GM and Segway unveil Puma project

General Motors (GM) and Segway have revealed a new type of vehicle which both companies believe could revolutionise the way people travel in urban spaces.

Named the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (Puma) project, it is a two-seat, electrically-powered prototype with two wheels which could allow people to move through cities more quickly, safely and cleanly.

It integrates a lithium-ion battery, two-wheel balancing, dual electric wheel motors and digital smart energy management, all of which combine to provide energy efficiency, zero emissions and enhanced safety.

Larry Burns, vice president of research and development and strategic planning at GM, said that the Puma could be the future.

"Project Puma represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half the world’s people live," he stated.

Segway PT still illegal in Britain

It is currently illegal in Britain to use the Segway PT on roads, pavements or parks – in other words, anywhere other than on private property. The Segway is designed so that its electric motor does the job of mechanical brakes, but the Department of Transport cites this as a safety concern.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “It is likely that the Segway will one day find itself in a museum alongside the Sinclair C5, another expensive electric vehicle that failed because it was unable to compete with the bicycle.”

Segways are used in America on military bases and industrial sites and by police patrols. Despite the fact they are allowed to be used on pavements in most parts of America, their high price has meant that Segways have not been bought by the public in large numbers.

What is the ETA?

The ETA provides motorists and cyclists with green breakdown cover and green insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.