The best Segway will always be the Segway that looks like a Vespa. But for people who actually use the personal transport device for utilitarian purposes, we have a feeling the Segway SE-3 Patroller might prove to be the best Segway to help get their jobs done.
Unlike previous versions of the self-balancing one-person ride, the new Segway comes with an extra wheel, making it a full-fledged tricycle instead of the original two-wheeled oddity it used to be. Sure, this sort of ruins the whole novelty of being a Segway, but the design supposedly gives it extra benefits that serve the vehicle’s biggest user base well.
Since the Segway has evolved into a choice utility ride for security, law enforcement, and public safety personnel over the last few years, the SE-3 Patroller tweaks the old design to make it better suited to the needs of those who patrol shopping malls, airports, parking lots, and other heavily-pedestrianized areas. According to the company, the fresh design makes it even more conspicuous (creating an obvious security presence) and allows people to mount and dismount easier (which tends to happen a lot in regular patrol scenarios).
Features include a rider-detection technology that shuts down the motor when no rider is on board, independent direct rear-wheel drive, anti-rollover technology, independent front and rear hydraulic brakes, swappable batteries, a full set of lights (headlights, brake light, emergency lights), siren, and lockable storage. There’s also a sunlight-readable 4.3-inch color display that shows speed, battery life, and other operational data.
The Segway SE-3 Patroller will be available in June, priced at $11,999.