Review: Alber e-fix 25- Electric Wheels

Now available on Motability, this is probably one of the most compact and fun set-ups available to a manual wheelchair user wanting some power! I literally fell in love with this chair and have owned 3 Alber set-ups.

Technically this does not count as a powerchair - but a power add-on with a controller attachment making the chair a powered chair which can be swapped to be a manual.

You use this set-up when you already have a suitable manual chair which you wish to motorise. This is not the only powered wheel add-on set-up you can purchase but it is definitely one of the best both indoor and outdoor.

Who is it for?

This chair could be for someone who wants to transition between manual and electric or someone who has been given a prescription for a manual chair who really needs an electric set-up. However, it's not a cheap option and so if you really need an electric chair it may be worth asking yourself why you are choosing this option. Other reasons why people might use this chair:

• Not using a chair regularly and want a foldable prescription option 
• Want to look cool (because it does) 
• Need a lightweight chair for the environment you work in (won't crush people's feet due to the weight) 
• Want to fold your chair and use a normal chair in between (consider the upgraded e-fix 35 if folding is an important chair for you or consider the YW Active/SD Motion option) 
• Want to continue using a manual style chair for as long as possible 
• Off-road use if adapted (not recommended by the manufacturer but possible with adaptations) 

Who is it not for:

• Anyone wanting a genuinely lightweight fold-up chair (because it's quite heavy) 
• Anyone with limited strength who wants an electric add-on they can transport by themselves (because it's quite heavy) 
• Anyone needing a long-term battery (although on the e-fix 25 option you can actually put a lithium battery in the box for a much longer range

Things to Consider: 

Buying spares for this chair is very expensive and they generally come with a one year warranty. Many, many wheelchair users such as myself actually become Alber geeks and are willing to do this chair up using parts which is pretty cheap and easy - especially if you buy parts from German eBay dealers - However, if you aren't really into doing up chairs and you want an easy option this might not be the best option for you. 

The Alber units of this age (which also includes the Alber Esprit) have one known fault which is that the charger unit is notoriously unreliable and often has to be replaced. 

If you are thinking of using a manual/electric option often on an Invacare you might want to consider the Invacare Esprit as your main chair as manual wheels can be added to this and the spares are cheaper to find online. See my review of the Esprit for more information. 

I have a Youtube website called Wheelchair Geek Girl where I talk extensively about using this type of power add-on and the benefits. I literally fell in love with this type of chair! 

Summary & Warning

Those who come to love Alber add-ons often become serious Alber geeks!