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SEGWAY ANNOUNCES NYPD PURCHASE OF Segway® PERSONAL TRANSPORTERS
Company’s Police/Security Customer Base Reaches 400 Agencies, Up More Than 100 Percent From Year Ago
BEDFORD, N.H. May 16, 2007 –Segway Inc. today announced that the New York City Police Department has purchased a fleet of 10 Segway® Personal Transporters (PTs) it will deploy on patrols in city parks this summer. The use of the Segway i2 Police units will help the department increase patrol coverage in park environments, improve emergency response times by patrol officers and reduce carbon emissions. The units are expected to be used for security patrols in Central Park, Coney Island and other city parks and beaches. This is the first Segway PT purchase by the City of New York.
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Officer Anna Serrano demonstrates the Segway PT to New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. SplashNews Online |
“We are honored to count the NYPD as users ofour latest police technology,” said Jim Norrod, chief executive officer for Segway Inc. “The i2 Police units will help the city save on fuel costs and enable patrol officers to provide a higher level of security at many of the city’s busiest areas.”
Worldwide, more than 400 police and security agencies now use Segway PTs to patrol downtown business districts, airports, parks and campuses, up from 150 a year ago. The Chicago Police Department, one of the earliest adopters of this patrol technology, has more than 50 Segway PTs deployed in the Loop, along the city’s lakefront and at O’Hare and Midway Airports. The Italian Railway Police, which is the company’s largest international security customer, has 75 units patrolling the country’s largest rail stations. Other major police departments acquiring Segway PTs in the past year include Honolulu, Seattle, Albuquerque, Miami-Dade, Tampa, El Paso, and Bridgeport, Conn.
Much of the appeal of Segway PTs among patrol officers can be attributed to the unique performance characteristics of the machines:
- Officers stand eight inches taller on a Segway PT, enabling them to see and be seen over crowds and automobiles.
- The Segway PT allows an officer to move 2-3 times walking speed thus covering much more area than he or she could patrol on foot and decreasing response times.
- Officers are also more approachable when on Segway PTs, making them highly effective in community policing applications.
- Unlike gas-powered vehicles, the Segway PT can go indoors and out, while tackling a variety of terrain including pavement, grass and hills.
- Segway PTs are self-balancing, even when standing still, and take up no more space than a human. This makes them an ideal patrol tool when moving through crowds, on sidewalks, or in and out of tight spaces like elevators.
- With the exception of battery recharging there is no regular maintenance required on the Segway PT. The device can also be used in the rain and cold, and its batteries are operable to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Segway PTs use no gasoline and give off no emissions during operation, allowing cities to reduce fuel consumption. Because the product is electric, battery recharging costs are extremely low – approximately 25 cents per day.
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Officer Anna Serrano of the New York Police Department rides the Segway i2 Police model at a press conference announcing the department’s deployment of 10 Segway PT models for patrol. |
The Segway i2 Police units purchased by the New York Police Department are the newest generation models. The i2 model has a range of up to 24 miles, a top speed of 12.5 m.p.h. and a payload of 260 lbs. When the i2 is equipped with the Police package it becomes an ideal solution for urban street patrols and community policing initiatives. The i2 Police includes a handlebar bag for gear, an accessory bar for lights and sirens, reflective police/security labels, comfort mats, an LED taillight, and cargo frames that double as lift handles. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the i2 Police package is $5,660.
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.
