About a year ago, I first wrote about something called an Ogo. It was just in the development phase then, but it was the neatest thing I’d ever seen for getting around when your legs can’t do the job. You don’t need to use your arms, either. Just bend in the direction that you want to travel, like riding on a Segway, and off you go. It could be great for someone with MS.
The Ogo is the brainchild of Kevin Halsall and Marcus Thompson. Kevin is a product design engineer and Marcus is a paraplegic. Several years ago, Kevin began trying to develop a device that would increase Marcus’ mobility. With help from Marcus, a prototype was produced. Three major design changes followed.
The Ogo is ready to roll
Now, after a lot of tweaking, the Ogo production line is ready to roll late this summer. The Ogo looks great. It seems as if it could be really useful to any of us who use a scooter to get around, and it sure looks like a whole lot of fun. But it comes with a hefty price tag of just under $17,000. (And that’s without including the cost of shipping from New Zealand, customs fees and, possibly, import tariffs and sales taxes.)
I haven’t tried it myself, and I’m not getting anything from the Ogo folks for writing about their device, but I do want to show it to you.
Take a look:
Here are some specs for the Ogo:
- Length with footrest up: 770 mm / 30.3 inches
- Height with backrest on: 1 m / 39.4 inches
- Height with backrest off: 610 mm / 24 inches
- Width: 630 mm / 25.2 inches. All terrain kit: 830 mm / 32.7 inches
- Battery x 2: Lithium Ion
- Battery x 2 weight: 11kg / 24 lbs
- Travel distance: Up to 38 km / 24.8 miles on a single charge.
- Weight: 65 kg / 143 lbs
- Speed: 20 kph / 12 mph
If your MS means you need to use a mobility scooter, you think the Ogo is for you and you have $17,000+ that you can spare, ordering information is on their website.
(A version of this post first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com)
How much would it be in total English Stirling to buy an Ohio?
Hi Sue, I’d suggest that you contact the Ogo people and ask them. There’s a link to their web page at the end of my post.