Merits Axcel FWD Powerchair

The Merits Axcel is a highly configurable, rapid-build time, front-wheel drive powerchair designed for people who need proper rehabilitation seating without sacrificing outdoor performance. With large 14-inch drive wheels, independent hydraulic suspension and 9-inch rear castors, it is intended to provide a stable, controlled ride both around the home and out in the community. 

The standard Axcel base is 62.2cm wide, supports seat widths and depths from 14–22 inches, has a 136kg maximum user weight and has a maximum speed of 6mph. The Axcel runs on a pair of 60Ah Gel batteries with a published maximum range of up to 19 miles. 

For users with more complex seating requirements, the Axcel can provide 0–50° powered tilt, 85–160° powered recline with shear reduction, an optional 30.5cm powered seat lift and an optional powered articulating footplate. R-Net electronics also allow the chair to be configured around more complex control requirements.

We now have the Axcel available to demonstrate at our Ashford showroom, alongside the Axcel Narrow, allowing the two bases to be assessed and driven back-to-back.

Key specifications

• Front-wheel drive

• 62.2cm overall base width

• 100.6cm overall length

• 14–22 inch seat width

• 14–22 inch seat depth

• Up to 6mph

• Up to 19 mile manufacturer-rated range

• 60Ah M34 Gel batteries

• 136.1kg maximum user weight

• 7.6cm ground clearance

• 14-inch hybrid-gel drive wheels

• 9-inch hybrid-gel rear castors

• Independent hydraulic suspension

• R-Net 120A controls

• Integrated LED lighting

• Tool-free rear battery access

Front-wheel drive and outdoor performance

Front-wheel drive places the large powered wheels towards the front of the chair. This gives the Axcel a useful advantage when approaching changes in surface, thresholds and uneven ground because the drive wheels meet the obstacle first rather than smaller castors.

Merits has combined this layout with unusually large 9-inch rear castors and independent hydraulic suspension. The aim is not to make the Axcel an off-road powerchair, but to produce a more controlled ride across the sort of broken pavements, dropped kerbs and uneven surfaces encountered during normal community use.

Front-wheel drive does require a slightly different driving technique from mid-wheel drive. The rear of the chair swings around during tighter turns, so users moving from a mid-wheel powerchair should allow some time to become familiar with it.

Seating and positioning

The Axcel is a rehabilitation powerchair rather than a fixed-seat mobility chair. Its seating should therefore be configured around the individual.

Seat width and depth can be specified between 14 and 22 inches, with different cushions, back supports, head supports and positioning equipment used where appropriate.

Powered functions can include:

• powered tilt from 0–50°

• powered recline from 85–160°

• shear reduction during recline

• 30.5cm powered seat elevation

• powered articulating foot support

These functions can be particularly important where somebody spends substantial periods in their powerchair or needs help managing posture, pressure, transfers or functional reach.

We would always assess the complete seating requirement rather than selecting powered functions simply because they are available.

How far will the Axcel really travel?

Merits quotes a maximum range of up to 30.6km or 19 miles per charge.

We deliberately describe this as a manufacturer-rated maximum rather than promising that every user will achieve 19 miles. Real-world range changes with user weight, gradients, terrain, temperature, battery condition, powered seating use, driving style and numerous other factors.

For somebody regularly travelling longer distances, we would discuss their normal journeys during assessment rather than relying solely on the brochure figure.

The Axcel uses two 60Ah Gel batteries. Our normal advice with this type of powerchair battery is to charge regularly, ideally overnight after use, rather than repeatedly running the batteries very low before charging.

Axcel or Axcel Narrow?

This is one of the most important decisions with this chair.

The standard Axcel is 62.2cm wide, while the Axcel Narrow is 57.2cm wide. That 5cm difference can be extremely important in a property with restricted doorways, narrow corridors or limited circulation space.

However, we wouldn't automatically choose the Narrow simply because a smaller chair sounds preferable.

The standard Axcel offers:

• seating up to 22 inches wide and deep rather than 20 inches

• a higher maximum speed of 6mph rather than 5.2mph

• R-Net 120A rather than 90A electronics

• greater flexibility for users who don't actually need the narrower base

If the standard Axcel fits comfortably into the environments you use every day, it will often be the more logical choice.

Our view

The Axcel is particularly interesting for users who like the characteristics of front-wheel drive but need a genuinely configurable rehabilitation seating system.

Its combination of large wheels, hydraulic suspension, R-Net controls and powered seating makes it much closer to the established high-end rehabilitation powerchairs we regularly assess than to a conventional mobility powerchair.

There are compromises. It is a substantial chair, weighing approximately 159–175kg depending on configuration, so this is not something intended to dismantle and lift into a normal car boot. Front-wheel drive also feels different from the very tight pivoting behaviour of a mid-wheel drive chair.

For the right user, however, the standard Axcel offers a convincing combination of outdoor capability, configurable seating and sensible dimensions.

Try the Merits Axcel

We have both the standard Axcel and Axcel Narrow available for demonstration in Ashford.

Having both versions available is particularly useful because we can measure your seating requirements and access needs, then let you experience whether the narrower chassis provides a meaningful advantage before deciding which configuration to pursue.