Ginger Unveiled: Urban Planning Revolutionized

After months of hype, Ginger is unveiled -- a self-balancing, motorized scooter that costs less than 5 cents a day to operate.

1 minute read

December 3, 2001, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"This week the guessing game comes to an end as Kamen unveils his baby under its official name: Segway. Given the buildup, some are bound to be disappointed. ("It won't beam you to Mars or turn lead into gold," shrugs Kamen. "So sue me.") But there is no denying that the Segway is an engineering marvel. Developed at a cost of more than $100 million, Kamen's vehicle is a complex bundle of hardware and software that mimics the human body's ability to maintain its balance. Not only does it have no brakes, it also has no engine, no throttle, no gearshift and no steering wheel. And it can carry the average rider for a full day, nonstop, on only five cents' worth of electricity."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, December 2, 2001 in Time

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