

TOÂ enable less able Orthodox Jews to continue being mobile during the Sabbath and on Jewish holidays, UK based TGA Electric Leisure and its Israel supplier recently introduced the “Shabbat controller” to several of their models.

According to disability magazine, Able, the TGA Breeze 3 and 4, and their new Midi counterparts, are now compliant with Halacha (Jewish law) which enables the owner to operate the scooter during on days they are forbidden to operate machinery. The Shabbat controller has been authorised and certified by Zomet, the Israeli hi-tech, non-profit organization specializing in IT equipment and electronic appliances designed to meet Halacha.

So how does the ridiculous thing work?

In Shabbat mode it utilises a separate circuit board which produces:

Steady acceleration with no throttle lever activation required by the user.

This initial process is considered an “indirect action” and, because the motor relay circuit was changed whilst in Shabbat mode, varying the voltage to the motor by the throttle lever and hence altering speed during motion, is not considered a violation of the Shabbat principle.

The Shabbat controller is also used for turning the scooter on or off and for changing direction.

TGA Managing Director David Stone said: