Frankfurt Preview: GM's next E-Flex may come with a Segway
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, General Motors will be all about the green with a third iteration of E-Flex and the second major body style. GM officials had previously acknowledged the Frankfurt E-Flex vehicle will be a completely different body style from the Chevy Volt. Although no one is saying for sure, it seems likely the Opel E-Flex vehicle will be a tall wagon MPV style similar to the Opel Zafira or a Mazda5.
We also know that the new vehicle will replace the Volt's E85 flex-fuel range extender with one powered by a diesel engine. It's now being reported by CAR magazine the GM may be doing a deal with Segway to include one of their battery powered self-stabilizing scooters with the new concept. With an electrically driven range extended wagon you could roll a Seqway into the back and plug it in to keep it charged, and roll it out when you need it. Things should be interesting in Frankfurt.
[Source: CAR]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ping Wang 7:04PM (7/03/2007)
Personally, the only reason I would ever buy a Segway is if it could help replace my car. (Segway combined with public transportation)
So why would I need a segway -especially when I could just drive to anywhere I wanted?
The only reason I would want to buy a diesel range-extended EV is so that I could drive more often!(with less guilt)
GM, "There is no such thing as a free lunch" please leave out the Segway give us a value-added way to get us to buy fuel efficient cars!!
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Chris M 3:47AM (7/04/2007)
Well, I suppose the Segway (GM edition) is for those lazy souls who find walking from the parking lot to the mall entrance just too too tiring!
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Tim 9:03AM (7/04/2007)
I sure hope we get the biodiesel range extenders in the US.
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susan.kraemer 3:46PM (7/04/2007)
Surely the BIG NEWS here is
"Breaking! GM Offers E-Flex In Additional Body!"
If this is their new body, that is huge news! I was at an ecofest recently representing SFEVA, and was completely overwhelmed with just how many hippy treehuggers want an electric SUV! The SUV buyer is also someone who takes kids and dogs to the beach.
We were standing by one of the rescued RAV4 EVs, and they were really upset at its loss, far more than the EV1 sedan.
So is this true??? I see no announcement from GM. Are you breaking this EV SUV news? And why so low key?
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Kent Beuchert 5:02PM (7/17/2007)
This article is awfully obsolete. The Opel is NOT the second version of the E-Flex, but the third. And th ebiggest news here is that a GM offical (Europe's Forster) announced for the first time that an E-Flex platform (the Opel) would launch in second half of 2010. The Opel will launch after the Chevy & Saturn versions of the E-Flex. The Chevy may possible launch in late 2009,
considering how well dvelopments from BOTH battery
companies have been proceeding. Both are highly confident that commercially ready battery packs will be ready and completely tested by June next.
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David Lassiter 3:19PM (7/29/2007)
Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts. He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculous if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL and goes under the guise of a computer analyst.- David Lassiter
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Kathy Maher 6:35PM (9/10/2007)
Chris M. wrote: "Well, I suppose the Segway (GM edition) is for those lazy souls who find walking from the parking lot to the mall entrance just too too tiring!"
My husband had brain surgery two years ago and has difficulty walking. He also has balance problems but is able to stand and use a Segway, which gives him a degree of independence. He takes his Segway to the office, on plane trips (negating the need to rent an electric scooter), and crams it into the trunk for car trips. We're looking for a hybrid SUV, and if this vehicle were available right now, we'd buy it. Great idea!
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