http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090407/ap_on_bi_ge/general_motors_segway
Interesting concepts, in times of desperation.
Be interesting to see if they can bring it to market. From that super generic snippet it looks like a good rabbit hole to chase.
PUMA vs NYC crown vic cab…
Yeah, good luck with that.
If you read the article, it says it’s programmed not to get into accidents…LOL
I wonder how it does in the snow?
Last time I was in the City (during business hours) I saw at least a dozen segways, albeit on sidewalks, in a matter of hours.
:gotme:
Besides, there are alot of major urban areas that aren’t quite as nuts… Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, LA, etc… where I could see these being similarly popular.
It seems, as it always, with GM that alot of the success will ride on oil prices. Necessary caveet as of late I suppose.
toyota has been developing something like this for a few years now, there’s some links around with info
I think the 35 mile range will be a problem. There are a lot of metro areas that you couldn’t drive that from one side to the other and back (home - work - home) without a charge. Even an increase to 50 or 60 miles would help a lot, since that would give you some freedom, but if I drive from home to work, and cannot go to the grocery store on my way back (and pick up the 1 bag of groceries that will fit in this, hopefully without falling out) because I’m worried about my charge, that’s a problem.
I think something like an electric powered Smart car would do much better - plus, people will feel more confident than on something that works like a Segway.
I just want to add that there are -a lot- of private citizens that have made their own electric cars that get much better millage then anything a “car company” can make. The oil companys aren’t going to just say “Oh sure, we dont mind if you use a produce we cant/dont supply, we’re sick of making billions of dollars a day.” Its not that the “car companies” cant make a successful electric car, its that they wont.
Try again.
It’s the smaller companies don’t have to worry as much about gov’t regulations and the associated support structure for building production vehicles. Someone that “tweaks” an existing design doesn’t count, someone put millions into research and testing and someone made it slightly different to meet a desire. A lot of the private citizen electric cars may not meet the crash safety tests real car companies have to. If GM builds a car (and doesn’t go out of business) they have to ensure replacement parts are available for x number of years after production stops. Joe Schmoe can build an electric car and if it breaks, may not have parts to put it back together.
ever see the movie who killed the electric car? this is old ass technology… ev-1… 1990s…
:picard:
:bigclap:
Are you saying it isn’t safe to drive with 20 exposed Lead-Acid batteries in my trunk and rear-seat?
:bigclap:
i bet if everyone was driving these, then we wouldnt need to worry about accidents
but i could sure as fuck plow one of these bitches over with my car
This was on TV this morning. Looked interesting.
that’s just what the BIG BAD OIL COMPANIES want you to think
:picard:
I decided to listen to Rush on the way home today just so I can actually have an opinion on the guy. he spent half an hour screaming about how evil these are.
How can anyone take that guy seriously?
OH, back on topic, that toyota motorized chair thing on top gear in japan is way cooler.
Agreed, and I work for GM!