Wheelchair accessible van

The entry location impacts wheelchair seating positions, parking options, the ability to accommodate other passengers, and storage availability.

Disadvantages of this style are that it requires an accessible parking space or extra room for ramp deployment and that some driveways are not wide enough to accommodate the vehicle.

A rear-entry configuration can be used for attended applications in which the wheelchair occupant is not driving the vehicle but rather riding as a passenger.

Other advantages of a rear-entry vehicle is that, with the exception of parallel parking, no extra room is required for a ramp, and the side passenger doors aren't blocked.

It is a great 'starter" vehicle for consumers who are unsure of which configuration would work best and is a good entry point from a wheelchair carrier to one where transferring is no longer necessary.

In-floor ramps slide into a pocket underneath the vehicle's floor and are only available for side-entry configurations.

Older style applications may also have a "kneeling feature" that reduces the angle of the ramp by compressing the suspension of the van on the ramp side, newer ones using complex geometry eliminate the need for kneeling to meet ADA standards although they may employ a retracting system as an option, that eliminates the stress of compressing the suspension.

Minivans that are most frequently converted: Some manufacturers also provide wheelchair accessible versions of their out-going vehicles, like Luxgen did with their M7.

Full-size vans require lifts in the form of a platform that can be raised and lowered from inside the vehicle down to the ground outside.

Double-arm and underbody lifts are best-able for bigger vehicles such as minibuses or buses used for public transport.

As a result, they are very well suited for commercial and heavy-cycle applications (i.e.-taxi, non-emergency ambulance, paratransit,[4] assisted living, and dial-a-ride) and geographic areas prone to vehicle corrosion from salt and chloride usage on highways in winter seasons.