Opel Zafira-e Life, now also compatible with wheelchairs

Wheelchair-accessible transport is important and requires a complete adaptation of the vehicle for this purpose. Fortunately, there are increasingly more vehicles prepared to carry out this service, and it is much easier to find one that suits this situation, including electrically powered vehicles.

The Opel Zafira-e Life, the fully electric version of the van, has been handled by AMF-Bruns, a specialist in conversions, and adapted to comfortably and safely transport a wheelchair in an approved manner. The large rear door allows access for a wheelchair, which can travel in the cargo area. It is available, as with the combustion engine version, in two body lengths. The M version measures 4.95 metres long and the L version measures 5.30 metres.

Interior space

One of the problems that could have been encountered when converting this model is the presence of the battery. It has a capacity of 50 kWh and, to avoid taking up space in the cargo area, where the wheelchair is located, it is placed in the floor of the van.

The area intended for the wheelchair has a height of 1,420 mm and a headroom of 1,500 mm. The width for it is 810 mm, although the length of this space varies depending on the chosen body. In the M version it is 1,400 mm and in the L version it is 1,700 mm. Access is via a non-slip ramp, and there are restraints that ensure the wheelchair will not move and can travel without any risk.

In addition, the Opel Zafira-e Life has an optional FutureSafe head and back restraint system, which increases passenger safety. Furthermore, when a wheelchair is not being transported, two additional seats can be added at the rear. In this way, the vehicle’s capacity increases from five to seven seats.

The third-row seats remain folded and can be unfolded and turned to accommodate these two new passengers. As for the battery, its 50 kWh provide a range of 231 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. At a 100 kW fast-charging point, an 80% charge is achieved in just 30 minutes.