GM partners with Segway on two-wheel city vehicle

[IDemo]

Source: CNET News

General Motors and Segway on Tuesday will take a two-wheel concept vehicle for a spin around New York City that's designed to ease congestion and pollution problems in cities.

The prototype vehicle, called Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), is based on the Segway Personal Transporter but it seats two people sitting down.

P.U.M.A runs on lithium-ion batteries and go up to 35 miles per hour and have a range of 35 miles between charges.

It includes some high-tech touches, including GM's wireless OnStar communications technology that could let a passenger locate other drivers in a city.



The "P.U.M.A " should be highly popular among DU'ers. :rofl:



Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10213863-54.html

[lunatica]

1. It should be really popular in winter in a snowstorm

Why does it seem they never think of this? Even in rain it would be useless.

[BobRossi]

3. Gosh, does it snow in every market?

Does it rain every day? Good thing Henry Ford didn't let rain and snow stop him!

[lunatica]

5. Well you certainly have the right to go buy one

Since you obviously live in perfect weather

[BobRossi]

6. It's snowing here today.

But for at least six months of the year it doesn't. It also doesn't snow in many parts of the world.
Oh, did you know that people once rode horses in the snow?

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Millions of Earthlings

have never seen snow. Never even seen it.

[lunatica]

21. Duh! You're so smart!

[Regret My New Name]

53. You're a nice person. :)

[Posteritatis]

59. LOL at the idea that "perfect weather" and "no snow" are synonymous (nt)

[alfredo]

47. Snow tires. No AC or heater. Wait until the tuners get hold of it.

[roguevalley]

74. I want one and I live in Alaska. So cute and good for me getting around town

here. :)

[yurbud]

93. you could probably put doors on it too.

[seemslikeadream]

2. K & R

[tomm2thumbs]

4. for the rain, they sell expensive accessories - like a barbecue cover with a window

but it'll cost you 1500 dollars I bet - gotta make up for the money they lost on the Saturn closures.

[BobRossi]

7. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

It's obvious by some of the replies to the OP that GM just can't do the right thing no matter what they do.
Yesterday some troll was all over them because they were going to release a new crossover SUV that got 30 MPG, just because it was an SUV!

[lithiumbomb]

16. yeah really

Imagine if Toyota was partnering with Segway instead...

I think some people will only be happy if GM is gone and 250k GM employees are out of work, as punitive damages against GM management... or something. It's very confusing.

That said, this is just a prototype after all. If it ever did hit production this is an ultra niche product. If a segway is in the 5-7k range I can see this being in the 15k range. That puts it in the NEV market (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) like GEM (owned by Chrysler) and a couple of other companies. So compared to a conventional NEV which takes up more parking space this could be interesting.

[tomreedtoon]

81. I'd like to see GM MANAGEMENT out of work...

...and the workers designing cars and mass transit vehicles that they know are viable and sturdy.

The Segway is a toy. I have seen it attempted to be used at Disney World and at the Orlando Civic Center. It remains a toy. The GM gadget is simply a BIG toy.

"It runs up to 30 miles an hour and it has a range of 30 miles." "It can fit two people and one sack of grocieries if you put it on the passenger's lap." "It can't run in the rain or snow." "It talks to other units of its kind to avoid crashes." (Boy, what a temptation for the script kiddies and anarchists to make the damn toys crash into one another with a pirate signal.)

[Xithras]

37. Non polluting? Check. All electric? Check. Compact? Check. GM? Oh, it's crap.

Yes, that was sarcasm, but some people here do think that way. I've slammed GM for their past business practices and have gone around with people here over my choices to avoid American vehicles, but I APPLAUD GM for looking at this market. The future of cars isn't giant gas-guzzling SUV's, it's compact personal vehicles that get from points A to B with a minimal amount of energy used. Bicycles are great, but they aren't an option for the elderly, or those with multiple children (and schedules to keep) and they genuinely suck ass when its raining (<--yeah, ask me about that one last week). There's a reason why civilized societies adopted motorized vehicles, and it wasn't because evil oil companies forced them on us.

A compact electric two seater that protects the driver from the weather and has an average cruising speed faster than a person can walk is a GOOD thing and should be a good seller around the world. Bravo to GM for looking beyond the gas guzzler.

[merh]

40. Really, was there a thread on the new model

An SUV that get's 30 mph? Is that being released in 2010?

That is a very good thing, many folks don't want to give up their SUV's - safety and ease of transport reasons. Sure, I'd prefer one that gets 50 mph but it's a start and we need to make changes as we can.

[alfredo]

49. One word- NASCAR

[Javaman]

44. If GM puts out a good product that is environmentally responsible, I will buy it.

this little vehicle piques my interest.

My wife and I are slowly moving to all electric.

I just want a to and from vehicle. I spend, at the most, 1 hour of my day in my car, I don't need all the bells and whistles just to get me to and from work.

right now I take the bus, but even the bus uses diesel, if I can decrease even that I will.

And yes, my house is run on wind power.

[goclark]

56. At least they are thinking about it.

In some cities they could have a special lane for little cars in the future.
It would be especially nice for Senior citizen's areas.

[jakefrep]

98. Pretty much every thread here about GM seems to devolve into that theme

It's like any other concept car. If they get a positive response, they'll go with it. If not, off to the scrap heap.

[Kindigger]

8. Do they allow scooters in NY City?

I wish my scooter had a cover like that :(

[Fumesucker]

10. A stealthy electric assisted bicycle would be the way to go in NYC..

There are several that are difficult to tell have electric assist, from my experiences in NYC as a visitor it would be close to ideal if you aren't the fearful type..



NYC is mostly pretty flat, you could make quite good time on even a moderately powered electric bike.

[FailureToCommunicate]

23. You've got something there. And how about plain old bikes? Worked for generations.

...though Detroit would want to add fins, etc.

[Fumesucker]

31. Electric assist makes a huge difference in range and speed for the average person..

In places that have hills that is one of the major impediments to using a plain bike, electric assist turns the average fairly sedentary American into Lance Armstrong almost literally.

[customerserviceguy]

9. And here I thought the Segway was a silly fad

for rich people that had finally gone away. Now, they're partnering up with the auto company that drove the EV-1 into the ground to rise, zombie-like, from the dead.

And you thought stroller people were irritating!

[Demeter]

17. The Segway Is a Godsend For People With Mobility Problems But Not Wheelchair Bound

as many of my friends will attest.

[customerserviceguy]

20. Really?

I've not seen any other than on TV and the movies. I figured after Chimpy fell off one, that pretty much killed the market for them.

[hlthe2b]

42. They are still in place among police in some urban areas

including shopping areas. I have to say, though the security guards (and cops in some areas) riding them always look very embarrassed. LOL

[Retrograde]

85. airports and train stations - and by tourists

I've seen them used by police at Chicago's O'Hare airport and Rome's Termini train station (which, having walked the length of I can testify is HUGE). I can understand their use there - although the cops at SFO use bikes.

Lately I've been seeing places that rent seques to tourists in urban areas, where they tend to be a menace.

[mopinko]

89. we use them a lot in the parks here in chicago.

they give segway tours in the big parks. and the police do use them, although we have a large bicycle force as well.

[FailureToCommunicate]

24. Really? You have MANY friends with expensive segways AND mobility problems?

I don't doubt you, I just have only seen them used by TABs. Mall cops and well healed (tab) tourists.

[Demeter]

25. Yes, I Do, and Yes, They Do

Even a poor schlemiel like me knows some people with more money and worse physical shape.

[FailureToCommunicate]

28. Fine. I'll believe you because you quote The Princess Bride in your tag line.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. I see people using them

not daily, but weekly. I wish I had one.

[Bette Noir]

36. I have a friend who used to work in a large theme park.

When he had an accident that damaged his knee, his overlords put him on duty guiding Segway tours until he was fully healed. Beats disability.

[Xithras]

41. A friends 83 year old grandmother has a Segway x2

He bought it for her last year. She doesn't ride it all that often, but it is one of the few ways she can get out of the house nowadays. She isn't wheelchair bound, but she gave up her license years ago and moves fairly slowly on foot. I had a hell of a chuckle the first time I saw her buzzing up the sidewalk on it, but I can see how it opens the community back up for her. Without it, she'd largely be a shut-in.

Her biggest problem with it is that she doesn't trust the technology. Even after riding it all over the place, she's apparently still paranoid that it's going to just tip over and dump her on her face one of these days.

[comtec]

11. no storage capacity....

that makes it an instant no.
I can easily walk to my city center.
If i can't CARRY shopping (mostly from the food market on Saturdays) then it's so many kilos of junk.
it's a good idea, but it needs work.

[Fumesucker]

13. If there is only one person in it you could load cargo in the other seat.. n/t

[IDemo]

12. Just to be clear, I thought the Segway was a great idea

And this is too. They both just have a number of realistic limitations, and neither belongs in city traffic. With a 35 mph top speed, the 'PUMA' qualifies as a NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) and would be great for retirement villages, corporate campuses, military bases, etc. Just nowhere that it may be flattened by a SmartCar.

[comtec]

15. Agreed, the Segway was (is) great

at least you can wear a back pack :)
But the cost was so prohibitively high, that it wasn't feasible.
I fear that will be the case with this unit.
All it needs imho, is a small boot, and it set!

[tomreedtoon]

82. The designer of Segway needs a boot. Up the butt.

If it isn't viable on the streets, can't carry cargo and relies on unaffordable rechargeable batteries, it's crap.



At least, Mr. Garrison's "It" offered high speed when you had to sit on its control rod.

[customerserviceguy]

22. Aren't Seqway's fairly silent

and can suddenly sneak up on pedestrians in ways that even stuff from "The Scooter Store" cannot? That's what I worry about, being rammed from behind by someone with whose vision is as limited as their mobility.

[florida08]

14. beats

the hoveround

[emmadoggy]

19. If I was going for a vehicle of that type, I'd rather have one of these...

http://www.mdi.lu/english/airpod.php

[Fumesucker]

32. That is indeed very interesting..

Three adults and a child on something that size is remarkable.

[Bette Noir]

38. That's adorable!

[immoderate]

63. I am skeptical about compressed air vehicles.

The figures I have seen make them impractical without an air tank the size of a tractor trailer.

On edit -- maybe OK for getting around a warehouse or a golf course.

--imm

[Hannah Bell]

83. specs say 50-100 km range, top speed 90-100 km/hr.

so about 30-60 miles range.


http://www.mdi.lu/english/oneflowair.php



the price is right: 3500-5300 pounds.

there's a dual-fuel version too, which might make it a bit more practical.

[immoderate]

87. The only actual road tests I've seen are no more than 6 miles.

--imm

[Hannah Bell]

94. maybe they're lying then.

[immoderate]

95. They've been at it for twenty years.

And not much to show for it.

--imm

[SomeGuyInEagan]

26. I'm still holding out for a rocket pack ....

... that is, unless we get transporters ala Star Trek (and deep down, we all *know* the government has those!).

[FailureToCommunicate]

27. So, our bailout tax dollars go to build VERY expensive taxi bumper decorations? Not in-

interested. Let GM build good electric cars, light rail, and subway cars.
"PUMAs"? Please spare me.
(I guess the only up side is these PUMAs would be so heavy they would be much harder to steal than bikes...)

[4_TN_TITANS]

88. "Let GM build good electric cars, light rail, and subway cars"

Bingo! Especially now that the Fed is involved, I think GM should be forced to focus less on the 'personal' vehicle and more on producing effective public transportation products. Millions more personal vehicles on the road is not the answer to our economic or evironmental problems. And, no one considers the first-responder dilema of a wrecked electric car with a leaking/loose battery or exposed current wires that couldn't be sprayed with a firehose.

[onehandle]

29. The best thing is that I would hardly notice when my Hummer runs it over.

Kidding aside, thing like this are a great thing for small communities and big cities.

[roguevalley]

75. I have bike trails between towns so this would not be a problem on the roads

for people. The air pod is adorable. :)

[NeedleCast]

30. Seems Like a Decent Idea

Probably not somthing I'd want but I can see there being a market for it, especially in big cities with slow moving downtown traffic.

[xchrom]

33. you might even be able to find a place to park w/ that in N.Y. nt

[Bette Noir]

35. It looks like a trash barrel.

I'd rather have a Segway. They're cool.

[w4rma]

39. Nice. (nt)

[Baclava]

43. You want two wheels?

Get a Vespa!

[harmonicon]

45. what's wrong with the subway and buses?

What an incredibly stupid, useless piece of shit. Maybe the government should bypass GM and put the bailout money directly into the toilet.

[Fumesucker]

64. Subways require monstrous investments in infrastructure..

Buses are limited in flexibility of schedule and route.

Not everyone lives near a bus line and there is simply no way to have enough buses to allow everyone to do so.

[harmonicon]

67. where could this possibly be used that wouldn't already have buses and light rail?

It only goes 35 mph. If someone doesn't live near a bus line, I doubt that this vehicle could be safe to use in any way. You couldn't possibly use this thing in a city like LA, Phoenix, Detroit, etc. that's reliant on automotive transport. Further, how on earth would it ease congestion? Perhaps a few people who now drive full sized cars in places like New York, London, and Boston would use one of these instead (and not in the winter), but that's a pretty small change.

[Fumesucker]

68. People ride mopeds a lot of places, they won't even go as fast as 35..

There are a great many people who have lost their license for DUI who ride unlicensed mopeds, they top out at about 22 or maybe 25 mph.

[harmonicon]

91. maybe in cities

.... but, you know, mopeds and scooters already exist, and they're cheaper than this thing if someone is looking for small motorized transport.

[Fumesucker]

71. dupe

[roguevalley]

76. out west, subways and buses are problematic due to distances.

[harmonicon]

92. I know, and I don't think this thing would be safe out west either

Those places are laid out with car traffic in mind, and I don't think this thing could really be a car replacement in any situation apart from a congested urban environment (as GM/Segway are suggesting), so how could this help? You couldn't drive it in LA, Houston, etc. - you'd be killed. No way would be be allowed on the freeway, so what good is it out west where that's the only way to get around? It might as well just be a bike or a riding lawn mower for what good it would do.

[LiberalFighter]

46. Cities and businesses would need to make adjustments for these vehicles.

Provide parking spaces specifically for them. Considering that they also have a much higher mpg possibly be given preferential parking spaces.

If enough of these vehicles are produced and used communities may need to adapt their infrastructure to provide safer transportation. Wouldn't want to have regular size vehicles running over the segways.

[Posteritatis]

60. They'll just ban them instead. (nt)

[LiberalFighter]

62. Depends on whether the state will allow cities to ban them.

[Egnever]

48. Well thats refreshing

it may not be perfect but it shows a desire to head in the right direction IMHO

[Deja Q]

50. Oh look! It's a mobile wheelie bin!!! Just imagine 50,000 of those in rush hour...

:scared:

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

54. That image would make "third world america" pretty official

[nolabels]

65. Perhaps you should get out more, places in the US that "third world"quality would be an improvement

Death by environmental degradation and inadvertent ingestion of toxic waste still doesn't make one's death anymore glamorous.

[bikebloke]

51. Two wheels and an organic two-stroke engine.

I'll stick with what I have.

[tammywammy]

52. But if you're slightly immobal

due to age or disabilities, wouldn't the Puma be a good idea then? You're not wheelchair bound, but can't stand for long periods of time, the Puma would give them the ability to still get out, without using gas.

[ShareTheWoods]

66. It's the jet planes between pedal strokes that add up

[Regret My New Name]

55. I doubt these will catch on... Probably see some city tour places that rent them out and that's it.

Aye?

[Posteritatis]

58. Nah, they'll be preemptively banned in most cities

Just like the Segway was, in one of the more idiotic kneejerk reactions I've seen lately.

If someone invented the bicycle in 2006, it would be outlawed by now.

[Regret My New Name]

79. Some cities have banned those? Weird. I'll have to look that.

[Lorien]

73. They will in Florida. Seqways and golf carts are already big here

the terrain is flat, there's no snow, and there are a lot of old people who are too immobile to use a bike.

[Kokonoe]

57. Here it is on you-tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIrAlPFb8RY

[carlyhippy]

61. hmm, could get chilly in the northern tier when it gets to -30 in the winter

will they be making a 4wd version?

It would be a wonderful idea if EVERY SINGLE VEHICLE on the road was one of those, but methinks if that "car" was rammed by even a prius it would probably hurt or kill the occupants.

[high density]

69. No no GM, don't make something that competes well with the Civic and Mazda3

Instead what we REALLY want is a glorified electric wheelchair! Yes, that's the ticket.

[Hannah Bell]

84. they're making competitors - but only in europe. car of the year there.

& in china - top seller.

gm has more market share than toyota in both.

[ardvark]

70. Pick up a girl on a date in one of those

and the date will be over before it starts

[Regret My New Name]

80. haha... I would soo totally borrow one of these just to do that...

[IDemo]

72. My two-wheeler:

[roguevalley]

77. perfect meter maid vehicle. :)

[and-justice-for-all]

78. Gee, thanks GM..I would thing you would look a little higher than this..

HOW ABOUT AN ELECTRIC CAR YOU WANKERS!!

[Retrograde]

86. just keep them off the sidewalks (n/t)

[kiranon]

90. News release should have been on April 1st. It looks like a 2 wheeled mailbox.

Perhaps the post office will buy it. A moving mail box would be innovative. This isn't.

[Chisox08]

96. I don't see this thing working in a major city

In a small town or suburb maybe, also it seems like it would only be useful in warm weather parts of the country. I doubt it will survive a Chicago winter.

[asthmaticeog]

97. Anything to save America from the insidious threat of having to walk somewhere.

[harmonicon]

99. +1