The future of offroad travel...maybe

Imagine. You have pulled up alongside a 4WD trail somewhere – glad to be out in the country and well away from the hassles of everyday life.

Sometime later, in the distance, you hear people talking. Then, suddenly, the group whizzes past you, and you can’t believe your eyes. Each person is wearing a hiking backpack and is standing up. Yet their legs are not moving - even though they are traveling at about 12 mph!

Welcome to the Segway XT - the future of off-road travel (maybe).

You’ve probably seen a Segway on television, or being demonstrated at a sporting function. They are those weird devices that look like a push lawn mower from the 1950s, yet are able to carry a person without falling over. Segway calls them “self-balancing human transporters” and has had great success selling them to businesses, government agencies, police departments, security companies and people who just want the latest gizmo on the planet.

The Segway HT was designed to drive on smooth surfaces, such as sidewalks, pedestrian walkways and factory floors. Anything else was not recommended.

But the latest XT (Cross-Terrain Transporter) has been designed for stability, comfort and performance on uneven and/or rough ground. It has a wider track, 10” diameter alloy wheels, 7” wide low-pressure tires, and 4.5” of ground clearance.

Motivation comes from two brushless DC servomotors powered by two Saphion lithium-ion battery packs. There are three ‘stages’ of power. In the most powerful mode, the XT has an off-road range of 9 to 12 miles.

John Phillips, of Car and Driver magazine, tested the XT in a variety of conditions and seemed impressed. He said, “In truth, the XT goes off-road like, say, a Honda CR-V goes off-road – you know, not so much the Snake River Canyon as the links at Augusta.” And he added, “It’s such a refreshing motoring experience, and silent motoring is addictive. It doesn’t feel like an ATV or a scooter or a motorcycle. It feels like a big, safe, self-balancing skateboard. Plus, it causes cops to smile.”