Permobil · mid-wheel drive powerchair
Used Permobil M5 Corpus
The Permobil M5 Corpus is a mid-wheel drive powerchair made to order for its first user. Permobil made it for users who want more speed, a higher seat lift and better reach: it goes up to 12 km/h, has suspension on all six wheels and, on some chairs, a seat that rises by up to 350 mm. It turns in a 1120 mm circle and carries up to 150 kg.
Up to 12 km/h (7.5 mph)
Top speed
Up to 25 km
Range
150 kg
Maximum user weight
1120 mm
Turning circle
Want a different one?
The one above is the only M5 Corpus in stock at the moment.
Specification
Manufacturer's figures.
| Driving | |
|---|---|
| Drive | Mid-wheel drive |
| Top speed | 12 km/h (7.5 mph); 6, 8 or 10 km/h on some chairs |
| Range | Up to 25 km (15.5 miles) at a battery temperature of 25°C, say Permobil's user manuals (29 km, or 18 miles, in the later manuals' specification tables and the product data; 40 km on 85Ah batteries on the 2023 data sheet; maker's figures) |
| Maximum kerb climb | 50 mm from a standstill (100 mm with a 50 cm run-up) |
| Maximum safe slope | 6°: Permobil say take care on slopes steeper than 6° and never drive on slopes steeper than 10° |
| Ground clearance | 90 mm (Permobil say a car lock fitted to the chair affects it) |
| Turning circle | 1120 mm |
| Suspension | Independent on all six wheels (Permobil's Agile suspension) |
| Wheels | 3.00-8 drive wheels with air-filled or puncture-proof (solid or foam-filled) tyres; 210 × 65 mm castors, air-filled or solid |
| Electronics | R-net or Permobil's Power Platform, depending on the chair |
| Lights | LED lights: on some chairs |
| Batteries | |
| Batteries | 2 × 12 V 85Ah lead acid (group 24) |
| Charging | Through the socket at the front of the joystick, with a Permobil charger (the first manual says those chairs can also be charged at the base); it cannot be driven while it charges |
| Seat | |
| Seat width | 420 to 570 mm, depending on the chair |
| Seat depth | 370 to 570 mm, depending on the chair |
| Seat height (without the cushion) | 450 mm; up to 800 mm on chairs with Active Height, say Permobil's web page and data sheet (the product data says up to 750 mm) |
| Powered seat lift (Active Height) | On some chairs: up to 350 mm, and it drives at up to 5 km/h fully raised |
| Forward tilt (Active Reach) | On some chairs: 5° to 20° (20° needs the VS legrest) |
| Powered tilt | On some chairs: up to 50° back |
| Backrest | Powered (85° to 180°) or manual, depending on the chair |
| Legrests | Powered or manual (90° to 180°), depending on the chair |
| Size and weight | |
| Width | 650 to 790 mm with the seat (the base is 630 mm, says Permobil's data sheet) |
| Length | 1113 mm, say Permobil's manuals and product data (their data sheet gives 1170 mm as the longest, with the seat) |
| Height | 955 to 1170 mm |
| Smallest for transport | 880 mm long and 870 mm high (the data sheet says 825 mm high with the backrest folded) |
| Weight | 194 kg with batteries (the two batteries weigh 23 kg each) |
| Heaviest part | The backrest, 7.5 kg |
| Maximum user weight | 150 kg (23 st 8 lb); Permobil say it can vary with how the chair is set up, and it is 136 kg (21 st 5 lb) on a Dahl docking station |
| Travel | |
| Seated travel in a vehicle | Yes, facing forward, secured at its four tie-down points or on a docking station (ISO 7176-19, say the manuals for model versions 2 and 3 and the product data); Permobil recommend moving to a vehicle seat whenever you can |
Before you buy a used M5 Corpus
How fast does the M5 Corpus go, and how far?
Up to 12 km/h (7.5 mph); some chairs are 6, 8 or 10 km/h. Permobil's manuals give a range of about 25 km (15.5 miles) at a battery temperature of 25°C; the later manuals' specification tables say 29 km (18 miles), and their 2023 data sheet says 40 km on its 85Ah batteries. Those are the maker's figures: hills, rough ground, cold weather and older batteries all shorten it.
What is the maximum user weight?
150 kg (23 st 8 lb), including anything you carry. Permobil say it can vary with how the chair is set up, and the limit is 136 kg (21 st 5 lb) when the chair is secured on a Dahl docking station in a vehicle.
How does it differ from the M3 Corpus?
On Permobil's figures the M5 Corpus is faster (up to 12 km/h against 10 km/h), climbs higher obstacles with a run-up (100 mm against 75 mm), has more ground clearance (90 mm against 80 mm) and its seat lift rises further (350 mm against 300 mm). Both turn in a 1120 mm circle. The M5 is a little longer and heavier: 1113 mm and 194 kg, against 1016 mm and 176 kg.
What can it climb?
Obstacles up to 50 mm from a standstill, or 100 mm with a 50 cm run-up; always drive at them straight on. Permobil say to take care on slopes steeper than 6° and never to drive on slopes steeper than 10°. Ground clearance is 90 mm.
Can I travel in a vehicle sitting in it?
Yes, in a vehicle made to carry wheelchairs. Permobil's later manuals and product data say it meets ISO 7176-19, so the user can stay seated in it facing forward, with the chair secured at its four tie-down points or on a docking station and the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts worn. Permobil recommend moving to a vehicle seat whenever you can. It weighs 194 kg with batteries, and the backrest folds down or comes off to make it smaller.
Is the M5 Corpus right for you?
Tell us how you’ll use it and we’ll say honestly if another model fits better.