Accessibility vehicle

An accessibility vehicle comprises:

• a van having:
• a rear cargo area having a floor and flanked by A, B, C and D pillars;
• a sliding door which, when closed, lies between the B and C pillars on a passenger side and double leaf rear doors between the D pillars;
• and a side entrance on the passenger side of the vehicle between the C and D pillars;
• and
• a wheelchair lift having an axis and a platform, the axis being horizontal and disposed at the base of the side entrance, the platform:
• having a fully stowed position whereat the platform extends vertically upwardly from the axis interiorly of the cargo area adjacent the side entrance;
• being pivotably movable between the fully stowed position and a fully raised position whereat the platform extends horizontally, is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with a floor surface of the cargo area;
• and
• being horizontally movable between the fully raised positioned and a fully lowered position that lies beneath the fully raised position, is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with the ground.

An accessibility vehicle comprises:

• a van having:
• a rear cargo area having a floor and flanked by A, B, C and D pillars;
• a side entrance on the passenger side of the vehicle between the C and D pillars;
• and
• a sliding door which, when closed, lies between the B and C pillars on the passenger side;
• and
• a wheelchair lift having an axis and a platform, the axis being horizontal and disposed at the base of the side entrance, the platform:
• having a fully stowed position whereat the platform extends vertically upwardly from the axis interiorly of the cargo area adjacent the side entrance;
• being pivotably movable between the fully stowed position and a fully raised position whereat the platform extends horizontally, is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with a floor surface of the cargo area;
• and
• being horizontally movable between the fully raised positioned and a fully lowered position that lies beneath the fully raised position, is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with the ground.

A method comprising:

• modifying a van, the van being of the type having a rear cargo area flanked by A, B, C and D pillars;
• and
• installing a wheelchair lift, the lift being of the type having an axis which is horizontal when the lift is operatively positioned and which has a platform that:
• has an axis;
• has a fully stowed position whereat the platform extends vertically upwardly from the axis when the lift is operatively positioned;
• is pivotably movable between the fully stowed position and a fully raised position whereat the platform extends horizontally from the axis when the lift is operatively positioned;
• and is, when the lift is operatively positioned, horizontally movable between the fully raised positioned and a fully lowered position that lies beneath the fully raised position;
• wherein the van modification includes:
• removing a portion of the passenger side of the vehicle between the C and D pillars to create a side opening and modifying a passenger side rear wheel arch to create the side opening;
• and mounting double leaf doors adjacent the side opening to create a side entrance;
• and
• wherein the wheelchair lift is installed such that:
• in the fully stowed position, the platform is disposed interiorly of the cargo area adjacent the side entrance;
• in the fully raised position, the platform is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with a floor surface of the cargo area;
• and, in the fully lowered position, the platform is disposed exteriorly of the cargo area and communicates with the ground.