UK’s Trekkit Unveils All-Terrain Wheelchair with Swappable Wheels for £13,990
British company Trekkit is set to release its new electric wheelchair, the GTE Series 4, in October 2026, featuring a unique design with large front wheels to navigate rough terrain like gravel and grass, web.motormagazine.co.jp reported. The wheelchair is available for order-only production in the UK, starting at £13,990, which converts to approximately 3.01 million yen based on the Bank of Japan’s October 2026 foreign exchange rate.
Front Wheels Shift for Varied Terrain
The GTE Series 4 is distinguished by its three-wheel configuration, placing two large, block-tire wheels at the front. A key feature is its adjustable wheel position, which alters the wheelchair’s ground clearance. When mounted to the higher setting, the clearance is 6cm, suitable for urban and indoor environments. In the lower position, clearance increases to 12cm, and the wheels splay outward into a “V” shape, allowing it to overcome tree roots, ruts, and uneven ground.
The wheel swap process is designed to be simple. By lowering the seat and deploying a built-in jack, the user can lift the wheelchair, detach an 8kg wheel, and reattach it to the lower mounting point without needing to support the full weight of the frame. Trekkit states this is the first all-terrain wheelchair to employ this mechanism.
Carbon Fiber Frame Balances Strength and Lightness
The wheelchair’s construction prioritizes durability and a low weight. The seat frame is made from a single piece of carbon fiber, a technique adapted from F1 car component manufacturing by Trekkit founder Mike Spindle. This contributes to a total weight of just 37kg. It is equipped with gas suspension to absorb bumps from surfaces like cobblestones and forest paths.
Power comes from two 150W motors integrated into the hubs of the large front wheels, providing a maximum torque of 50Nm per wheel. This system allows the GTE Series 4 to ascend slopes of up to 10 degrees—more than double the 4.8-degree slope mandated by Japan’s Barrier-Free Act for standard wheelchair ramps. The top speed is capped at 6km/h, classifying it as a pedestrian under traffic law in Japan, and it has a range of 25km on a single charge.
Customization and Manual Options
Each GTE Series 4 is made to order at Trekkit’s UK factory, allowing for significant customization. The seat width can be chosen from three options: 16, 17.5, or 19 inches, corresponding to widths of approximately 41cm, 44cm, or 48cm. It can also be fitted with specialized seating systems to provide better postural support for long-term use.
The wheelchair can be switched from electric to manual mode. An optional control unit can be attached to the backrest, enabling a caregiver to push and maneuver the wheelchair from behind.
Comparison with High-Mobility Japanese Models
In Japan, high-mobility electric wheelchairs, such as the Will Model C2, are available for a significantly lower price, starting at ¥518,000. The Will model can climb 5-centimeter steps and handle grass and gravel, but the GTE Series 4 is built to perform even better. Its 12cm ground clearance and specialized wheel configuration are intended to access terrain that would be impassable for most other wheelchairs, including unpaved forest paths and muddy fields.
The price difference is substantial, with the GTE Series 4 costing approximately six times more than the leading high-mobility model in Japan. Currently, Trekkit does not have an official distributor in Japan, making a domestic release unlikely.
Expanding Accessibility to Unpaved Paths
車体の下を12cmまで持ち上げ、木の根やわだちの向こうへ車いすを連れていく作りに、約6倍の値が付いている。
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