The Segway and GM joint project P.U.M.A., or Personal Urban Mobile and Accessibility, is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of in my life. It looks like driving a little egg. By no means does it mesh with its surroundings. I wouldn’t get caught dead in it. Well, if it turns out to be as dangerous as it looks, maybe that would be a possibility.

Apparently, GM has limited time to attain the funds it needs to launch the PUMA project. I hope they don’t. I wouldn’t let GM get away with this one. They had the chance to come up with innovative vehicles that would benefit the environment, and attract customers before their sales dwindled, but they were too big headed to adapt. “I’m GM and I’ve been around since 1908. I invented the Cadillac. I shouldn’t have to change.” I swear that’s what the executives were thinking. GM shouldn’t be given another chance, but its employees would suffer the consequences if it weren’t. The thing is if GM’s granted the money to launch this PUMA into action, what says that it will change anything? Sure the PUMA is an example of GM trying to show initiative, but if it’s crap it’s just going to get GM in deeper.

Price is going to be a huge factor. If the prices aren’t worthwhile, customers won’t buy it. According to Segway.com, the PUMA doesn’t cost too much to run. For about $.60 and 5-8 hours, the PUMA can be charged up. But the site projects that the price of the PUMA will be less than the price of a small car. So I figure about 10 grand. It’s a steep investment for a low operation cost. But I still don’t want it.

How many passengers can it carry? This is what the site says, “Currently configured for 2, but could carry more.” But could carry more?! Come on. Please don’t try to stuff more than two people in that little egg, it’s not safe, really. I’d rather ride a go-cart down the street. Don’t get me wrong, go-carts are dangerous, but at least you look cool as you can peel down the street, instead of going 20 MPH looking dumb.

A real-life experimental test drive on YouTube is accompanied with an animated projection of what the finished PUMA might look like. The animation suggest that the vehicles will travel in a very mechanized, and organized fashion. In other words, you get into that dinky P.O.C and it might have more control than you’d like. Just like in Minority Report where the vehicles are able to travel in autopilot, but it’s just not cool or fast, and doesn’t have Tom Cruise in it.

The only thing that might be kinda O.K. about the PUMA is its dashboard. Segway.com says that the driver will be able to monitor the vehicle with their handheld device. Spend 10 thousand and you can play your iPodin the slow, and poor effort by GM to make gains.
—Sebastian Lumpkins