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RESEARCH SHOWS Segway® PT TOPS THE LIST OF MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION
BEDFORD, N.H. April 18, 2007 –The findings of an in-house analysis conducted by Segway Inc., the leader in personal electric transportation, show the environmental benefits of the Segway Personal Transporter (PT) compared to traditional transportation options like cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). The research evaluates a variety of vehicles relative to their impact on the environment, both in emissions created and energy consumed, proving that the Segway PT can substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions and is the most energy-efficient alternative to short-distance, single-occupancy car journeys.
The report concludes that the Segway PT is four times more energy efficient than the leading hybrids, 11 times more efficient than the average American car, and 17 times more efficient than a large SUV. The white paper is available now on www.segway.com/green.
The study results also indicate that operating a Segway PT creates:
- 5.6 times less greenhouse gas per mile than the leading hybrids (82% reduction)
- 14 times less greenhouse gas per mile than the average American car (93% reduction)
- 20 times less greenhouse gas per mile than a large SUV (95% reduction)
The analysis, conducted by Michael Taylor and John David Heinzmann of Segway Inc., shows that choosing the Segway PT can help reduce dependence on oil, use energy supplies more efficiently, and drastically reduce greenhouse gases, often times far more effectively than traditional cars and even hybrids.
“The way society looks at transportation has changed considerably from five years ago,” said Taylor. “With escalating fuel prices and the environmental and political forces that have de-stabilized the global petroleum supply, there is an enormous opportunity right now for people to embrace new transportation options that can help shrink their carbon footprint. We hope the white paper will help people understand the impact their transportation choices can make on the environment.”
The Segway PT is a transportation alternative that benefits people, and society, by replacing short car trips, reducing pollution and enhancing mobility in congested traffic areas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that half of the 900 million automobile trips Americans take each year are of five miles or less and transport only one passenger—trips perfectly suited to the Segway PT.
Heinzmann points out that, “Short car trips are particularly damaging to the environment, since current pollution control devices in automobiles take several minutes to work effectively. Vehicles stuck in traffic contribute disproportionately to current pollution problems unlike the low energy consumption transportation offered by the Segway PT.”
Additional advantages of using the Segway PT are as follows:
- The Segway PT saves time. The EPA also estimates that the average American urban commuter spends an average of 62 hours per month in traffic. Choosing a Segway PT as a mode of transportation can eliminate the frustration of traffic and eliminate parking hassles.
- The Segway PT saves money. Since the Segway PT operates on electricity, it costs just pennies per mile to operate and since it can easily maneuver indoors and locks up like a bike, there is no need to spend additional money on parking fees or insurance.
To learn more about the eco-advantages of the Segway PT or to download the complete white paper, visit www.segway.com/green.
About Segway
Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway® Smart Motion™ that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway® Personal Transporter (PT). Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move.
Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Segway PTs for sidewalk and cross-terrain use that deliver impressive energy efficiency – equivalent to 450 miles per gallon/191 kilometers per liter of fuel. The company’s line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.
Segway Inc., based in Bedford, N.H., U.S.A, has a worldwide distribution network of more than 250 retail points in 61 countries. For additional information about Segway and to find retail locations, please visit www.segway.com or call 1-866-4SEGWAY. Media materials and digital images are available at the Segway Press Center.
