Comments on: Comments on 6226

Post number 6226

zempf — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 12:02:42 -0800

You thought it had gone away.. but Ginger appears to be back in the news again. This time it's an upcoming Inside magazine article that purports to conclusively reveal that "IT" is a two-wheeled scooter running on a hydrogen-powered engine. After all the hype nearly two months ago, is this the answer? Does anyone even care anymore?

By: tomplus2

tomplus2 — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 12:10:53 -0800

In t3magzine this month I read an article about "it".. there was a picture of a one wheeled scooter, thought they didn't really talk about it. It didn't look like the one in the picture, it was more like a typical scooter w/ one big wheel .

By: kokogiak

kokogiak — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 12:54:10 -0800

Sounds like this is a more subdued look at it - less "wow" factor, more focus on the hydrogen engine & possible stirling engine. If this becomes a successful proof-of-concept in the marketplace, it could smooth the way to hydrogen as a fuel source or bring the stirling engine out of the world of R & D. I'm still not sold on it, but am happy that someone is looking toward the post-petroleum future, and not grasping at vanshing straws (*cough* Alaska National Wildlife Refuge *cough*).

By: chino

chino — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 13:38:23 -0800

According to the upcoming Inside article, Kamen has created a new company called ACROS, "whose goal is to create a product line that features 'motorized, self-propelled, wheeled personal mobility aids, namely wheel chairs, scooters, carts and chariots.'" Chariots? Man, oh man, I need a chariot! All of these designs seem to insist that the user stand up during operation. Can the average American stand for that long?

By: fleener

fleener — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 14:37:30 -0800

They've overlooked one crucial factor. Adults know they look stupid on a stand-up scooter. Very few adults use regular stand-up scooters, or for that matter, skateboards.

By: sonofsamiam

sonofsamiam — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 14:40:48 -0800

Adults also look stupid in shoes with tassels, but, hey. Something this cool would catch on.

By: lescour

lescour — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 14:58:04 -0800

i pretty much look stupid no matter what i do. so count me in the very interested column. and this also gives me an opportunity to add my high school debate rantings about hydrogen energy to norm's collection of issn validated evidence

By: aaron

aaron — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 15:20:31 -0800

<BrainySmurfSingSongWhine>I was right. I was riiiight!<BrainySmurfSingSongWhine>

Unfortunately, my copy of Inside never seems to show up before Saturday, so I don't know if these questions are answered therein. Anyhoo ... Even if it does have gyros so that it "can't possibly tip over," that's not going to stop people from splattering into gnarly little chunks when they run into something at any speed above 3 mph or so. How is this thing not going to be a trial lawyer's wet dream come true?

Also ... hydrogen? I know it's a lot safer these days than it used to be, ...

By: aaron

aaron — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 15:21:15 -0800

Um, But still, I mean. (freakin' tags!)

By: aaron

aaron — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 15:22:30 -0800

#$@%#^@#$% it! But still!!!

By: rmannion

rmannion — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 15:29:09 -0800

CNN's Moneyline will be running a segment on IT during the next hour. Ryan

By: daver

daver — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 16:29:55 -0800

Sure, these folks are self-interested, but it's an interesting counter-point to the whole Hydrogen Is Dangerous meme.

By: hobbes

hobbes — Tue, 06 Mar 2001 21:02:33 -0800

Hope that does the trick.