The contract is strong evidence of the growth in the police/security market for Segway and its channel partners. Worldwide, more than 125 law enforcement agencies now use Segway HTs to patrol a variety of environments, including high-density urban centers, universities, medical center campuses, shopping malls and airports. Another dozen federal and municipal agencies use the products for bomb squad response and explosive ordinance disposal. The Washington D.C. Metro Police, Albuquerque Police Department, University of Maryland Police Department and Miami-Dade County have all recently purchased Segway HT fleets.
“The Chicago Police and Fire Departments have found that Segway HT's enhance patrols and shorten police and EMS response times”
"On both domestic and international fronts we are seeing strong momentum in the police and security sector, and we expect it to continue for the foreseeable future," says Klee Kleber, vice president of marketing, Segway Inc. "The patrol and community policing capabilities of the Segway HT have now been proven by some of the largest police forces in the U.S., and the environmental profile of the product enables agencies to reduce fuel costs and vehicle emissions. Together, these factors have placed us in an enviable market position."
The Chicago contract will allow the city to acquire up to 100 additional Segway HTs for use by a number of city departments, including Police, Fire, Airport Operations and Emergency Management. The city already owns more than 50 units that are used by officers to patrol O'Hare and Midway Airports and the downtown and lakefront areas of the city. The Chicago Fire Department also uses Segway HTs to provide EMS response during events.
"The Chicago Police and Fire Departments have found that Segway HT's enhance patrols and shorten police and EMS response times," said William Johnson, president of Segway Experience of Chicago, LLC. "They also know that these machines use no gasoline and will play a valuable role in holding down department fuel costs. The big winners are the citizens of Chicago who will enjoy a superior level of safety and security in the city's airports and downtown."
In late 2005 Segway introduced its i180 Police package, which includes a collection of high-demand police accessories. This model configuration is the basis for many of the purchases by municipal police and private security firms in recent months. There are several unique capabilities of the Segway HT that appeal to patrol officers:
- Officers stand 8 inches taller on a Segway HT, enabling them to see and be seen over crowds and automobiles.
- Segway HTs use no gasoline and give off no emissions, allowing officers to patrol indoors and out.
- With a range of up to 24 miles on a single charge of its batteries and a top-speed of 12.5 m.p.h., the Segway HT allows an officer to cover far more area than he or she could on foot.
- Segway HTs are self-balancing, even when standing still. This makes them an ideal patrol tool when moving through crowds on sidewalks or in airport terminals and shopping malls.
- The Segway HT operates extremely quietly, enabling an officer to unobtrusively survey situations or respond to alarms. Front and side cargo systems allow the officer to carry extra gear, including EMS equipment.
- With the exception of battery recharging there is no regular maintenance required on the Segway HT. The device can also be used in the rain and cold, and its batteries are operable to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Battery recharging costs are extremely low -- approximately 25 cents per day.
- Officers are also more approachable when on Segway HTs making them highly effective in community policing applications.
About Segway Inc.
Segway Inc. develops intelligent motion control technology known as Segway(R) Smart Motion(TM) that is embedded in the light electric transportation devices it manufactures, such as the well-known Segway(R) Human Transporter (HT). This technology is also licensed for use in other innovative products made by third-party companies. Segway Smart Motion provides intelligent motion control that enables a device to monitor its environment, control its motion and make decisions about how it should move.
Segway markets a full line of zero-emissions Segway HTs that deliver impressive energy efficiency--equivalent to 450 miles per gallon. Commercial and institutional customers are using the Segway HT to make their operations more efficient and consumers are using it for short-distance trips. The company's line of Segway Robotic Mobility Platforms (RMPs) offers researchers, government and military organizations intelligent, reliable, durable mobility solutions for robotic applications.
Segway Inc. has a distribution network of 100 Segway Authorized Dealers in the U.S. and 38 Segway Authorized Distributors with dealers in 55 countries. Segway HTs can be purchased at Segway Authorized Dealers and Distributors or by calling 1-866-4SEGWAY. For additional information about Segway and to find dealer locations, please visit www.segway.com. Press materials and digital images are available through the Segway Press Center at www.segway.com/news.
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