How it works
The first stair-climbing wheelchair you can operate alone.
The Movo X uses an 720W dual-motor system, traction tracks, and a redundant braking system to safely ascend and descend stairs up to 8 inches tall at 15 steps per minute — controlled entirely with a single joystick. No caregiver. No installer. No prescription.
Three steps
From the bottom step to the top floor.
Roll up to the stairs
Drive backward until the rear of the chair touches the first step. Onboard sensors read the riser height. If your steps are outside the safe range, the chair refuses to enter stair mode.
Press Stair Mode
One button on the armrest reclines the seat to a safe angle and lowers the climbing tracks against the steps. A 2-second confirmation prevents accidental triggers. The chair will not engage until both tracks contact the stairs.
Hold the trigger. Climb.
Pull the trigger — the chair climbs at 15 steps per minute, about one step every four seconds. Release at any time to stop. The auto-brake holds you in place at every step. The same trigger controls descent in reverse.
The technology
How a wheelchair climbs stairs.
The 720W dual-motor drive
The Movo X uses two motors working together. A 400W high-torque climbing motor drives the tracks during stair ascent and descent. A 320W drive motor handles flat-ground propulsion at up to 8 km/h (~5 mph). The two are managed by a central controller that switches modes automatically based on whether the climbing tracks are engaged.
Why two motors? Stair climbing requires high torque at low speed (you need force to lift a 331 lb load). Flat travel needs efficiency at higher speed. A single motor optimized for one is bad at the other. Splitting them lets us tune each for its job — and lets one act as a backup if the other ever fails.
The traction tracks
Most stair-climbing chairs use either wheels (which slip) or articulated legs (which are complex). The Movo X uses continuous traction tracks — similar to a tank, scaled down and made of high-grip rubber over a steel core. Each track has multiple contact points, so at any moment the chair is gripping at least two stair edges simultaneously. There's no instant where the chair is balanced on a single point.
Continuous balance adjustment
The chair reads its own tilt continuously. During a climb, the seat tilts forward automatically to keep your center of gravity over the climbing tracks. You don't have to lean — the chair leans the seat for you. If the angle ever moves outside the safe range, the brake engages automatically.
Braking
The auto-brake engages at every step during a climb. If the chair loses power for any reason — dead battery, cut wire — the brake holds the chair in place. It will not free-roll without a deliberate manual release.
Single-joystick control
For everything other than the stair-engagement button, the entire chair is controlled with a single right-armrest joystick (left-hand variant available). Push forward to drive. Pull back to reverse. Tilt left or right to turn. The same joystick controls stair speed once stair mode is active — push forward to climb, pull back to descend. We deliberately rejected multi-button control schemes that require fine motor dexterity many of our riders may not have.
The honest part
What you can't climb.
The Movo X is not magic. There are stairs it will not climb safely and we'd rather tell you upfront than have you ship one back.
- Spiral staircases. The chair needs straight runs to engage tracks correctly.
- Stairs narrower than 28 inches. The chair is 24 inches wide; it needs clearance to maneuver.
- Steps taller than 8 inches. The sensors detect this and refuse engagement.
- Floating stairs without risers. The chair needs a solid riser face to push against.
- Wet ice or heavy snow accumulation. The tracks lose grip on glazed ice.
If you're unsure about your specific staircase, email team@movochair.com three photos and a tape-measure shot of the step height. We'll tell you straight whether your stairs work — usually within one business day.
Beyond stairs
The same system handles everything else.
The Movo X isn't just a stair chair. The combination of high-torque motors, traction tracks, and balance sensors makes it capable on terrain that flat-ground chairs cannot manage:
| Curbs and ledges | Up to 8 inches — same as a residential stair |
|---|---|
| Gravel and dirt paths | Traction tracks grip loose surfaces better than wheels |
| Wet grass | Yes — within the 35° incline limit |
| Beach sand (firm-packed) | Possible. Loose dry sand reduces battery range significantly. |
| Inclines up to 35° | Continuous rated incline. Steeper short bursts possible but not recommended. |
| Snow (light, packed) | Yes. Heavy snow accumulation reduces traction. |
Ready to see one in person?
Order today and we'll ship in 60 days. Or book a 15-minute video call with a mobility specialist to walk through your specific situation before you decide.