Getting Road Ready: What’s Next for the emPOWER Car
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
It’s been six years since Kids Included teamed up with professional engineers at APEGA to create the emPOWER Car. This affordable, ride-on mobility device is designed to give young children with disabilities the freedom to move, explore, and play alongside their peers, often for the first time.
Built for Unstoppable Kids
The emPOWER Car has already touched the lives of dozens of Edmonton-area children, including four-year-old Isabel (pictured below). Her mom Sarah has seen big changes in her just in the few weeks she has been using the Car. “She’s always been an independent little girl,” said Sarah. “But this opens up a whole new world for her to explore.”
Giving kids the power of movement is not just convenient—it’s essential for their development. Independent exploration helps kids build neural connections with each new discovery. With the emPOWER car, kids with disabilities like muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or spinal muscular atrophy can experience free movement, often for the first time.
We are proud to have brought the emPOWER car to so many families, but over 50 children in the Edmonton area alone are still waiting for their turn. As demand for the Car continues to grow, we’re looking for ways to make sure every family who needs one can access it.
The Road Ahead
As of 2026, we’ve reached the production limit under our current certification. To build more cars, we need to pass through a series of expensive regulatory approvals.
Formal certifications will allow us to make the Car available to more families in more places, but will cost an estimated $200,000.
Since we are not making a profit on the emPOWER Car, the commercialization grants that typically fund the certification process aren’t available to us. That means we are relying on community support to drive the emPOWER Car into the future.
How You Can Help
Every donation, no matter how small, helps us get closer to our $200,000 goal.
Help us make sure children like Isabel can experience the freedom and autonomy of independent movement. Donate today.
