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GM & Segway Show New Two-Wheeled Urban Vehicle

All geeks were pretty excited when the original concept of the Segway was invented. It was a cool, unique, modern electrical mode of transport. It cost a fortune, but it was also before the first tech bubble burst. There were “Dot Com” campuses all over the place with environmentally conscious workers, buzzing around on these things. It never caught on for the average man or woman on the street. Still too expensive, but not as practical as a simple bicycle. This latest venture with GM seems to have some promise. Although not useful in a highway or freeway situation, there is great potential for scooting around in an urban environment without burning a gallon of gas. The problem, is where does the electricity come from? Have we invented a new source of electricity, other than burning coal, and pumping emissions into the atmosphere? If every person, who now uses a bicycle for simple transportation, switched over to these new gadgets, we would be pumping lots of carbon into the atmosphere, and get fat at the same time. All of this aside, from a geek point of view, they are still pretty cool, but I don’t see them catching on any time soon. Look for the new Tatu Nano car from India, a simple gas engine, at a dealer near you. Those, you are going to see everywhere, someday.

46013296openquoteNEW YORK – A solution to the world’s urban transportation problems could lie in two wheels not four, according to executives for General Motors Corp. and Segway Inc.

The companies announced Tuesday that they are working together to develop a two-wheeled, two-seat electric vehicle designed to be a fast, safe, inexpensive and clean alternative to traditional cars and trucks for cities across the world.

The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, or PUMA, project also would involve a vast communications network that would allow vehicles to interact with each other, regulate the flow of traffic and prevent crashes from happening.

“We’re excited about doing more with less,” said Jim Norrod, chief executive of Segway, the Bedford, N.H.-based maker of electric scooters. “Less emissions, less dependability on foreign oil and less space.”

The 300-pound prototype runs on a lithium-ion battery and uses Segway’s characteristic two-wheel balancing technology, along with dual electric motors. It’s designed to reach speeds of up to 35 miles-per-hour and can run 35 miles on a single charge.closequote

Read the rest of the story @ GM and Segway unveil new two-wheeled urban vehicle.

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April 9th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Human Interest

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