Just back from WDW on a ECV

[Haley Whippet]

My only problem Can't tell you how many times I had people cut across the walkways in front of me, It is so frustrating!
Don't people know we don't have brakes?

We returned Sunday from 6 wonderful days at WDW and other than the folks running if front of me I had no trouble on my ECV and everyone was very nice and patient while I got on and off the buses. I bring my own ECV on our trips and am very good at getting it on the bus and parked in the little space on the bus. I took in on the monorail and again no trouble. We took "Keys to the Kingdom" tour and there were 2 ECV users and one power wheel chair user in our group, We all had a wonderful time and our guide Jennifer was great. When we went down into the "Utilidoors" we all took turns in the tiny elevator. All I can say is enjoy yourself, Use a ECV if you need one, Don't worry about what anyone will say, No one was ever rude. all I saw was friendly and helpful people.
Deb
Here's my Nieces and Me..

 

[AJKMOM]

My only problem Can't tell you how many times I had people cut across the walkways in front of me, It is so frustrating!
Don't people know we don't have brakes?

We returned Sunday from 6 wonderful days at WDW and other than the folks running if front of me I had no trouble on my ECV and everyone was very nice and patient while I got on and off the buses. I bring my own ECV on our trips and am very good at getting it on the bus and parked in the little space on the bus. I took in on the monorail and again no trouble. We took "Keys to the Kingdom" tour and there were 2 ECV users and one power wheel chair user in our group, We all had a wonderful time and our guide Jennifer was great. When we went down into the "Utilidoors" we all took turns in the tiny elevator. All I can say is enjoy yourself, Use a ECV if you need one, Don't worry about what anyone will say, No one was ever rude. all I saw was friendly and helpful people.
Deb
Here's my Nieces and Me..

I, for one, did not know there were no brakes on the ECV. You may hear from others. Why aren't there brakes, seems like a logical to ask. I thought there would be some sort of hand brake at least.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I, for one, did not know there were no brakes on the ECV. You may hear from others. Why aren't there brakes, seems like a logical to ask. I thought there would be some sort of hand brake at least.

There are brakes on an ECV. As you slow down there is "regenerative braking" and power is fed back into the battery. When you completely release the power lever the ECV will stop and will remain stopped until you give it power again.

I can be on a monorail ramp (and they are steep) and it will stop and remain stopped as long as I am not pressing the lever. Sometimes when going up a ramp, when I press the lever it might roll back a couple of inches when I restart when the brake comes off but before the motor actually starts delivering power.

 

[Haley Whippet]

There are brakes on an ECV. As you slow down there is "regenerative braking" and power is fed back into the battery. When you completely release the power lever the ECV will stop and will remain stopped until you give it power again.

I can be on a monorail ramp (and they are steep) and it will stop and remain stopped as long as I am not pressing the lever. Sometimes when going up a ramp, when I press the lever it might roll back a couple of inches when I restart when the brake comes off but before the motor actually starts delivering power.

You are right, Letting off the power does stop the ECV but when driving in a lot of foot traffic having someone dart in front of me is very dangerous to them and me..
Deb

 

[SueM in MN]

There are no brakes (in the traditional sense of brakes) on power wheelchairs either. They work pretty much the same as Cheshire Figment's explanation of regerative braking on ECVs.
So basically, they stop because power is no longer being sent to 'tell' them to go forward.