Thanks for the great chair. Freedom Chair DE08 Premium Lite.

The DE08 chair is proving a lifesaver. Most ‘ultra light’ folding chairs in the 20-25 kg range with batteries are still single pieces, and can only manage a maximum 100kg weight capacity. They often save weight by putting in low power motors.

I was unable to get up a normal sidewalk ramp in one I borrowed. Even a 15kg carbon fibre chair is 22kg with batteries fitted, and so many ads won’t tell you the true weight with batteries included. Anything over 20kg is either too heavy for my wife to lift, or too weak to carry me.

My older A08 chair from Portable Mobility is still excellent, but it is too heavy for my wife to lift, and it is starting to get a bit too heavy for me at times.

The DE08 solves all the weight and strength problems, as well as many other improvements such as the kick out stands so the chair is stable while on-end folded.  The foot rest tucks right away better and it has another hinge.

The latest DE08 version where you don’t even need to undo a wire to separate the sections is amazing.  Connecting and disconnecting with stiff fingers can be a problem, but this new design avoids any twisting of the wire connection.

Once you get the hang of guiding the pieces back together, it is self-aligning, and just clicks together.

I can put the power wheels in my back seat and the chair in my passenger seat and seatbelt them.  Safe and much easier.

It can be left in one piece still, and while simply folded it can still fit in a small car boot with only 67cm deep.

The DE08 is powerful, strong and well-made like the A08, but a huge improvement in safety and convenience. The suspension is modest, but a nice effect and comfort.

It can also take new two- and old three-pin batteries with the right connectors, so the batteries from my old chair are still useful.

Portable Mobility have been responsive, reliable, good communicators, and the delivery took only days from across Australia.

Over the years they have been very helpful with parts and support.

Well worth the modest cost compared to other 160 kg rated 2x250W chairs of any weight.

Prof Ralph Sutherland.

Canberra.