| Monday, April 20, 2009 |
| Segway-based vehicle in development between GM and Segway |
From articles in the Wall Street Journal Online and AutoBlog.com comes word that General Motors and Segway, Inc are working on Segway based vehicle that can move easily through crowded and congested city streets, thereby helping to relieve traffic congestion.
By the picture below, from Reuters, you can see that, unlike your standard Segway, this vehicle allows the operator to sit down.
This new vehicle has been code name P.U.M.A, for Personal Urban Mobility and Accesibility.
Like your basic Segway, the PUMA runs on batteries. Unlike your basic Segway, however, the PUMA uses wireless technology to avoid traffic jams.
The PUMA has a listed top-speed of 35 mph. So, with a speed faster than a brisk walk and the enclosed compartment, GM hopes the PUMA will be a vehicle that is adopted by the masses.
Projected cost of the PUMA, although still not disclosed, supposed to be one-fourth to one-third the cost of your basic economy car.
GM is aiming to have the PUMA on the road by 2012. They will be have on the streets of Manhattan on April 7th to start the buzz.
More news on this as we get it from the news wires.
UPDATE --- Additional info has come forth.
Although the picture above does not show it, the PUMA is a two seater.
The wireless communication will leverage GM's OnStar technology. It will be able to advise your friends who may also own a PUMA as to your location. Yes, social networking arrives in urban transportation!
Also, GM seems to have indicated this vehicle will incorporate autonomous drivig and parking. Wowzah! |
posted by The Detailing Guru @ 4/20/2009 09:23:00 AM   |
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