Breite Reifen, E-Motor: 92-Jähriger erfindet Turbo-Rollator für Wald und Berge

A 92-year-old man from Überlingen am Bodensee has created a turbo rollator for the forest and mountains. According to engineer Gerhart Wissel, a bicycle accident limited his mobility and inspired him to come up with a rollator suitable for off-road use. While most rollators are designed for the streets, he wanted to venture into the mountains and forests. He didn’t want to be confined at home, so this invention became a necessity for him.

For three years, he worked on the „Wissel Alpin e-hiker“, calculating and eventually inventing a type of electrically assisted hiking aid. The inventor describes it as a combination of a mountain bike and a rollator. The large wheels help overcome obstacles, while the electric drive assists with uphill climbs, and a powerful brake is necessary for downhill descents. Wissel explains that this ensures a safe descent. Additionally, the rollator is foldable, making it easy to fit into the trunk of many cars.

There are still many crazy people like me.

He has already tested the practicality in several tests. „I have already driven 400 hours with the prototypes – 300 meters uphill to the hut.“ However, the development of the vehicle is far from complete: Through his experience with the walker, he also came up with the idea of building additional snow chains for use in inclement weather. He brings the technical know-how for the construction from his professional life. „I am a dedicated technician, I started designing things as a young apprentice,“ says Wissel.