The wheelchair has long been the domain and sometimes icon of the disabilities community. Well, at least for those community members who are unable to functionally or safely ambulate.The rest of the world has managed to get by fine with their preferred type of car, truck, bike, smartcar or Segway. The recently introduced Toyota i-Real aims to change that.

With demand being up for environmentally as well as urban friendly vehicles, Toyota took the plunge into personal people movers with this concept. While it is a powered wheeled chair, it is not a powerchair or personal mobility scooter. This vehicle is not designed for legitimate wheelers.

Yet, where there are concepts there is hope. The Toyota i-real could probably be morphed into a powerchair with little fuss or bother by the technogeeks at Toyota.

Here are some of the i-real features:

• Top speed of 18 mph
• Wheelbase lengthens at high speeds and seat lowers to create a lower center of gravity
• At low speeds in tight areas the wheelbase shortens and the seat rises to a standing position to increase maneuverability and place the driver at eye level.
• Perimeter monitoring sensors to detect when a collision with a person or object is imminent and alerts the driver by emitting a noise and vibrating; at the same time.
• Alerts people around it of its movements through the use of light and sound.
• Electric powered.

In the non-powerchair world 18 mph is undesirably slow, and sensors, flashers, and noisemakers are nothing new. In the powerchair world the speed is lightning fast and the safety features are very much desirable.

In any event, I do not know of any plans on Toyota’s part to morph this gadget into a legitimate powerchair. Assuming these wheels make it to market, the morph to powerchair may be left to the independent gadgeteers and tinkerers.

Vehicle watchers and enthusiasts have not been overwhelmed as yet by Toyota’s new concept so don’t move over too far in anticipation of one of these blowing by. And certainly don’t go painting over the wheelchair icons in your community. At least not yet.

View a Toyota i-Real video.