Segway touts greenness, offers energy credits

Segway on Wednesday made an early start to its Earth Day initiatives by launching its own energy credit program. Referring to a self-published study which showed its Segway PT to be one of the most environmentally-friendly transportation options available, the company is promising to offset the 200 kilowatt-hours used to charge any PT bought in 2007 by investing money into renewable energy stations, such as solar cells or wind generators.

The move is a gesture to encourage the philosophy behind most sales, Segway says. As the average SUV produces up to 20 times more greenhouse gas than a PT, the firm believes that most buyers are looking to reduce their impact to near-zero for quicker journeys, which are sometimes too long for bicycles or walks but create the largest waste of energy.

"Short car trips are particularly damaging to the environment, since current pollution control devices in automobiles take several minutes to work effectively," said Segway's John David Heinzmann.

The credit plan applies to any 2007 Segway regardless of its use for business or pleasure; the credits are said to cost nothing to the driver beyond the $4,995 of the i2 or X2 itself and should be tallied every three months.