Segway gives us a lift in the PUMA
The PUMA speeds along the floor of the New York auto show.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Buzzing around the floor of the 2009 New York auto show, is the PUMA--the result of a collaboration between Segway and GM. We had a chance to ride in the vehicle, an electric-powered two seater. PUMA stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, and works on similar principles as the Segway Personal Transporter. Where on the Personal Transporter, you lean forward to make it go, the PUMA's steering column has to be pushed, which causes the entire cab to slide to the front and move weight forward, making the PUMA go.
Push the steering wheel forward, and the whole cabin shifts.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)The driver of the PUMA cautioned us to keep our legs loose--as the cabin shifted--and then we were off. The vehicle picked up a good amount of speed until the driver pulled back on the wheel, shifting our weight again and slowing it down. It was hard to believe we were traveling on two wheels, as it felt very balanced. (There are auxiliary wheels, with two on the rear for safety and two in front to support the PUMA when it is stopped.)
Turning was very smooth: as the driver turned the little wheel, power diverted to the outside wheel, letting the PUMA turn almost on a dime. Coming to a stop felt like the end of a roller coaster ride, as the PUMA leaned forward sharply and the cabin shifted again. A Segway representative came over and lifted up a safety bar.
Toyota showed off the i-Real at the 2007 Tokyo auto show.
(Credit: CNET)The PUMA is supposed to go up to 35 mph, with a range of 35 miles. A Segway representative told us that, after a full day of demonstration rides, the battery was only half-drained. The PUMA weighs 400 pounds, but is a very early model, with a second generation due to come out in the fall. GM initially approached Segway about the collaboration 18 months ago, but the PUMA on display was developed and built at the Segway plant in only 90 days.
GM isn't the first car company to develop a personal mobility vehicle. Japanese car companies have been at it for a long time. During the 2007 Tokyo auto show, we saw examples from both Toyota and Suzuki.
This isn't a flight of fancy. If you have ever seen a movie about asia you might have seen something called a Rickshaw. This is a 21st century version of that where you don't have a person pulling you around. It is also faster (up to 35 mph and can go up to 35 miles).
If you live in a big city, I mean in it and not in the fringes, this is a great vehicle for getting around. It uses no gas or other type of fuel that causes polution, takes up little space making it easy to park (almost anywhere which is HUGE).
Not everything is made for YOU. Think about other places in the country, cities in this case, where it could be a big thing.
Perhaps this 'thing' you describe as a modern day rickshaw was developed prior to GM receiving bailouts. However they are facing bankruptcy now and wasting time, resources and money entertaining this rickshaw's prospects is ridiculous.
Which seems kind of niche.
Seriously, how is this any different than the Segway fail? How is using two wheels any better than 3 or 4? Why not allow GM to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to perfect a unicycle version of this device? I'll tell you why. Because 3 or 4 wheels work just fine.
Waste waste waste waste waste waste waste. Shouldn't technology be all about making it LESS wasteful?
Who did the case study that people NEED this???
The PUMA has a maximum speed of 35 mph and a range of 35 miles.
Exactly when was the last time you were able to run 35 mph (without a vehicle or on a bike) and go 35 miles. Guess what. It wasn't made for you to go from where you work to the subway.
Next time THINK a little before you post.
Four wheel steering and bigger segway wheels combined with four wheel independent motive power and lighter construction with crash protection could make the golf cart a much more nimble vehicle. And golf carts can be fitted with wheel chair storage, can carry groceries (I know as I used to carry food orders in one at Universal Studios), and in a pinch can carry five people up a very steep grade to see the 12:01 premiere of Star Wars: Episode 1 at CityWalk...
Well let's see. The Segway and PUMA have two wheels. Maybe for this device that is actually better. It isn't trying to be a golf cart no is it trying to haul a wheel chair. At least not in this version. Yes you can cary groceries. There is a second seat and there is the floor. You might also be able to attach storage to the back of the PUMA. They didn't have that on the first Segway but you can buy one for holding golf clubs now. Note that some people have disabilities that don't allow them to walk a whole golf course so this is for them. You don't need it? Then it isn't for you.
These are vehicles, not species, and most nimble, fast and efficient species have four legs anyway...
And these kind of products work well in factories, as beach patrols in Santa Monica, and on SIDEWALKS, they are ridiculous to contemplate as a vehicle to go against a car in areas of like safety and practicality.
but if the goal is to have 2 wheels only and electric powered that can carry 2 people, than we already have this...its called an electric scooter.
just seems to me we already have everything this is trying to be except to the gimmick factor of the puma.
In many ways the Segway is better then a typical scooter. The gyroscopic mechanism isn't that complex, especially given all the years of developmental improvements it's already had. Simple physics will tell you that less objects (i.e. tires) touching the ground equates to less resistance and more efficiency. A tighter turning radius is also possible with two wheels on the sides versus a Scooter with a traditional front and back wheel placement. You can actually do an immediate 180 spin in a segway versus a traditional scooter that would have to circle to turn around.
First this was done inside of 90 days. Its nowhere near a production model. Just a concept in what their technology can do.
The range is very good for a city or people living in a gated community with stores close by. For colleges, law inforcement, theme parks, corps with a compus sized area etc.
I'm sure the model that is shown in the fall will address some storage and weather issues and a more traditional suspention.
Being able to run 35miles for .60cents a day is pretty fantastic.
Yes, you can use a scooter. You have to balance it yourself. The cost per day to use is much higher. Scooters have more parts and will require more maintance. Plus you and the thousands of others around you are creating polution. The electric scooters are much smaller and don't carry batteries as large as a PUMA device can. There is also no protection from the elements.
If you read any other the other articles they have an iterested networking feature to prevent colision with another vehicle and comunitcate where parking spots are.
2 wheels also require much less material to support it compared to a 4 wheeled vehicle.
Really a green vehicle with maybe more then a niche market.
Look at how many smart cars and prius's there are on the road today. Notice how you don't see near as many Hummers on the road as you did 3 years ago?
People are changing the way they look at what they drive and how. This could add another option to a growing forward thinking market.
The PUMA is an interesting toy (depending on your point of view) and seems intended to spare people the effort of walking or biking on very short pleasure trips throughout the city. It is not a green vehicle and shouldn't be promoted as such.
The PUMA can go 35mph for 35 miles?...big deal....so can golf carts,golf carts also have a place to put your groceries or clubs.
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by tcams76
April 11, 2009 1:29 PM PDT
- A true low in GM history......why would they preview any road vehicle without basis safety features..i.e. headlights, tail-lights even a prototype. GM engineering is truly is the toilet in 2009................sets a poor example for the young folk.
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