NEW 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.This is what's going to save GM?
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.
I checked the date on the article. No, it wasn't April 1st. Sadly.
25-35 MPH? Range of 35 miles? Cost "between one-fourth and one-third of that of the average traditional vehicle" (I'd guess ~ $7K or so?). What, praytell, is the market for this device? It's not viable for anyone with any sort of lengthy commute. It costs almost an order of magnitude more than a scooter - and doesn't offer any more protection from the elements. It's very hard to see who, exactly, would be ponying up the not-inconsequential cabbage for what is essentially a toy...
GM = Fail yet again.
That is all.
16 comments:
I hope it fails. As a volunteer firefighter/EMT..... I am not seeing a lot of "Room to Live" in there in in the event of a crash. Hell, 7 Grand for that? Looks like a head-on with a large grasshopper would just about total it..... on the other hand, if all the Greenies would run out and get one w/o mandating that sane people stop driving anything capable of squashing them..... extrication would not be a problem- looks like a sturdy pair of kitchen shears should do the trick.... or we could just throw the whole kit 'n kaboodle in the back of the squad......
Why pay 7 Grand for a two-wheeled vehicle which goes at 35...when you can pay a similar amount for a two-wheeled vehicle which can attain autobahn-level speeds?
Alright, so you can't pick up a new Yamaha R1 (or Harley) for 7 Grand.
But you can pick up a decent decade-old one in that price range.
Let's see -- no lights, no wipers, no heater, no A/C, and if someone drives by on a rainy day, you are soaked. Good thinking guys!
"Let's see -- no lights, no wipers, no heater, no A/C, and if someone drives by on a rainy day, you are soaked. Good thinking guys!"
NOT!... I'm thinking the twink that dreamed this up either lives in SoCal or his parents' basement..... same difference, only a question of scale.
jimbob,
It'll be interesting to see how this is classified.
The engine size and # of wheels means it should be (at least here in MA) classified as a scooter. Which means it can drive on regular roads, leading to, as you say, the very real likelihood of it getting squashed like a bug...
karrde,
Actually, you can find year or two old 883 Sportsters for a little over $7K if you know where to look... :)
Or a Buell Blast, brand new, will set you back not even $5K...
libertyman,
Exactly! It offers no additional protection than a $900 Chinese scooter. So what's the benefit???
Sure it will...
Just add a 50 caliber machine gun on the front. Two anti-tank missiles up top. Cover it in armor plating. And you've got the perfect "Urban Martial Law Enforcement" vehicle.
;-)
Ok, where I agree with every comment so far, I can see this being an interesting future technology...
First off, let's be honest, this is a prototype... many safety issues will need to be addressed (mainly from a liability perspective) before this would ever see production, including, most likely, doors, lights, etc.
Secondly, if, and I think this is an interesting, albiet unlikely in our lifetime, thought game,... if the infrastructures of MAJOR metropolitan areas, like downtown Manhattan, were void of most vehicles during majority commuting timeframe, I could envision these as rental "cabs" all over a city, or at least in some sections of a city.
Like I said, thought game... and a cool application of technology.
Jack,
You bring up an interesting point, one I don't entirely discard. This *could* be the bold first step towards revamping how we move around cities.
However, the original Segway was supposed to "revolutionize" cities, and failed spectacularly. The only times I've even SEEN a Segway has been at Bike Week in Laconia or in "Paul Blart Mall Cop" (and in the ads at that!).
For what they're asking and what it is, there are many superior choices already available. For about half of what they're going to charge for this thing, you can get a brand spankin' new Vespa scooter that has retro appeal, is just as easy to park, and gets about 80-100 MPG.
And they travel faster with greater maneuverability...
It is a good step; however partnering with GM (EV1, anyone?) almost certainly guarantees an ignominous demise at a young age...
Heck, I can't even get to work, much less get home. Almost none of the roads I drive the most even have a speed limit that low.
No air bags, seat belts or doors - for 7k I got my Suzuki C50 and it gives me the ability to go faster, plus 60 mpg - and an excuse not to take passengers:)
I'd prefer one more wheel, and less dependance on a computer and a gyroscope.
What happens when the CPU goes BSOD on 128?
For the same $7K you can get one of these. http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/
Four doors & wheels, lights ... in short (very short) a real car.
Actually, for $7,000 you could get two Tata Nanos, with money left over. (The car costs $2,500, from everything I'm reading; alas it's currently only available in India.)
As for Segways, I hate 'em. We have at least one Segway tour here in SA. F'ing lazy-ass tourists. To date I've seen one person on a Segway who had any business not just walking (he has a prosthetic leg), although to be fair a charity did just give out 30+ Segways to injured vets. Mostly they're just used to block the ramps my mother needs for her walker, block the sidewalks, and otherwise be total jerk-offs those of us with the effrontery to think we should be able to get around our downtown easily.
When I was 12 years old my best friend and me put a 5 horse lawnmower engine on a shopping cart. Built a live axle to drive it, and rigged up a tiller to steer with the front wheels. Braking was negligible, usually facilitated by either altering the center of gravity and tumping it all over or aiming for a curb. We figured it would run 30 mph or so (at least that's what the cops said they clocked us at).
The only thing I see different here is gyroscopic balancing rather than dynamic 12 year old for a stability system and less top speed. We also had a hell of a lot less than 7k in our buggy, and could actually carry stuff in it, too.
Regards,
Rabbit.
If someone could buy two for $7,000.00, would that mean that they had a nice set of Tatas?
Seriously, this is what government control of GM hath wrought. Hopefully they will in fact file for Chapter 11, renegotiate the toxic contracts with the UAW, trim unprofitable model lines, and emerge as a viable company.
GM should consist of Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Saturn as they were originally conceived - a low-cost, high quality small car line.
Chevy runs the truck concession, the mid-sized sedans, and the mini-vans and crossovers; Cadillac covers the high-end models; and Saturn is the entry level marque.
Pontiac, Buick, and GMC especially add nothing to GM other than cost overhead.
Chrysler's doing just fine with two brands. Ford has three, and could realistically kill Mercury.
There's just no good reason for GM to have EIGHT marques (Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, Saturn) - and that's after they killed Oldsmobile a few years back...
I'll join the chorus here: If I had 7 grand to spend on one of those, I'd get a motorcycle that will perform better in all categories than that thing does. I'd have a little bit left over for accessories, too!
Now, if they were to offer it for, say, $1000 or so, I might consider it a viable product. (I wouldn't buy it, but with that passenger seat it could compete with the scooters that are in that price range.)
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