model is the SmartDrive MX2+.
It is not a new wheelchair, and it is not an electric wheelchair. It is an add-on. That is the part most people find hard to picture, so this guide explains what it does, what it weighs, what it costs and who it genuinely suits — along with the three other kinds of power assist we sell, because the SmartDrive is not always the right answer.
If you would rather talk it through than read, ring us on 0333 577 8085. Our service centre in Stafford handles these enquiries and can arrange a free home assessment.
How a SmartDrive works
The unit sits on a bracket under the back of your wheelchair frame, with a single roller that presses against the ground behind you. When you switch it on, that roller drives you forward. Your own wheels turn freely, so you still steer with your handrims exactly as you always have.
There are three ways to control it, and which one you use makes a real difference to how it feels:
- A wristband (the PushTracker) — two taps on the wristband starts the motor, one tap sets the cruising speed, and a tap stops it. Nothing is held in your hand.
- A SpeedControl dial mounted on the frame, which you turn to engage and disengage the motor.
- A SwitchControl button, for people who find a tap gesture difficult.
Because there is no joystick and no controller box, the wheelchair still folds, still fits in a car, and still looks like your wheelchair.
SmartDrive MX2+ specifications
These figures come from Permobil's own MX2+ user manual.
| Drive unit weight | 6kg (13.2lb) |
| Total weight including mount | 6.5kg (14.4lb) |
| Top speed | 6km/h (4mph) as standard; 8.9km/h (5.5mph) optional |
| Range on a full charge | Up to 19.8km (12.3 miles) |
| User weight range | 14kg to 150kg (up to 23.6 stone) |
| Battery | Lithium iron phosphate, around 3 hours to charge |
| Added length | Approximately 10–15cm behind the wheelchair |
The weight figure is the one that decides it for most people. At around 6kg the drive unit lifts off in one hand and goes in the boot separately, which is why it suits someone who is still transferring in and out of a car unaided.
Is it allowed on the pavement?
This question comes up in every conversation, and the answer depends on the speed setting.
Under the UK rules, a class 2 powered mobility vehicle has a maximum speed of 4mph and is the class intended for pavements and pedestrian areas. Class 3 vehicles go up to 8mph, may be used on the road, and have to be registered with the DVLA (GOV.UK).
The SmartDrive is supplied with its top speed set at 6km/h, which is 3.7mph — just inside the 4mph figure. The optional 8.9km/h setting is 5.5mph, which is above it. So if you expect to spend your time on pavements and in shops, leave it on the standard setting. Tell us where you plan to use it and we will set it up accordingly rather than turning everything up to maximum.
Who power assist tends to suit
In our stores, the people who get the most out of a power assist are usually:
- Self-propellers whose shoulders are starting to complain. Shoulder pain is the most common reason people give up self-propelling. A power assist often postpones that by years.
- People who manage indoors but not outdoors. Flat, level, indoor pushing is fine; a hill on the way back from the shops is not.
- People who do not want a powerchair. An electric wheelchair is heavier, will not fold into most cars, and means giving up a seating set-up that already fits. A power assist avoids all three.
- Carers. If the difficulty is someone pushing rather than someone self-propelling, a carer-controlled push assist is the better and much cheaper answer — see the table below.
It suits you less well if your wheelchair frame is not compatible, if you need powered seating functions, or if you cannot reliably operate the control. A home assessment settles all three in about half an hour.
The four kinds of wheelchair power assist
"Power assist" covers four quite different pieces of equipment. This is what we stock in our wheelchair power add-ons range, with the figures from each product page.
| Type | Example | How it is controlled | Weight | Top speed | Max user weight |
| Rear-mounted roller | Permobil SmartDrive | Wristband taps, dial or button — hands stay on the rims | About 6kg | Up to 8.9km/h | 150kg |
| Rear-mounted drive wheel | Smoov power assist | Thumb control on the handrim | About 7.2kg | Up to 10km/h | 140kg |
| Powered rear wheels | Alber e-fix E35 | Joystick — effectively turns the chair into a powerchair | About 32kg total, 8kg per wheel | Up to 6km/h | 120kg |
| Carer push assist | Sunrise Medical Empulse R20 | By the person pushing, not the person sitting | From 4.5kg | Up to 5km/h | 170kg |
Two things are worth drawing out of that table. The Alber e-fix is a different proposition from the other three: at around 32kg it is not something you lift into a boot, and a joystick means you are no longer self-propelling. And the Empulse R20 is controlled by the carer, so it solves a completely different problem — if the person in the chair wants to move themselves, it is the wrong product.
If you are looking for exercise and range rather than assistance with pushing, our wheelchair handbike add-ons are a separate category again.
What a SmartDrive costs
The Permobil SmartDrive is around £4,500 from us, and the wider power add-on range runs from roughly £1,650 for the carer-controlled Empulse R20 up to about £5,100 for the Alber e-fix E36. Check the product page for the current price, as these change.
Every one of them is built to your wheelchair rather than sold off a shelf, so each comes with a free home assessment, a 12-month manufacturer warranty covering parts, labour and transport, and a 14-day guarantee. We would always rather assess first than sell first: a power assist fitted to the wrong frame is an expensive disappointment.
Trying one before you commit
You should not spend four thousand pounds on something you have only read about. There are two ways to try one:
- A home assessment. We come to you with the equipment, fit it to your own wheelchair, and you try it on your own slope and your own doorway. This is the one we recommend, because compatibility with your frame is the thing that matters most.
- A store demonstration. We have 14 stores across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire. Ring the branch first so the right person is there.
Either way, start with a phone call to 0333 577 8085.
Common questions
What is a SmartDrive?
A SmartDrive is a battery-powered add-on made by Permobil that fits to the back of a manual wheelchair and drives it forward, so the user does not have to push. It is controlled by tapping a wristband, turning a dial or pressing a button, and it leaves your hands free for the handrims.
Is a SmartDrive the same as an electric wheelchair?
No. An electric wheelchair is a complete powered chair with a joystick and its own seating. A SmartDrive attaches to the manual wheelchair you already use, keeps your existing seat and cushion, weighs about 6kg, and comes off for transport.
How much does a SmartDrive cost in the UK?
The Permobil SmartDrive is around £4,500 at Easy Living Mobility. Other power assists range from about £1,650 to £5,100 depending on the type. All are custom-fitted, so the assessment is free.
How far can a SmartDrive go on one charge?
Permobil quotes up to 19.8km, which is 12.3 miles, on a full charge. Real-world range is shorter on hills, on soft ground and with a heavier load. The battery takes about three hours to charge.
Will a SmartDrive fit my wheelchair?
It fits most rigid and folding manual wheelchairs, but not all frames, and the mounting bracket has to suit your particular chair. That is what the free home assessment is for — we check the frame before anything is ordered.
Can I use a power assist on the pavement?
Under GOV.UK rules, 4mph is the maximum speed for a class 2 powered mobility vehicle used on pavements and pedestrian areas. The SmartDrive's standard setting of 6km/h is 3.7mph, which sits inside that; the optional 8.9km/h setting is 5.5mph, which does not. Tell us where you intend to use it and we will set the speed to match.
Does power assist help with shoulder pain?
It is the usual reason people come to us for one. Reducing the number of pushes reduces the load on the shoulders, and many self-propellers use a power assist specifically to keep using a manual wheelchair for longer. It is not medical treatment, so speak to your physiotherapist or GP about pain itself.
Where to go next
Browse the wheelchair power add-ons we stock, or look at the self-propelled wheelchairs that these add-ons are designed to fit. If you are not yet sure which wheelchair suits you, our guide to measuring yourself for a wheelchair is the right place to start.
