Will GM Segue to a Segway

General Motors partners with Segway to put a different kind of cat on urban streets.

The General and Segway

GM and Segway may seem like strange bedfellows as partners in a transportation project. But while the huge manufacturer that historically has been tied to “longer, lower, wider” might seem to have little in common with the Bedford, New Hampshire company that espouses personal transportation and energy conservation, the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility project (P.U.M.A.) is not the first collaboration between the two companies.

Back in 2007 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, GM unveiled an Opel concept vehicle with an electric drivetrain that eventually made its way to the U.S. in the guise of the Saturn Flexstreme Concept that was shown in Detroit in 2008. It was equipped with a 1.3 liter turbo-diesel engine (used for extended range) and lithium-ion batteries for a 34 mile all-electric range. In addition to the usual concept car goodies, the Flexstreme also came equipped with an underbody storage compartment that was home to two Segway personal transporters.

Project P.U.M.A. a different kind of cat

Unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the result of the two companies’ latest joint venture takes that partnership one step further. The P.U.M.A. is an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle that is equipped with only 2 main wheels (there are also 2 sets of smaller outrigger-style wheels in front of and behind the main wheels – possibly for emergency stops and “hole shot” starts). It should also be noted that the project was undertaken prior to GM’s current fiscal woes. Despite that, here is GM’s take on the project:

“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,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning. “Imagine small, nimble electric vehicles that know where other moving objects are and avoid running into them. Now, connect those 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.”

Segway had this to say:

“We are excited to be working together to demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility,” said Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. “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.”

Vehicle Specifications

The current prototype uses a lithium-ion battery with smart energy management, two-wheel balancing and dual electric motors that allow a maximum speed of 35 mph and a range of up to 35 miles between recharges. According to the supplied information, it is also equipped with a “dockable user interface that allows off-board connectivity.” Although the vehicle’s “input device” looks very much like a steering wheel, it uses dynamic stabilization and drive-by-wire technology based on user input for maneuvering through city streets. The current configuration appears to allow for only 2 passengers, although GM’s press information alludes to “two or more passengers” (although, from the supplied images, the only possibility for a third occupant at this time would seem to be a Chihuahua).

sketch of possible future exterior evolution

Tags: general motors, gm, new york auto show, personal urban mobility and accessibility, puma, saturn, saturn flexstreme, segway