You may have heard some rumblings in the media lately about a new company named VPG and an accessible vehicle they’ve engineered.  The vehicle is called the MV-1, and it’s being marketed as the first “purpose-built” accessible vehicle in the industry, which means it’s built from the ground up to be accessible.

VPG maintains that a purpose-built design will better address user needs than current mobility industry offerings. In reality, disabled customers have consistently told us they want to drive the same vehicles that everyone else drives. In addition, 95% of our BraunAbility customers have told us that they’re highly satisfied with their vehicles.

Recently VPG took the MV-1 on a nationwide tour in an attempt to generate publicity. We’d like to draw your attention to the vehicle as well. Before you fall for any of the hype around the PR campaign, please keep these considerations in mind.

Limited Interior Space: The most obvious issue with the MV-1 is its lack of interior space. Wheelchair maneuverability appears to be very limited, as well as seating options. For example, if the front passenger seat is in place, a wheelchair passenger cannot sit in the mid-seat position. On the other hand, BraunAbility vehicles offer the MOST interior space and maneuverability in the industry. We make it simple to get in, move around, and easily use the vehicle.

Wheelchair Users Cannot Drive the Vehicle: Obviously, this is a major obstacle if you’re used to the freedom of driving your own vehicle. Based on previews, the MV-1 cannot be driven by a wheelchair user unless the user is able to transfer. To date, no model has been shown with a removable driver’s seat. In addition, the MV-1 does not have a power door, and the power ramp is an expensive option. BraunAbility vehicles have standard power ramps, a standard power sliding door, and flexible seating options to enable the wheelchair user to easily enter, exit and drive our vehicles.

Fuel Economy: At over 6,000 lbs, this is a very heavy vehicle with a large V8 engine. Fuel economy is estimated at 14 mph, and given the potential for gas prices to increase in the future, that’s not a very practical purchase for most people. In contrast, BraunAbility minivans have an EPA rating of 17 mph in the city, and an impressive 24 mph on the highway.

Reliability and Durability: The MV-1 is untested and unproven. It has not seen a day of service and has no experience in any capacity – as a personal vehicle, as a taxi, nothing. Ralph Braun created the first accessible vehicle nearly 50 years ago. Since the early 1990′s, the Braun Corporation has converted over 50,000 vehicles. Do you have the confidence that the MV-1 will have the same reliability and durability as a BraunAbility vehicle?

Parts and Service: Without a nationwide dealer network like BraunAbility offers, where exactly would you take your MV-1 when it breaks down? Good question, and the answer is unclear. At this point it appears VPG will be using Ford dealers for service and parts for the power train. As for where you find service and parts for the rest of your vehicle…well, your guess is as good as ours.

Compressed Natural Gas Option: VPG brags that they offer the CNG option, but they don’t talk too much about the $5000 price tag that comes along with it; nor do they mention the reduced interior space (from the CNG tanks) and reduced driving range.

Limited Choice: Although VPG puts different paint schemes on the MV-1 to designate different uses, there’s really only one configuration. Braun offers a full product line-up from three manufacturers (Chrysler/Dodge, Toyota, and Honda) and a variety of entry systems to address many customer needs across a wide range of prices.

This list of considerations is just a start, and we’ll all be hearing more about this vehicle in the coming months. With over 50 years of mobility experience behind us, we can safely say that the time-tested and trusted benefits of a BraunAbility vehicle easily outweigh this newcomer.