PUMA: So That's What GM Did With Our Bailout Money!
How would you like to ride down Second Avenue in this? And where would you park it once you got to work? The P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project), recently unveiled by General Motors and Segway, can go 35 miles on one battery charge, seats two, and reaches speeds of 35mph. Whee!
We love the concept, but wonder if it was such a good idea to name a pimped-up wheelchair after an animal known to chase and devour humans, especially those on bikes.
But even scarier: according to GM's vice president of research and development and strategic planning, this electric rickshaw "doesn't need air bags or other traditional safety devices, and includes safety belts for 'comfort purposes' only". Right.
2009 New York Auto Show: Riding in the GM/Segway PUMA [Consumer Reports]
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"GM's vice president of research and development and strategic planning"
And here I was, convinced they just put ideas on a wall and threw darts to determine the company's future.
The same thing that happens when a bus hits you
I pray for a GM bancruptcy everyday because of decisions like this.
Big cars being on the road with you isn't an excuse to not drive a smaller vehicle..on the other hand the small vehicle looking like crap is excuse enough.
Didn't Mr. Garrison on South Park invent this like 8 years ago?
That would be pretty cool for someone living close to their office or transit stop and would probably take a lot of cars off the roadways. Since it won't be produced, I guess we'll never know if it could have made an impact or not.
@Skankingmike: With something that small, I don't think an air bag or seatbelt is going to make you any less squashed.
Hey, it's a new idea. Not perfect the first time and an easy target for snark, but aren't we looking for new ideas?
Would this be treated like a car or a Segway by local governments? It would be too small and limited to do well as a car (imagine the insurance premiums), too dangerous to let it roam free like a Segway (imagine 35mph on a sidewalk).
I clicked through to find out more about these "comfort seat belts" and instead found this:
"In production form, the PUMA is expected to be encased in a protective body with sophisticated safety systems developed with General Motors."
And
"The PUMA's cabin should afford a bit more protection to the driver than one gets with a scooter. Photos accompanying GM's announcement show the PUMA's driver and passenger wearing four-point shoulder-harness safety belts, which is something else you don't get with a scooter. If you accept the risks inherent in driving any small-scale motorized vehicle on city streets populated with speeding cars and trucks, then tooling around in the tiny PUMA wouldn't be such a scary proposition."
So I don't see how it's especially frightening.
To be honest, if this had enough covered storage for a big bookbag and laptop, I could really see using one of these. for my piddly commute. If the price were right, which it almost certainly wouldn't be.
I heard an interview with one of the GM honchos who was talking about how he hoped there would one day be dedicated PUMA lanes and such.
I wanted to reach through my radio, grab him by the throat and say, "REALLY?"
But now that I've seen the thing, the impulse is only magnified. Strongly.
This answers the question: "What would GOB Bluth drive?".
I just want to know what happens if a cougar tries to ride PUMA?
@Vicky: "Better than a scooter" isn't really saying much, because a scooter has no roof or side panels or airbags or anything of the kind. Basically, this is what a covered wheelchair would be.
I wouldn't personally drive one of these, but as a driver of a regular vehicle, I find it frightening if only because if one of these were to hit my vehicle, I wouldn't be the one to suffer bodily harm, and I don't wish that on anyone. When I hit the road, I'm 100% responsible for my actions but since I can't depend on others to feel the same way, I have to make sure that I protect myself - the fact that one of these things could be acceptable on a regular road and seems like a 20 mph crash could crush it frightens me cause I don't want to be on the other end of this glorified wheelchair in my regular car.
It's like piles of segway and scooter parts were mixed up and given to a monkey to assemble. Ah, so THAT's GM plan - monkey's don't unionize!
@BenderRodriguez:
More like 7/8 years ago, the similarities between the two are actually listed in the first paragraph of this episodes WikiPedia entry.
"Mr. Garrison, tired of the inefficient and frustrating airline check-ins, decides to invent his own vehicle. Inspired by watching singer Enrique Iglesias' sexualized singing on TV and by gyroscopes, he invents the gyroscope-powered monowheel "IT." "IT" is a rip on the nickname of the famous Segway PT. "IT" can go up to two hundred miles per hour, gets three hundred miles to the gallon, and is an all-around better mode of travel. The only problem is that it is controlled by an uncomfortable method; using four "flexi-grip handles" that somewhat resemble erect penises; two used by the hands, one in the mouth, and a fourth handle which is inserted into the anus."
@j-o-h-n: You say that now, but just wait until GM enters in to an un-sustainable contract with the Poo Flingers Local Chapter 422
@Gtmac...and sometimes y:
I think at this point we're looking for FEASIBLE ideas. And this...is not. Extreme long-view concepts are interesting when companies are bathing in money - otherwise wouldn't R&D cash be better spent developing - stick with me here - a CAR that Americans might want to buy?
Consumerist readers, figure out what the heck I'm talking about here. There's a guy somewhere in my city (we go to the same grocery store anyway) who drives a vehicle that looks like it's about the size and look of a mini cooper convertible, but doesn't have doors..sort of like a mini cooper convertible/golf cart.
It seats two with a little room for groceries, I guess, but I don't recognize the logo and didn't want to walk to the car and look at it, even though several people were doing just that.
I actually kind of like it, It works great as a bridge between public transit and final destination. It really works in urban areas, where you ban automobile traffic and only allow pedestrian/light vehicles. I think this makes a lot of sense. It's only dangerous when you're sharing the road's with idiots in big cars.
another toy for rich weirdos
Can you imagine hitting a pothole in that thing. likely take a wheel off or worse, do a face plant into the pavement.
Can you use the controls on this one without sticking them in your mouth?
@Jonathan Quinn: Like a Mini Cooper? Cause compared to this Segway-on-steroids, even small vehicles like the Mini Cooper are a threat.
obviously anything that cranked "The Final Countdown" loud enough to grab the attention of pedestrians and commuters alike
@pecan 3.14159265: At least it won't be much of a change in transportation for them when they are a quadriplegic or quad amputee.
@friendlynerd: Why is it infeasible? A charging infrastructure? Change it. Current road usage? Change it.
The transportation system we have today didn't all happen at once and it won't change overnight, but it won't change at all if we keep trying to make new ideas fit into the old system.
Oh look. all the problems associated with a car, all the risks associated with scooters and other two wheeled vehicles ...
and none of benefits.
It's a Rickshaw without the Rick!
Asking price is probably around 1 million per. GM has to make money somehow on this sooped up wheelchair that is a sitable segway.
Replacement batteries cost about half of that.
@pecan 3.14159265: I'm thinking it's a smart car. We have them here in my town too, one of the very very expensive condo places gives you one when you buy an apartment.
i wonder what happens when a bus hits you?