General Motors dijo que el PUMA (acrónimo en inglés de Movilidad y Accesibilidad Personal Urbana) permitirá a las personas "viajar en las ciudades más rápida, segura, limpia y silenciosamente y a un coste inferior".
Las dos empresas dijeron que el coste de operación del PUMA se situaría entre un tercio y una cuarta parte de lo que hoy en día cuesta un vehículo convencional.
El PUMA tiene dos plazas, puede viajar a una velocidad de hasta 56 kilómetros por hora (35 millas por hora) y tiene una autonomía de 56 kilómetros antes de necesitar ser recargado. Las baterías, de iones de litio, proporcionan energía a dos motores eléctricos.
A diferencia de los vehículos que produce actualmente Segway, en el PUMA los pasajeros van sentados y el vehículo se dirige mediante un pequeño volante.
El PUMA está pensado para interactuar con otros vehículos, de forma que se eviten accidentes, y para funcionar conectado a una red de comunicaciones (tipo Internet) para facilitar el movimiento en las ciudades.
Larry Burns, vicepresidente de GM para investigación y desarrollo, dijo a través de un comunicado que "el proyecto PUMA representa una solución extraordinaria al movimiento e interacción en ciudades, donde más de la mitad de la población mundial vive".
Combina varias tecnologías demostradas por GM y Segway, entre ellas la tracción eléctrica y las baterías; la estabilización dinámica (equilibrio en dos ruedas); aceleración, dirección y freno totalmente electrónicos; comunicaciones entre vehículos; y conducción y estacionamiento autónomos.
Estas tecnologías se reúnen en el Proyecto P.U.M.A. para aumentar la libertad de movilidad pero a la vez también permitir la eficiencia energética, no producir ninguna emisión, mejorar la seguridad, brindar una conectividad perfecta y reducir el congestionamiento en las ciudades.
"Estamos muy entusiasmados de poder trabajar juntos para demostrar un enfoque totalmente diferente de la movilidad urbana," dijo Jim Norrod, Director Ejecutivo de Segway Inc. "Cuando uno usa los productos Segway hay una conexión emocional. El vehículo prototipo del Proyecto P.U.M.A. representa esto a través de la combinación de tecnologías avanzadas que Segway y GM crearon para completar la conexión entre el conductor, el medio ambiente y los demás."
Los vehículos del Proyecto P.U.M.A. también le permitirán a los diseñadores crear nuevas tendencias de moda para los automóviles, y concentrarse en la pasión que expresa la gente a través de sus vehículos, mientras que crean soluciones que se anticipan a las necesidades futuras de los clientes urbanos.
El vehículo prototipo del Proyecto P.U.M.A. integra una batería de iones de litio, una administración digital inteligente de la energía, equilibrio en dos ruedas, motores duales eléctricos en las ruedas y una interfaz de usuario que se puede conectar y que permite conectividad cuando no se está a bordo. El resultado es un concepto avanzado y funcional que demuestra las capacidades de la tecnología actual.
Desde la introducción del Segway Personal Transporter (PT), Segway se ha establecido como el líder en el segmento de los vehículos eléctricos pequeños. Su enfoque del congestionamiento y los desafíos medioambientales está equilibrado por una importante comprensión de las necesidades funcionales de sus clientes, lo que les permite hacer más con menos. Segway ha llevado al mercado más de 60.000 baterías de ión litio.
GM ha sido un líder en las tecnologías de “vehículo conectado” desde que presentó OnStar en 1996. Hoy, este paquete de comunicaciones a bordo conecta a seis millones de suscriptores en Norteamérica con los servicios de seguridad de OnStar. GM también ha sido pionero en los sistemas de comunicaciones entre vehículos (V2V) y la tecnología de transpondedor. Estas y otras tecnologías de vehículos conectados podrían en última instancia hacer que los vehículos no choquen y se conduzcan solos.
“Imagínese moverse por las ciudades en un vehículo creado a su gusto, que es divertido conducir y usar, que lo lleva en forma segura a donde quiere ir, y que lo “conecta” con sus amigos y familiares, mientras usa energía limpia y renovable, que no produce emisiones de caño de escape del vehículo y sin el estrés de los congestionamientos de tránsito,” dijo Burns. “E imagínense hacer esto por entre un cuarto y un tercio del costo de lo que pagaría por tener y poner en funcionamiento un automóvil en la actualidad. Esto es lo que puede brindar el Proyecto P.U.M.A.”
General Motors Corp., una de las principales automotrices del mundo, fue fundada en 1908, y en la actualidad fabrica automóviles y camiones en 34 países. Con su sede global en Detroit, GM emplea a 243.000 personas en cada región principal del mundo. Vende y brinda servicios para vehículos en aproximadamente 140 países. En 2008, se vendieron 8,35 millones de vehículos de GM en todo el mundo bajo las siguientes marcas: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall y Wuling. El principal mercado nacional de GM es Estados Unidos, seguido por China, Brasil, el Reino Unido, Canadá, Rusia y Alemania. OnStar, la empresa subsidiaria de GM, es líder de la industria de seguridad vehicular, protección y servicios de información. Puede obtener información adicional sobre GM en www.gm.com.
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GM, Segway reveal new two-wheel urban ‘vehicle’
NEW YORK – General Motors Corp. and Segway today demonstrated a new type of vehicle that could change the way we move around in cities.
Dubbed Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), GM and Segway are developing an electric two-seat prototype vehicle with just two wheels, which could allow people to travel around cities more quickly, safely, quietly and cleanly, and at a lower total cost. The vehicle also enables design creativity, fashion, fun and social networking.
GM and Segway announced their collaboration, while demonstrating the Project P.U.M.A. prototype in New York City.
"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 these 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."
Trends indicate that urbanization is growing, and with that comes increased congestion and more competition for parking. Cities around the world are actively looking for solutions to alleviate congestion and pollution. Project P.U.M.A. addresses those concerns.
It combines several technologies demonstrated by GM and Segway, including electric drive and batteries; dynamic stabilization (two-wheel balancing); all-electronic acceleration, steering and braking; vehicle-to-vehicle communications; and autonomous driving and parking. These technologies come together in Project P.U.M.A. to increase mobility freedom, while also enabling energy efficiency, zero emissions, enhanced safety, seamless connectivity and reduced congestion in cities.
"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."
Project P.U.M.A. vehicles will also allow designers to create new fashion trends for cars, and to focus on the passion and emotion that people express through their vehicles while creating solutions that anticipate the future needs of urban customers.
The Project P.U.M.A. prototype vehicle integrates a lithium-ion battery, digital smart energy management, two-wheel balancing, dual electric wheel motors, and a dockable user interface that allow off-board connectivity. The result is an advanced and functional concept that demonstrates the capabilities of technology that exists today.
Built to carry two or more passengers, it can travel at speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 kph), with a range up to 35 miles (56 km) between recharges.
Since the introduction of the Segway Personal Transporter (PT), Segway has established itself as the leader in the small electric vehicle space. Its approach to congestion and environmental challenges is balanced with a strong understanding of the functional needs of its customers, enabling them to do more with less. Segway has delivered more than 60,000 lithium-ion batteries to the market.
GM has been a leader in "connected vehicle" technologies since it introduced OnStar in 1996. Today, this on-board communications package connects six million subscribers in North America to OnStar safety and security services. GM has also pioneered vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications systems and transponder technology. These and additional connected vehicle technologies could ultimately enable vehicles that don’t crash and drive themselves.
"Imagine moving about cities in a vehicle fashioned to your taste, that’s fun to drive and ride in, that safely takes you where you want to go, and "connects" you to friends and family, while using clean, renewable energy, producing zero vehicle tailpipe emissions, and without the stress of traffic jams," said Burns. "And imagine doing this for one-fourth to one-third the cost of what you pay to own and operate today’s automobile. This is what Project P.U.M.A. is capable of delivering."
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Introducing Project P.U.M.A.
Every once in awhile we have some exciting news to share and we’re happy to do so right here on The Last Mile.
We’re pleased to introduce you to the Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) prototype. It’s a working concept of what’s possible when you put together smart minds with the goal of setting a new vision for the future of urban transportation. We’re making this announcement today in collaboration with General Motors Corp. in New York City in advance of the New York Auto Show.
Jim Norrod, CEO of Segway Inc. is here with us now and he 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 embodies this completely through the combination of dynamic stabilization, seamless drive-by-wire controls, and sophisticated battery systems to complete the connection between the rider, environment, and others.”
Built off of the proven reliable and safe technology you find in Segway Personal Transporters (PTs), the prototype truly does expand upon the exhilarating riding experience. It increases capacity to two passengers in a seated position; capable of carrying them up to anywhere between 25 and 35 mph (40 – 56 kph) for anywhere between 25 and 35 miles (40 – 56 km) on a single charge.* It does so while taking advantage of the unparalleled maneuverability and advanced control you get through Segway’s use of dynamic stabilization (balancing technology). Add in know-how with large format lithium-ion batteries and you have something that’s zero emissions during operation – likely only costing about $.60 in electricity to recharge.
*It’s a prototype, which is why these high-end ranges vary so significantly.
Building upon transportation tech expertise
There are some things from Segway that make what we do truly unique. It’s not really like a kit of parts where we sprinkle a little tech here and a little there and end up with something that moves around. Instead, it’s a holistic approach – making sure that you smile whenever you try something from Segway.
Still, there are a few things that we inject in there that are worth calling out:
* Dynamic stabilization: The ability to balance on two wheels and have a true zero turning radius. It gives you incredible maneuverability.
* Electric propulsion: It’s extremely efficient and gives us significant fine control over vehicle dynamics. You also can use regenerative braking to charge back the batteries.
* Smart battery management: We’re one of the world’s largest customers of large format lithium-ion batteries. As such, we’ve become experts about the safe and efficient use of their chemistry.
* Drive-by-wire digital controls: Think about this whole thing as a digital solution to an analog problem. All steering inputs, acceleration, and deceleration are done with zeros and ones instead of levers, cables, and pads.
* Intuitive user interface: Shifting the center of mass of the vehicle controls how fast it goes and how quickly it stops. Check out the video to see it in action.
* Digital dashboard: Data from the vehicle such as speed, battery life, and other information can flow wireless to a handheld device wirelessly. Add in real-time traffic and other connectivity info. and you’ll be armed with enough information to sail through your commute.
We know you probably have a lot of questions. We’ve been hearing some of them from the great people we’ve run in to in New York over the past couple of days filming some of the video you saw above. Good news is we have some answers for you. Just head on over to www.segway.com/puma and check everything out. Video content will arrive after 10:00 a.m. today.
We’ll be updating The Last Mile a few times today with news throughout the day. We’re planning to be on NBC’s Today Show during the 7 a.m. Eastern hour (subject to change or not happen at all depending on the news of the day), so try and tune in if you can. For those on Twitter, be sure to follow @SegwayInc as we’ll be tweeting away with some behind the scenes shots/video/tid-bits as well.
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