GM P.U.M.A

07th April 2009

Make way for the the Puma! GM's latest take on low emission motoring will make its debut at this week’s New York Auto Show, and will be able to travel up to 35 miles on a single charge from the lithium-ion batteries.

These are the first pictures of the prototype, which boasts a top speed of around 35mph.

The name, which is an acronym of Peronal Urban Mobility and Accessibility refers to the fact that the model is strictly limited to urban carriageways.

In fact, though our pictures show it on the public road, GM and Segway are hoping to form partnerships with universities and cities, where they can set up dedicated Puma travel lanes.

As well as promoting the use of the product, the firms hope to use the lanes to test the Puma’s on-board wireless communication systems, which are designed to keep them at a safe distance from other traffic.

After a billion bailout from the US government, GM is looking to secure its future with a move away from its traditional gas-guzzling models, in favour of lightweight, efficient vehicles.

Segway is known for its electric-powered personal transporter, which was introduced in 2002 and has since sold over 2,000 models in the UK