PUMA: seated Segway vehicle for two
Struggling General Motors Corp. is hoping that one answer to people’s green transportation needs lies in a two-wheeled, two-seat electric vehicle it jointly developed with Segway Inc. GM and Segway today unveiled a prototype of their PUMA (personal urban mobility and accessibility) vehicle, which officials said will be a safe, clean alternative to regular four-wheeled, gas-guzzling vehicles. Segway is the maker of the Segway Personal Transporter which Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak is famously known for using. Unlike its predecessor, the Personal Transporter, or PT, the PUMA accommodates two riders and lets them sit in seats similar to those in an automobile. According to Segway, the new vehicle is capable of traveling at speeds of 25 to 35 mph. The vehicle can be driven between 25 miles and 35 miles on a single charge, it added.
The company noted that the PUMA uses lithium-ion batteries and should only cost about 60 cents in electric costs each time it is recharged. Segway did not disclose the projected cost of the PUMA or when it might be generally available. About a year and a half ago, a research team at MIT introduced what they dubbed the City Car, a foldable, stackable two-seater. The frame of the City Car is designed to fold in half so the vehicles can be stacked up eight deep in one city parking space. GM sponsored the MIT lab where the City Car was developed.
Source: Computer World
Comments(32)
Are there not two smaller wheels in the front…making it a 4 wheeled vehicle…
The project will be shut down from oil megacorporations as General Motors…no wait…
@Zen.. I too saw that. This design seems really inefficient. Don't know who would spend money on this, or why.
i guess Steve Wozniak won't be able to play Polo using this one.
yep i see 4 wheels there mate.
the 2 front wheels fold up check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcS8stGOGCo
RS link???? For what you need rs links?
Would you like to download the vehicle? JAJAJJAA
This will kill people, 25-35Mph are you f_cking kidding me. If golf carts are deadly at 10-15 imagine this with it's toy wagon front wheels.
Ride a bike or walk you fat fu€k.
Impossible to crash, but as much protection as a motorcycle with none of the safety gear.
They should make it rechargeable only using human power. Push it for the same amount of miles it pushes you on batteries. That should benefit the environment and the thickening of the human body due to lack of exercise.
I just think these segways are so cool.
Really want to try one out sometime.
I wouldn't use one daily, but for some mindless fun, sure. ^^
Hmmm, wonder why GM is going out of business? I mean, how many Segways do you see in a day, or year? I have seen 3 of them in 5 years.
Lets give GM more money, they sure know what they are doing (sic)
I'd rather roller skate than ride in that 'vehicle' to work.
Riding a naked man to the office would be less G@Y than riding this thing…
I'll be happy to buy one of these units for $500. Knowing GM, of course, they'll try to sell them for $5,000, and fail miserably. See ya, GM.
Segway was stupid and so is this. That's why people are getting fatter. Too damn lazy to even walk.
it looks like a trash can
What, exactly, is green about these ugly things?
I have faith that the Puma will be so popular that 15 minutes after the cameras are turned off in Brooklyn all those Pumas will be stripped and the parts will be available for sale at Astor Place (in front of Astor Barber) in Manhattan.
Why do most if not all electric vehicles look sooo ghay! With carbon fiber they ought to be able to blend efficiency and looks like Tesla motors has done >>> GM==phail!
it looks like a street cleaner's wheeled trash can from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon, with a hardtop.
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fat people
April 7th, 2009 | 21:30
Ride a bike or walk you fat fu€k.
How about taking your own advice you stupid fu€k. There are some paralyzed people and Disabled Vets that this would go a long way in helping them to regain some control over their lives. So next time you want to open your mouth…stop…think…and shut the fu€k up!
@23 common sense
Do not hide the fact that the obesity is a bigger problem in America than some Disabled Vets (although their numbers are increasing too because of the politics) and that this vehicle is for them like a dream come true.
P.S. I imagine that some new Family Guy episode or the SP will have this in it
GM is on life support, and it's crap like this that will make them die even sooner.
its so cheap that even an Indian guy doesnt want to use this!!!
i will not take it even for free !
American tut-tuts
more and more becoming like 3rd world countries.
This has got to be a joke right? Was this article written on april 1st? If this is real GM is out of their mind.
I hope GM dies a horrible death.
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You can't download a car
That looks like a screenshot from GTA IV lol.
i love it, i got one for my wedding…