What is a welfare vehicle (wheelchair-accessible vehicle)?
In English, a welfare vehicle is called a “Welcab” — a vehicle fitted with equipment that helps a wheelchair get in and out. “Welcab” is a blend of “Welfare” and “Cabin,” while the Chinese term comes from the Japanese word Fukushi, meaning a form of social welfare. Welcabs come with either a rear ramp/lift or a powered lift system on the left (or right) side, depending on the country and the needs of the user.
What brands and models of welfare vehicles are available?
Welfare vehicles generally fall into two categories: “factory-built” and “converted.” Below we introduce the welfare vehicles and conversion options you’re most likely to come across in Taiwan. If you’d rather not buy one or spend money converting your own car, there’s now also the option of renting one.
Factory-built: VOLKSWAGEN (VW) \ TOYOTA \ LUXGEN
The advantage of a factory-built vehicle is that it is completed at the manufacturing plant, or at an installation shop designated (and certified) by the manufacturer, with the welfare equipment fitted before the license plate is issued. The welfare equipment is also covered by the vehicle’s warranty.
VOLKSWAGEN: Billed as the only fully German-imported vehicles and wheelchair kits (and plates are only issued after passing the Ministry of Transportation and Communications vehicle safety inspection). Two of the models fall into the passenger car category:
【CADDY IPC】: rear-ramp welfare vehicle, priced from NT$1,478,000
【CARAVELLE IPC】: rear-ramp welfare vehicle, priced from NT$1,758,000
TOYOTA: The leading Japanese brand, focused on a reassuring, comfortable and convenient ride
【PREVIA】: powered-lift welfare vehicle, priced from NT$1,888,000
You can see the Japanese design philosophy here: the aim is for passengers with limited mobility to sit in the same seats as everyone else rather than staying in their wheelchair, and the smooth powered lift gives a real VIP feel.
【SIENNA】: powered-lift welfare vehicle, priced from NT$2,800,000
Nicknamed the “wealthy family’s filial-piety car” online, this model is, because of its price, ordered from the Japanese factory only after a customer places an order, so you’ll have to wait for the car to be imported (usually 1 to 3 months). The specs and equipment, however, are all at the luxury-comfort level.
The interior space and equipment have both been upgraded another step
An imposing exterior
LUXGEN: The only locally made brand, built at the factory with no extra conversion needed. The roof structure has been raised, and the car also comes with tech features such as a sunroof and an around-view camera system.
【V7 TURBO】: rear-ramp welfare vehicle, priced from NT$1,049,000
It also has a newly designed high-roof structure: because a wheelchair sits much higher than a regular seat, the roof was raised to give wheelchair passengers a much wider view
The second-row seat behind the driver folds away so the wheelchair can move further forward, making it easier to interact with family and friends
Conversions: the main companies are 台灣福祉科技 (Taiwan Welfare Technology) \ 禮享家 (Li Xiang Jia) \ 成昇實業 (Cheng Sheng Industrial)
The advantage of a conversion is that you can use your own car, but once it’s done you have to take it to the vehicle registration office for inspection and to update the registration
台灣福祉科技 (Taiwan Welfare Technology): Its main offerings are welfare vehicle sales, welfare seat conversions and other accessibility equipment installation services (official website)
【Welfare seat conversion】: priced from NT$120,000 to NT$500,000
A welfare seat (powered swivel seat) lets you convert a seat in your own family car. On sedans it’s usually the front passenger seat; on multi-seat models, there’s also the option of converting a second-row seat
禮想家 (Li Xiang Jia): Its main offerings are welfare seat conversions and other accessibility equipment installation services (website)
成昇實業 (Cheng Sheng Industrial): Its main offerings are vehicle wheelchair lifts, welfare seat conversions and other accessibility equipment installation services (website)
[Wheelchair Vehicle Lifts]
How to rent one: gogoout.com
If you’d rather not spend over a million on a brand-new wheelchair-accessible vehicle, or several hundred thousand converting your own car, you can now go to the gogoout website and book a brand-new Luxgen V7 wheelchair-accessible SUV or a Volkswagen VW wheelchair-accessible vehicle directly. For just a few thousand dollars you get a full 24 hours, which is great value.
gogoout works with a Taipei operator with deep experience in accessible services, so you can book a brand-new Luxgen V7 wheelchair-accessible SUV or Volkswagen VW wheelchair-accessible vehicle online right now. gogoout strongly agrees with the operator’s mission
#making life easier for friends with mobility difficulties.
Read more >>
Accessible travel: wheelchair-friendly attractions, food and lodging
[Taipei Car Rental Guide] Everything you need to know in one place
More photos of the actual vehicle:
How do you choose a wheelchair-accessible vehicle?
Worried about spending ages deciding which rental company to use, with unclear vehicle details and vague insurance terms?
gogoout offers the most transparent rental information, so you can book a car in three minutes! Contact customer service and we’ll find the nearest wheelchair-accessible vehicle rental company for you.
This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
