Space miracle with more headroom

"Then we’ll drive to the right," says driving instructor Horst Hilsenbeck, during the first test drives with his new car after the conversion. It is not yet entirely clear how Michael Fröhlich wants to operate his future vehicle – steering with the right or with the left joystick. "Actually, right is the better hand," he says. "But which is better?" It already works with the right joystick during the first test drive. But it’s unfamiliar to Michael, who for the past ten years was still using the handheld device and steering wheel knob in the VW Tiguan. Since he had to operate the handheld device for accelerator and brake with his right hand, only his left hand remained for steering. The small winding and hilly roads just outside Aichelau in Southern Germany are the ideal testing ground to sound out one’s personal optimum.  

Michael’s new PARAVAN VW T6.1 with the addition "extended" is now equipped with the driving and steering system Space Drive. In the future, he will operate the steering, accelerator and brake by joystick. He now drives directly to the driver’s position via the PARAVAN cassette lift, and secured by an additional back support, he can anchor his wheelchair to the vehicle via a docking station. "Extended" at PARAVAN stands for more headroom of up to 15 centimeters, depending on the model. This modified version of the VW T6.1 has a lowered vehicle floor, from the A to the C-pillar. This makes the popular VW model usable for taller wheelchair users.

The Fröhlichs came to PARAVAN two years ago and tested various vehicle models. Michael’s vehicle of choice, a Mercedes V-Class didn’t work "Too little headroom and I didn’t like the Peugeot Traveller that much." Even the "normal" VW T6.1 would not have sufficed in terms of interior height, but would still have fit in the home garage in terms of height. With the modification of the interior, this was then no longer a problem. What followed was a long struggle with red tape and paperwork for over two years. But now Michael was able to fulfill his dream of having his own van.

"And then to the right." Suddenly, the horn sounds. "That was one push too many," says the driving instructor. Michael can also operate the most important secondary functions by pressing a button or with the so-called bleeper, directly from the right joystick; by pressing the button once, the high beams come on, pressing the button twice means indicating left, three times right, and if he presses the button four times, it honks. After the small country lanes, it’s onto the main roads with a bit more speed. That way, Michael can eventually get an accurate picture of what’s best for him. "I´d like to steer with the left hand," he says at the end. Even if it is unusual, for him that’s the better option because it’s what he’s used to.

“For me, the new vehicle means independence first and foremost," says Michael, who recently had to rely on the help of others for trips to work or physical therapy. "Now I’m independent again."