Posted by
MAXINE on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 1:01:06 PM
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.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. Image Credit: General Motors Corp. and Segway Inc. via
Huffington Post
Obama's GM & Segway To Produce The "Barack-O-Chair"
General Motors (struggling, Obama Administration managed automaker) is teaming up with Segway (geek-mover sold primarily to local Governments) to produce a new two-wheeled vehicle for the urban landscape called the PUMA.
It looks like someone took a SMART car and squeezed it. It's far more
car-like (and faster) than the Segway, and hopefully, for both GM and
Segway, prove more mass-market-friendly: the Segway is banned on many
city streets because it's too big to be considered a bike, and too slow
and exposed to be considered a car. It is this reason that it has only
been acceptable to local Governments for patrol and traffic control
(also featured in Paul Blartt Mall Cop, Safety Never Takes A Vacation).
This excerpted and edited from The Wall Street Journal -
GM, Segway to Make Vehicle
By SHARON TERLEP, The Wall Street Journal - APRIL 7, 2009
General
Motors Corp. is teaming with Segway Inc., maker of the upright,
self-balancing scooters, to build a new type of two-wheeled vehicle
designed to move easily through congested urban streets.
The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility - PUMA - Image Credit: General Motors Corp. and Segway Inc. via Huffington Post
----
GM
has slashed product-development programs, advertising and spending on
auto-show events. But it will take to the streets of Manhattan on
Tuesday to show off a prototype of the vehicle, called PUMA, for
Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility.
----
The
machine, which GM says it aims to develop by 2012, would run on
batteries and use wireless technology to avoid traffic backups and
navigate cities.
----
GM
is betting PUMA's more car-like traits -- an enclosed compartment and
top speed of 35 miles per hour -- will lead to better results.
GM
didn't say how much the machines would cost, but research chief Larry
Burns said owners would spend one-third to one-fourth of the cost of a
traditional vehicle.
Reference Here>>
The Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility - PUMA - Image Credit: General Motors Corp. and Segway Inc. via Huffington Post
This
is more of what we can expect from an automobile company owned and
operated by the Federal Government and Unions - Clown Cars, and
Scooters!
OK,OK! So they're hi-tech. Questions: How practical is this Obama Wheel-Chair (Barack-O-Chair)? Where does one place an airbag?
Where is the updated and Green refined version of the 1957 Chevy with a
0-100 in under 9 seconds acceleration that runs on Hydrogen or
Electricity and costs under $20,000?!