Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

I agree, Mike. The Segway seems to hold a rather narrow middle ground between car and walking. The majority of the population is healthy enough to ride a bike the same distances, and carrying the same weight that a Segway could, yet they don't. Maybe they are too lazy? What about a moped? It is small and cheap and efficient but they aren't popular either. Maybe Segways have a better chance in Italy, people like mopeds a lot there...

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a free ride. Segway's would still be producing the same pollutants that a car creates. Segway's require electricity to recharge their batteries. Electricity comes from power plants. Most power plants pollute. Same reason why there is such a fundamental problem with hydrogen fuel. Electricity is needed to extract the hydrogen. You are just transfering the cause of pollution.

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

That being said, it takes a whole lot less energy to move a 40 Kg Segway around than a 1000+Kg car.

As I recall, (Thermo was 20 years ago after all) a really good internal combustion engine is about 25% efficient. That is about 25% of the chemical energy you put in in the form of gasoline actually comes out in the form of motion of the crankshaft. There are some minor additional losses in the drive train.

A power plant produces about the same efficiency except the output is electricity. Add in the electrical transmission losses and the mechanical losses in the Segway drive train, and a car might be slightly more efficient.

But that only works if you define efficiency as the amount of energy required to move the payload (driver) and the vehicle together divided by the total energy input . If you redefine efficiency as the amount of energy required to move the payload divided by the total energy input, then the Segawy is a clear winner because it isn't hauling around 8 or 9 times the payload in excess mass.

Of course for pure efficiency, you can't beat a bicycle. Going to work on my bike, by the shortest route, I burn approx 800 Kcal. I'm not sure my car will go around the block on that little energy. I'll have to look up the energy density of 87 octane.

ChrisH

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

so lets go solar!! l :D or even wind powered.. if all cars were replaced with skateboards with sails, and you have occasional fans powered by hey! solar! to help go places quicker, it might not be as fast to get to where ever but its definitly a pollution free way.
well, the best way would be for someone to come up with a teleporter. then you wouldnt even need roads! :D
and for beating a bicycle, back to the unicycle!! all wheels contacting the ground is a source of output....(sorry, very bad wording...you get the idea). and normally the crank is connected dirctly to the wheel. no inefficient chain drive(inefficient compared to direct drive) well, counting the used calories... it might be higher than a bicycle for an inexperienced rider.... more frightened of falling and sweats, isnt used to balancing so wastes more energy on that... :D

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

it should make it go faster, but based on the sod that i envisioned for the segway program, it would have a bad effect on the performance to change the speed.

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

And that is the major problem with the Segway. It can't move anything of significant size. I'd have to look for the article but even the Post Office rejected it because of it's relatively small payload.

Re: So YOU Think You Have a Modded Segway?
 

For most of my trips, the payload is me. If I'm riding the bike to work then I carry a change of clothes and a towel. On a Segway those would presumably be unnecessary.

Personally, the biggest problem with using a Segway here in LA is that most sidewalks here don't seem to conform to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). It seems every block has at least one power pole that blocks the sidewalk sufficiently that a Segway is unable to maneuver around it. Well that's probably an exaggeration in residential areas, but not in industrial areas.