Project PUMA

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by RyanN

Just my personal opinion, but I really don't like the idea... I love electric vehicles and the idea of the balancing Segway, but not for a vehicle to move people to work and such. I'm sure there is a decent amount of waste energy to keep this thing balanced all the time, which will decrease the distance you can get with one. Why not add a front wheel for steering or just a dummy wheel, that way you don't waste energy keeping it balanced and you can also add more battery packs to increase the distance it can go in one charge.

...

Maybe I just don't understand the purpose of this? And yes... I know it has front wheels, but they aren't supposed to touch the ground.

Per GM's FastLane blog, it does rest on the front wheels when stopped. (I presume that the rear wheels are there as a safety precaution.) Keeping it on two wheels does offer the big advantage of a turning radius of zero. As someone who has to maneuver big cars through tight spaces on a daily basis, I like cars with small turning radii--and it doesn't get any smaller than zero.

Any vehicle derived from the PUMA can't possibly be the solution for everyone--there will still be a need for transportation for groups bigger than two (and, presumably, loads bigger than a quick supermarket run). But if it's just you and everything is a mile or two away, a potentially-capable vehicle for a few thousand dollars (the bandied-about figure is 1/4 of the price of a regular sedan) seems appealing.

[Stuart]

well its interesting, and I think it might work . . as a research project in to efficient battery technology and electric vehicles.But not as a commercial product. Unfortunately it will compete in the same arena as . . legs, and its hard to beet free. not to mention the powerful Adidas lobby in congress.

but on a serious note is any one really really frighten about GM when they are in the state that they are in and this is the news they come out with. I know the need to show they are on a new path and are looking forward towards the feature, but wouldn't releasing details on a car that costs 15k but only costs 2k to manufacture be better news . . this looks kinda . . "new coke"ish to me.

[Stu Bloom]

Originally Posted by RyanN

... I'm sure there is a decent amount of waste energy to keep this thing balanced all the time, which will decrease the distance you can get with one. Why not add a front wheel for steering or just a dummy wheel, that way you don't waste energy keeping it balanced and you can also add more battery packs to increase the distance it can go in one charge...

Actually if the drivetrain/balancing technology is anything like the Segway (and I presume it must be very similar) then there is VERY little energy used for balancing. In fact, a Segway can balance (not moving) for a couple of days before the battery is depleted. Also, when "braking"/slowing or going down hill the batteries are actually charging.

Originally Posted by Stuart

... Unfortunately it will compete in the same arena as . . legs, and its hard to beet free. not to mention the powerful Adidas lobby in congress...

Can your legs go 35 mph ??

[Dan Petrovic]

Hey! I could ride one of these to my internship at umm... Segway this summer!

A little under four miles is a good distance for something like this, right?

I don't know if I'll get to ride one of these this summer, but I have a feeling my job will have something to do with it.

[Pat Major]

Another take on the Segway http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...MOTORBIKE.html

[Wetzel]

The PUMA will not work well in you typical American life. The distances to travel, and speeds traveled at, are too great. Now, where I am in London, this thing could be huge for a load of reasons. Traffic here is such that inside the city there is almost no time or place to go over 35MPH. Protection from the weather - important for business people. Zero point emissions. In the EU, they do street level emissions monitoring. There is a special ultra-low emissions truck zone in central London that is slowly expanding so that they can meet EU requirements, in addition to the congestion charge zone. Mayor Boris Johnson has made a pledge to replace all city vehicles with electrics, as feasible. Parking is HARD and EXPENSIVE. Being able to nose in AND nose out of a tiny spot would be great. Depending how they play it, the two wheels could get it classified as a motorcycle, which means it can use the bus lanes and motorcycle parking spots.

A shelf thing off the back for 4 bags of groceries, and you have a great town run about. Great potential, I'm interested to see where it goes.