Capitol Hill Blue Forums Misc. Topics General Stuff GM and Segway create new vehicle

At first glance, this seems like an april fool joke....
but the picture looks real
link

Makes perfect sense. BMW had a motorcycle very similar in appearance a few years back. Never brought it to the states; I was going to buy one. This is an even better concept. But Segway announced they were folding several weeks ago, so that makes me wonder.

I watched the debut on the "Today Show" this AM.
I was much less than impressed. It looked kinda like a bigger, 2 person Segway, with training wheels, and didn't inspire much confidence from a safety standpoint.
They asked the rep what the price would be, and he mumbled something that sounded like 1/3rd the price of a ???... If so... I'd predict a limited success.
We live near the Villages in Florida, and the newest style golfcarts are much more impressive. But.. some of the golf carts also sell for nearly $40,000.

Oh, Please.....that thing looks ridiculous. And it will be street legal? Consider the Japanese Kei Trucks: comfortable, enclosed, heated and air conditioned, capable of 55 mph. Lights, turn signals. all the amenities. 50+ Miles per gallon. Not legal on the streets of the United States. It's available in a two seat, 2 or 4 wheel drive truck or a 4 seat van.
It's also available in a variety of different cars by a variety of manufacturers. All illegal in the US.

We already have internal combustion vehicles of this size with that kind of mileage. But you would look cute in the Princess Kitty trim!

They also come in full electric and hybrid. The only vehicle "we" have that compares is the Smart 2 made by Mercedes. It is the only non Japanese K Car. I had the pink one in mind for your grandaughter, this is more like what I'm after

Not only do American manufacturers Not make a small efficient car it is illegal to drive a small efficient car in the united states. Scooters are street legal, bicycles are legal, pedestrians are legal. These cars and trucks are legal and popular everywhere in the world except the Unites States, they are legal in Canada.
Here they are rated for off road use only. Our auto manufacturers are going broke because they don't offer anything efficient and inexpensive. They can't! it's illegal to drive them here! For you Minnesotans they also come in a tracked version for use in the snow

But looking at Segway's website, they have no news about shutting down but do feature this partnership prominently.

I hadn't heard anything about Segway shutting down, either. I think the ideas are good, and partnerships will probably be necessary. We'll have to get used to the idea. Personally, I am looking at an electric motorcycle from Electric Motorsport. Most of the other electric motorcycles are a) too expensive and b) funny looking. The Vectrix is also coming down in price, so it may be an option, but I still like being on a motorcycle better.

---It should stand for "I have a ton of money and feel like wasting some of it on a glorified electric wheelchair that costs as much as a good used economy car."

My point is, the hordes of average salaried workers who desperately need economical personal transportation DON'T NEED expensive specialized vehicles, they need all purpose ones that can go anywhere.
Why? Because they can't afford to pay top dollar for TWO vehicles.
If you live IN New York City, I mean right IN the city itself, you're most likely fairly well to do, but otherwise you will find yourself in need of something that will go faster than 35 miles per hour and ply the freeway so you can get home FROM your work in the city.

GM is still missing the point.

BTW, the Segway also costs as much as a used economy car.
My wife and I are buying our daughter her first car this month, a 2004 Nissan for six thousand dollars. That's less than two thousand over the price of a Segway.

GM needs to put four wheels on this thing, up the speed to 65, and increase the range to 50 miles. In other words, they need to continue developing affordable electric CARS.