Segway on its last legs?
The Segway may be many things, but a sales success it is not. When the little machine was first announced, its inventor, Dean Kamen, proclaimed that it would relegate the car to horse and buggy status. Reality hasn't been quite so kind, and its future looks to be in question as Kamen is contemplating whether or not to finally call it quits. None of this is to say that the Segway is a poor product, as the truth is quite the opposite. We firmly believe that it's often unnecessary to jump in a two (or more) ton vehicle equipped with a honkin' gas engine to get where we need to go. So, what's the problem? Pricing, for one. There are few instances when a Segway is actually more practical than an electric bike, yet it costs significantly more. Plus, being launched with so much fanfare probably didn't do it any favors.[Source: CNN]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tim 12:11PM (1/14/2009)
"There are few instances when a Segway is actually more practical than an electric bike, yet it costs significantly more."
Well said, Jeremy.
Car makers also need to keep buyer economics in mind.
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Rick 12:28PM (1/14/2009)
yeah - a bike is just much better than an expensive standing sidewalk scooter.
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Mike!!ekiM 8:27PM (1/14/2009)
Plus, a bike looks safer and more stable. This thing always looked like it'd plant your face into the ground in seconds.
Shaun 12:44PM (1/14/2009)
Lets be honest, we all saw this coming. The product is pricey for what you get and no one wants to stand stationary in transit unless all the other seats in the subway car or bus are filled.
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Duncan Watson 12:46PM (1/14/2009)
I have always disliked the segway. It claimed to be so much better than bikes yet compared to a bike it is just a waste of resources. It is more expensive to make, use, and maintain than a bike. Silly device, I am glad to see it go.
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Duodenum 12:47PM (1/14/2009)
Not to mention that without exception riders look goofy on the things.
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Doug 12:56PM (1/14/2009)
But it adds so much dignity to the occupation of mall cop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErK6nw565t8
Phil 12:54PM (1/14/2009)
When is a Segway ever better than even a normal bike? If I'm going to be stuck out in the elements going 10 miles an hour, I'd like to at least get a bit of exercise doing it.
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dv 1:14PM (1/14/2009)
Unless there comes a time when a Segway is as accessible as a cup of coffee, its only going to be a waste of money. Its a great idea and very innovative but there is simply no application for it - even the mall cop has to eventually ditch the Segway for a good ole fashion foot pursuit. When I see Segway, I see Lazy. Its one of those inventions that should have never been made public other than in a mention as an influence to some greater cause.
"In the News, the technology behind something called Segway, pictured here, has been adapted and can not be used in hip replacement surgery. The medical world is dubbing this a cure for below the waste paralysis. The patient's L5 vertebrae is replaced with a plug for recharging at 110 or 220 volt outlets."
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dv 1:17PM (1/14/2009)
"adapted and can not be used"
should be
"adapted and can now be used"
:-)
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Jonathan 1:18PM (1/14/2009)
This article has been so misrepresented in the last few days that it's no longer funny. Now it's just getting lazy.
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Don 6:29PM (1/14/2009)
I love the segway, I just think it's too expensive.
However, with the tens of millions of seniors that will mature in the next decade, I m wondering if at the right price...
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Eric 5:19PM (1/14/2009)
Segway is not on its last legs.
As regular readers and supporters of the mission at AutoBlog Green, we were disturbed at the implication made in this post about Segway.
If you reread the article to which you link, Mr. Kamen makes no statement connecting the topic about being a frustrated entrepreneur and inventor to Segway. At any point in time, Mr. Kamen and his team at DEKA Research & Development are working on numerous challenging projects. Because CNN editorialized the story title to introduce Mr. Kamen as Segway inventor and included an image of him riding a Segway PT, this is probably how the erroneous connection occurred.
In fact, even in 2008 we experienced recognizable growth while many companies – especially traditional auto companies - fared much worse. Looking ahead, we aim to build upon the success we’ve had in markets such as police and security where officers use the product to patrol. Today we’re in close to 1,000 different agencies around the world. In a downturn economy, businesses are seeking to do more with fewer people and the Segway PT helps them achieve that. Then there are the commuters and errand-runners who are using our product instead of taking car trips and wind up being 11 times more energy efficient in the process.
To the other commenters, we respect your opinions about other modes of transportation. The Segway PT is simply one other option in a spectrum of choices that even we, as Segway employees, enjoy from our two feet to commercial aircraft.
In the future, please know that you can always reach out to us for comment at media@segway.com.
Eric
Segway Inc.
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Martin 7:16PM (1/14/2009)
Eric,
The bottom line is that while the Segway does serve a purpose and has many applications the biggest flaw it has is the price. I could buy a Car or Motorcycle for what your company wants for a single Segway and get more use out of the car or bike.
Your company is doing the same thing that has all other start-ups in the alternative transportation market floundering, trying to recover costs and make profits immediately rather than building a customer base and market first and foremost.
stevefazek 7:04PM (1/14/2009)
I have a love hate with segway. Its good for Cops, Hell even tours of cities like DC. I did a walking self tour of DC and clocked in almost 10 miles in a day
An older person or anyone with a bad knee could never dream of doing that.
I wish the FDA would approve the segway but there's a scam going on there with another company.
Could they sell it for less? Yes they could. There are a few reasons i think they do not.
Is the market share large enough to lower the price? If not then they would lose money. Also would you really want these made in China?
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SteveCT 7:10PM (1/14/2009)
The Segway got its ass kicked a long time ago:
http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=segway_more_complicated_than_it_needs_to_be
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RPM 10:10PM (1/14/2009)
I think the one of the biggest things (other than high price) that has hurt the Segway is (in the US anyway) towns are not set up to encourage travel in this manner. I can see the perfect type of setting for Segway use would be the Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdar_City
No cars are allowed in that city and i can see people (older persons especially) using this type of transport.
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Jharlan 10:26PM (1/14/2009)
Just another toy for the guy who already has everything. It never had a chance at universal appeal.
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Hank 11:02PM (1/14/2009)
Yup, price is the problem. That, and climate and dodging big honkin' Suburbans driven by soccer mom's yakkin' on the cell phone during a latte high. The latter unfortunately keeps me off bikes and motorcycles as well.
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sidewinder 11:18PM (1/14/2009)
I took a Segway tour of Angel Island near San Francisco this past summer & havent had so much fun in a long time.
But ... I also evaluated them for use as a way for newspaper carriers to do deliveries without 100% reliance on a car & found:
1) they are HEAVY - loading & unloading was a major task,
2) they dont stand up by themselves when the rider dismounts,
3) the built-in plastic kickstand is fragile & easily broken,
4) #3 above is promoted as a FEATURE ("if you forget to raise the kickstand, it will snap off, preventing injury")
5) the high center of gravity & narrow wheelbase made transitting potholes, driveways & any kind of uneven pavement an adventure in the potential for broken limbs - operating a Segway takes a great deal of focus & concentration.
That, coupled with the high price, convinced me to look elsewhere.
Real fun for recreation tho.
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