The two companies unveiled the GM-Segway PUMA prototype on April 7, 2009.
The battery-run, two-wheeler GM-Segway PUMA is expected to make commuting in congested urban streets easier. Apparently PUMA will adjust to the traffic using wireless technology to navigate in cities.
GM also announced that they aim to launch the GM-Segway PUMA in 2012.
The PUMA seats two individuals, in seats like those in cars. The PUMA prototype weighs 300 pounds and will run on a lithium-ion battery.
It can achieve a speed up to 35 miles-per-hour and can run 35 miles on a single charge. The PUMA prototype also featured dual electric motors.
Larry Burns, GM’s vice president of research and development, and strategic planning, seemed positive,”Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world’s people live.”
“Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them,” said Burns.
“Now, connect these vehicles in an Internet-like web and you can greatly enhance the ability of people to move through cities, find places to park, and connect to their social and business networks,” he added.
Echoing Larry Burns comments, Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. said, “We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility.”
“There’s an emotional connection you get when using Segway products. The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle embodies this through the combination of advanced technologies that Segway and GM bring to the table to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others,” he added further.
Both GM and Segway have not said anything about the cost of the project.
Even though GM has said that it will launch the GM-Segway PUMA by 2012, it is not very likely that the GM-Segway PUMA prototype will go into production anytime soon, given GM’s overwhelming financial troubles.
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