Seniors Can Squeeze Every Drop Out of Life With Whill's Award-Winning Ri Mobility Scooter

Folks, as much as some of us don't want to admit it, we're all going to grow old. As a result, skin gets wrinkly, bones start to ache, and some of us will even have issues with mobility. Well, in this modern age, these problems typically have some sort of solution, sometimes just delaying the inevitable. However, in the case of limited mobility, teams like Whill are making great progress toward giving back to the elderly some of the freedom they may have lost.

All this brings us to their newly unveiled Model R or Ri, an electrified mobility scooter that's gone as far as receiving international recognition through none other than iF Design Awards, where over 11,000 applications were running side by side with the Ri.

Whill probably doesn't sound familiar to you, but if you plan on making it to old age, this crew should be on your map; maybe you have an elderly in the family who can benefit from this team's award-winning design, the Model Ri, so listen up.

Now, this isn't the first time that Whill has created an award-winning product; they achieved this before with their electrified and foldable Model F "personal EV," so it's safe to say that this Japan-based manufacturer knows what they're doing. Another neat machine they offer is the C2, the one unit I'd rock once my own bones give out.

All this brings us to the Ri, so let's take a moment and explore what's going on here. One big difference between this model and the others Whill offers is that the Ri is based on a three-wheel design, with the drivetrain at the rear, powering two wheels, and a third at the front, centered and integrated into the steering column for direction and maneuverability. Depending on where you are in the world, it looks as though we'll be able to go for a four-wheel design in case your loved one needs some added stability.

Speaking of stability, a few "best-in-class" abilities of this bugger include its so-called 'massive' clearance - it's not clear just how much - independent suspension system, and even a dual-motor design, one for each rear wheel. The latter also works together with an array of software to offer "the tightest turning radius in its class." The Ri is even equipped with electronic stability control and automatically adjusts speed during turns. Wait, what the hell am I talking about here? This thing sounds more tech-filled than some actual cars.

But the Ri magic doesn't stop there. Exploring the manufacturer's website for details about this machine, I realized that this machine has been tuned to be a perfect "companion" for the active seniors among us. That said, the Ri breaks down for easy storage and to be tossed into the trunk of a car. Putting it all back together is said to take "just 10 seconds."

As a result, three different sections are created. The first is the main body, made up of the front wheel, steering column, and footboard, but its trick is its ability to fold, reducing its size even further. The second component is the seat with its own folding backrest and arms, and the third is the motor module; I'd like to think that I saved the best for last.

Why did I leave this section of the Ri for last? Simply because there's plenty to talk about here. It's possible that you've noticed the massive gaping slot spotted between the wheels. Well, it's here that we're meant to add Ri's battery pack, and the fact that it's removable means only one thing: you can own multiple packs, potentially unlocking limitless range. Just how much range is available per full pack isn't stated on the manufacturer's website.

It's also within this rear module that we find those features I mentioned earlier. We can see the suspension system in the renderings, but we have no information on the motors, how much power they can spit out, or the Ri's top speed. I wonder if some speed-loving Grandma or Grandpa would call upon their tech-savvy grandkids to unlock this thing's fullest potential.

Last but not least, like most other modern mobility devices, be it for seniors or kids of all ages, there's an app for this one. With it, you'll be able to keep an eye on diagnostics and range and even mess around with speed settings and modes. Seniors can even lock their Ri to ensure the toddlers don't go fiddling with the remote and run each other over in the living room.

While the Ri isn't the sort of EV that most of us will have any interest in, there's definitely a place for it in our world, and that's precisely the niche that Whill seems to be catering to. Speaking of catering, there's no info yet on just how much the Ri will cost future owners, but vehicles from this crew are priced anywhere from $3,000 for the Model F to $5,500 for the C2; the Ri seems to be positioned somewhere right between the two in terms of capabilities, so we can expect the cost to be somewhere in the middle too. Just a little something to consider if you've got a senior in your life who's squeezing every drop out of life.