Tuesday, April 07, 2009

GM - Segway

It looks like GM and Segway are going to team up to make a eco-friendly transporter for use around town.
The struggling auto maker, surviving on a government lifeline, is looking to generate enthusiasm for its increasingly uncertain future ahead of the New York auto show this week.
While GM is trying to generate enthusiasm, more likely they'll generate derision.



That's the God-awful ugliest thing I've ever seen. It looks like a wheelchair with training wheels. I guess when somebody runs over you they can just use the damn thing for a coffin. They call it the PUMA, (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessability), and that's an insult to Puma's everywhere. Pumas of every stripe should rise up and complain.
GM is betting PUMA's more car-like traits -- an enclosed compartment and top speed of 35 miles per hour -- will lead to better results. GM didn't say how much the machines would cost, but research chief Larry Burns said owners would spend one-third to one-fourth of the cost of a traditional vehicle.

PUMA would have a range of about 35 miles. GM said it aims to use so-called vehicle-to-vehicle technology to avoid traffic problems and potentially have it navigate itself through city streets.
Top speed of 35 mph with a 35 mile range. That's the hearbeat of America. You betcha.

Hat tip to Cold Fury.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This POS looks down right dangerous. It's not big enough to give ANY kind of protection, and a de-restricted 2-stroke 50cc scooter could outrun it.

My 2002 Kawasaki ZR-7S gets 40-53 mpg, depending on how I ride it. Mrs. Termite's 2005 Yamaha Majesty has never gotten less than 50 mpg, and as much as 60 mpg; again, depending on how you ride it. And both have a top speed a lot higher than 35 mph; in the ZR-7's case, nearly 4 times higher.

Termite

Rich Jordan said...

The special interests that GM is trying to appease both in and out of the current administration may very well try to use this as a test case.

Imagine a large city that decides to start taxing personal vehicles based on weight or size, or 'tolling' vehicles like London does with exemptions for little deathwheelers like these. Or setting aside certain streets or routes, or lanes, for these toys.

There's a huge contingent of people out there whose raison d'etre is forcing others to do what they want or stop them from doing things they don't like (like buying SUVs or keeping older cars). They have this administration on their side, and now major carmakers in a death grip. Bet they don't pass up the opportunity.

Termite said...

Imagine a large city that decides to start taxing personal vehicles based on weight or size, or 'tolling' vehicles like London does with exemptions for little deathwheelers like these. Or setting aside certain streets or routes, or lanes, for these toys.

Wouldn't it be a lot simplier and cheaper to just encourage bicycle and scooter/motorcycle use?

Rivrdog said...

Honda Metropolitan:

Scooter, "mo-ped" class.

Base price, $2400

Rain suit, base price, $150

Helmet: You'd better spend some jack, Jack, maybe $200.

Mileage: 70-90 mpg.

Parking, almost anywhere. Can ride in the bike lanes most everywhere.

The GM-Segway will be sold and licensed as a "car", and will have to obey all the rules of 'cars". No lane-splitting, etc.

I'll take the Honda, thank you.