CES 2026: WheelMove Turns Any Standard Wheelchair Into an Electric One.
Wheelchairs are available at airports, hotels, resorts, theme parks, and cruise ships, but standard wheelchairs require constant effort and can be difficult to navigate on difficult terrain. Standard wheelchairs are simply less functional than electric ones. The organization WheelMove wants to change this.
WheelMove is a portable device that transforms any standard wheelchair into a powered one, allowing people to move more easily wherever they are. It was unveiled at CES 2026, marking a significant step forward in travel accessibility for wheelchair users.
When I saw WheelMove at CES in the “Presentations” section, I was reminded of a recent family trip just two weeks ago, when two of my elderly relatives often rented wheelchairs. They don’t use wheelchairs in their daily lives, but walking around a theme park all day was impossible. They needed help getting around the park, and we happily took turns pushing their wheelchairs. However, with a portable device like WheelMove, wheelchair users can expend less effort and enjoy greater independence thanks to a battery-powered, remote-controlled device.
Users simply attach WheelMove to the front of any standard wheelchair, and the device lifts the wheelchair’s front wheels off the ground. Once installed, users control WheelMove with a simple remote control located on the armrest, hip, or anywhere else convenient. The device weighs less than 9 kg, including a 25-cm wheel, a 250-watt motor, and a battery that lasts approximately 24 km (15 miles). An additional battery doubles the range before needing to be recharged, and the device can navigate a variety of terrain, including gravel, grass, and uneven surfaces such as cobblestones.
WheelMove is an incredibly innovative assistive technology designed to enhance mobility for those who need it, and it is also afinalist for the official Best of CES 2026 awards in the Travel category. Pre-orders are available in France, where the startup is based, but the founders plan to expand internationally later this year. The price is approximately €5,000 (US$6,000).