Philip is driving again – experiencing mobility in a new way with Paravan, from zero to mobile

On January 18, 2018, a single moment fundamentally changed Philip's life: Storm Friederike uprooted a tree, which fell directly onto his moving car – at 80 kilometers per hour. What followed were eleven months in hospital, 2.5 years of rehabilitation, and the start of a new life in a wheelchair. But Philip knew from the outset that giving up was not an option. His goal: to regain his mobility – independently, self-determinedly, without restrictions.

Mobility begins in the mind: the PR 50 as a gateway to independence

Philip's first step toward independence was an electric wheelchair, which gave him back at least a limited degree of self-determination and mobility. With the Paravan PR 50, the now 33-year-old has covered more than 1,500 kilometers in the last year and a half. For him, the PR 50 is much more than a means of transportation; it is the heart of his mobility – his everyday companion. It is the only electric wheelchair on the market that is approved for use as a driver's seat in a car and can be securely and quickly anchored in the vehicle via the Paravan docking station. Thanks to joystick control, a tilt and lift system, and individual customizability, the PR 50 is particularly suitable for people with complex medical conditions or severe mobility restrictions.

Technology that creates freedom: tailor-made mobility solution for maximum independence

Now, three years later, Philip is hitting the road with his first vehicle: a VW T6.1 Caravelle, individually converted by the mobility experts at Paravan in Pfronstetten-Aichelau. The vehicle has been tailored precisely to his needs and equipped with state-of-the-art technology – for maximum independence in everyday life. A cassette lift enables comfortable, barrier-free access with a wheelchair. The Paravan docking station is integrated into both the driver's and passenger seats, allowing Philip to drive himself or ride along flexibly, depending on the situation.

The vehicle is controlled via the Space Drive digital driving and steering system – with an accelerator/brake slider on the left and a mini steering wheel on the right. Precise, safe, and sensitive. The system is complemented by the Paravan Touch with voice control, which can control up to 99 secondary functions such as turn signals, windshield wipers, or sun visors by voice. Additional functions such as opening doors or activating the lift can be conveniently operated via the Paravan app on a smartphone.

A new chapter begins: driving school, driving practice, and the first car of his own

Philip traveled to the Mobility Park in Aichelau with great anticipation. Not only was the exact adjustment of his new vehicle on the agenda, but intensive training sessions at the in-house Paravan driving school also accompanied the final step back to mobile independence. Thanks to his professional experience with construction machinery, he quickly got to grips with the operating logic of the Space Drive system. He had already successfully passed the driving aptitude test at the Paravan branch in Heidelberg in 2022 – after a further eight driving lessons, he was now ready to get back on the road. A small detail with a big impact has accompanied him ever since: a "novice driver" sign on the rear of his vehicle. It signals consideration and creates space – not only in traffic, but also in the mind.

Now Philip is mobile again – and not just in a technical sense. His new vehicle is much more than a means of transportation for him: it marks the beginning of a new phase in his life. Finally, he can get around on his own again without having to plan everything in advance. His goal? To drive to the North Sea. Visit friends. Drive his nephew around and spoil him. Just be Uncle Philip again. On the road – free, flexible, and independent.

For Philip, the new car represents much more than mobility. It means independence, self-determination, and quality of life. With his conversion, he is now ideally equipped for a self-determined life with maximum freedom of movement.