PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a level difference ascending/descending device capable of smoothly ascending/descending the level difference of stairs or the like in spite of an inexpensive and simple structure, and an electric wheelchair of high mobility combining a function of surely and stably ascending/descending the stairs without a caregiver by using the level difference ascending/descending device, and a function of smoothly traveling the flat ground surface by easily passing a protrusion, a ditch, or the like existing on the flat ground surface, in a state of crossing over it.SOLUTION: The level difference ascending/descending device includes a lateral pair of turning arms (10) each including traveling wheels (11) mounted to the end parts of a plurality of mounting arm pieces (10a) radially extending at equal spaces from the center part and having the same length； turning arm turning gears (12) and turning drive sources (13) for turning the respective turning arms (10)； and rotating drive sources (17) for rotating the traveling wheels (11). The electric wheelchair is constituted by arranging the level difference ascending/descending device used as a main mechanism (8), and an auxiliary mechanism (9) constituted by simplifying the level difference ascending/descending device, in front and in the rear.【課題】安価で簡単な構造としながらも、階段などの段差を円滑に昇降できる段差昇降装置及びこれを用いることによって介助者なしでも階段を確実、且つ安定に昇降できる機能と平地面に凸条物や溝などが存在してもこれを跨ぐ状態で容易に通過して、平地面を円滑に走行移動できる機能とを兼ね備えた機動性の高い電動車椅子を提供する。【解決手段】段差昇降装置は、中心部から等間隔で放射状に延びた同一長さを有する複数の取付アーム片(10a) の先端部に走行車輪(11)が取り付けられた回動アーム(10)を左右一対設け、各回動アーム(10)を回動させるための回動アーム回動用歯車(12)および回動駆動源(13)と、走行車輪(11)を回転させるための回転駆動源(17)とを備えて構成する。電動車椅子は、段差昇降装置を主機構(8) とし、さらに、段差昇降装置を簡略化した補助機構(9) とを前後に配置して構成する。【選択図】図２
