Published 20 August 2026
Rehasense UK has added a heavy-duty version to its Power Assisted Wheelchair Systems range. The new PAWS HD raises the maximum user weight to 160kg and is available across all three existing PAWS models, City, Cruiser and Tourer. Stock is in the UK now and dealers can order.
Power add-ons occupy a useful middle ground that a lot of people do not know exists. Rather than replacing a manual wheelchair with a powerchair, an add-on clamps to the existing frame and drives the chair, either through a front wheel that lifts the castors clear of the ground or through motorised rear hubs. The user keeps the chair that already fits them, keeps the ability to self-propel indoors, and gains powered range outdoors. For anyone weighing up wheelchairs options, it is worth understanding before committing to a full powerchair.
What the HD adds
The headline change is the weight capacity, up to 160kg. That matters because add-on systems have historically been limited by the combined load of user, chair and any luggage, and bariatric users have often been told an add-on was not an option for them. Widening the range removes that barrier for a group that has had comparatively little choice.
Beyond capacity, the HD carries a 15.6Ah battery for extended range, a dual hydraulic brake system, off-road tyres, traction control and adaptive cruise control. There is hill start assist, which holds the chair on an incline while power is applied, and a walk assist function that lets a companion manoeuvre the chair at walking pace in tight spaces. Rehasense says the HD runs its latest PAWS software.
Control options are unchanged from the rest of the range. The HD is available with manual clamps, auto clamps and tetra hand controls, so it can be specified for users with limited hand function as well as those who can operate a conventional throttle.
Why dealers asked for it
Jordan Day, UK Sales Manager for Rehasense, said the model came directly out of dealer feedback. “We always value feedback from our dealers, and it became clear that there was a need for a model such as the PAWS HD,” he said, adding that the company expects it to be popular with both dealers and end users.
That is a familiar pattern in the UK mobility trade. Manufacturers frequently discover a gap not through market research but through the number of enquiries dealers have to turn away. Heavier users, taller users and people needing wider seat widths are the groups most often affected, and the products that serve them tend to arrive several years after the mainstream range.
Add-on or powerchair?
The choice between a power add-on and a powerchair usually comes down to how the chair is used across a day. An add-on suits someone who self-propels comfortably indoors but finds distance, hills or rough ground outdoors exhausting, and who needs the chair to fold or dismantle for transport. A powerchair suits someone who cannot self-propel reliably at all, or who needs powered seating functions such as tilt, recline or a riser.
Cost is the other factor. Power add-ons generally sit below a comparable mid-range powerchair, though the gap narrows once premium features are specified. Our guide to wheelchair costs sets out typical UK price bands for manual chairs, powerchairs and add-ons, and explains what NHS wheelchair services and personal wheelchair budgets will and will not fund.
Whichever route you take, an assessment matters more than the specification sheet. Clamp position, chair frame compatibility and the user’s transfer technique all affect whether an add-on will work in practice, and a system that fits one manual chair may not fit another. Retailers wanting details can contact the Rehasense customer service team on 0333 220 0704. If you are a wheelchair user rather than a dealer, you can find a company that stocks the range and arrange a trial. Our wider mobility aids guide covers the other equipment that often gets specified alongside a chair.
Sources
Related guides on Review Mobility
- Wheelchairs buying guide
- How much do wheelchairs cost?
- Mobility scooters compared
- Find a wheelchair supplier near you
Published 20 August 2026
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