A new era has arrived, one of awareness of the pollutants in our atmosphere. The unrelenting struggle by the Green community to let the people of the world know that carbon dioxide is on the rise and our world's equilibrium is dangerously off-balance has been successful. This awareness however is more prevalent in Western countries than in the East. But all that is set to change with the launch of the latest mobility device, which will also alter the way Asians look at electric vehicles (EVs).

That is the hope of Pisit Kunanantakul, president and CEO of Segway Thailand. His passion for EVs grew when he pursued his bachelor and master's degrees in the US. He has owned one of the first EVs, the GM EV1. Since then it has been his dream to give Thais another option to fossil-fuel burners. Now his family business is the leader in EVs in Thailand.

"The most common misconception in Thailand is that EVs are used only as golf carts. Thais are not aware that there are more uses of the product, like day-to-day transportation. But the product that I put most focus on is the Segway. The Segway is a one-person mobility device using a gyroscope to balance itself. It comes with two wheels and each has its own motor. It is versatile and can be used even indoors. The Segway is also quiet and clean, as it runs on stored electricity. Although the Segway has gained popularity in foreign markets to the extent that it sells in the thousands, for the Thai market it is a fairly new product," he said.

Launched in 2001, the Segway was claimed by its inventor Dean Kamen as revolutionising the way people move within a city.

In Thailand, the Segway was introduced in 2004. "Many people don't see the potential for the product. But a similar example is when mobile phones came to Thailand. With prices of Bt100,000 many believed that mobile phones were a passing phase, but look at the market now," Pisit said.

The company saw the potential for such a product here because there was nothing like it in the market. Priced from Bt200,000-Bt390,000, the Segway is not a cheap form of transport, but the high price tag is mainly due to the low demand. As more and more people buy the Segway, its price will drop.

The global market for Segway is over 80,000 units but Pisit did not give the domestic sales figure, saying it was too early and that the success of the product did not lie in sales figures.

"Our goal is to let the Thai public know more about EVs. We want them to know they have other options for mobility besides automobiles. Increasing awareness is the key here. Sales will come later. Our customers are those people who are very individualistic and dare to be different. Besides this, there are the technology lovers as they love the complicated technology that is part of the Segway. Most of our customers now also buy the product for transport around their housing colonies and estates. Some buy it for use upcountry on weekends. The Segway is now also used by many to provide sightseeing tours around various attractions around Bangkok," Pisit said.

The Segway comes in many styles. The main models are the "i2" and the "x2", both of which have three special-purpose versions, adding up to a total of eight. The i2 is meant for on-road use, while the x2 comes with all-terrain tyres, which increases its usability off-road. Special-purpose units include a police version for security personnel, a commercial cargo version for industrial applications and a golf links version.

Both the i2 and x2 weigh 47-55 kilograms and can be loaded into the back of an SUV. The Segway will run 20-38 kilometres on one full charge, which will take four to six hours, although the quick-charge technology reaches 80 per cent of the full charge in two hours. It uses third-generation lithium-ion batteries.

"The third generation batteries make the Segway very safe and it is even used in mining operations in foreign countries because there is no risk of a battery exploding. Even the US army uses the Segway to access regions not possible by bigger vehicles. Bomb squads also use the Segway, as it helps transport the heavy clothing they have to wear," Pisit said.

The company hopes to use direct marketing and word of mouth to reach customers.

The Segway is on display at the Bangkok International Motor Show now running at Bitec.

"We need people to see the innovation in the Segway. All our customers who have bought the Segway are very happy with it and we also provide leasing services for those who would like to try it before they buy. It also makes the experience of having the Segway worry-free although the Segway does come with a one-year warranty," Pisit said.

"The world of EVs has a long way to go in Thailand. The acceptance of the Segway shows that Thailand is ready for such a device though. What I can ensure is that driving a Segway is a sure way to be the star in the crowd, as our customers say that they always have people come up and talk to them when they're on one!"

Vijo Varghese

The Nation