Well, well... three years and change have passed since we first told you about power-assisted
Live Luggage. Now it's finally coming to market -- at least that's what we think they mean by a June 26th 2008 "world premier." The PA series of checked baggage features a 12V NiMH rechargeable battery pack supplying power to the wheels when the handle is gripped and the bag is tilted. The bags weighs 10.6kg (23-pounds) which is about 3kg (6.6-pounds) more than standard hard luggage, according to the manufacture. The cases are good for about 1.5 miles of assisted travel under a 32kg load. Of interest, the bags are now 2.6kg heavier than the original case which also featured a more powerful (and possibly exploding?) Lithium Ion battery pack capable of 2.5 miles on a single charge. We guess that was the concession made to get, "all the required accreditations and approvals from the global airport authority." No price was announced so we'll have to stick with the £397 (about $782) until we hear more on Thursday.
Update: Oh boy, after poking around the site a bit we find
a price of $1,365 -- twice as much as originally planned.
Read -- press release [Warning: PDF]
Read -- Live Luggage
posted June 24th 2008 7:26AM
[seems like my comment got eaten]
I agree about the 23lb starting weight problem. I don't see though how this would be a good idea in any way, shape or form. I have a 4 wheel suitcase that rolls behind me on a leash and pulling even 40kg behind me takes next to no effort at all. I don't see how adding motors there would improve anything. And I have had this for 10 years, so yes it works very well.
If you have a 2 wheel, get a 4 wheel. It's a night and day difference.
Great idea... if you have your own private plane. I having flown on flights all over the world, the general consensus is you get about 50 lbs sometimes in 1 bad sometimes across 2 or you will pay exorbitant $50-$100 fees. At 75 lb or greater some airlines won't take it. So to make a bag that is 23.32 lbs only cuts into what you can carry which means you carry less which means you didn't need a motorized bag. I won't even tough the price because apparently they are laced with gold and lined with fabrics made with milk from a pregnant Cambodian immigrant. Not to mention in the US, Airlines are really trying to kill people with fees of $15 first the first bag and 25$ of the second $50 for the 3rd and $100 if you so happen to have a fourth. You are basically buying a second seat.
When did Microsoft start making luggage?
butterface
wouldnt mind being the airport official that gets to paw through either of their panties in the luggage checkpoint... wow.
A classic case of a solution in search of a problem.
I have had a 4 wheel samsonite for the last 10 years, it's been everywhere with me. It holds over 40kg. And even when packed to capacity, it rolls easily behind me on a retractable leash. It cost $150.
There is no way in hell adding motors to it would make it any better - it already rolls effortlessly, it's reasonably light at 5kg, leaving more room for the payload.
23-pounds huh....do they offer a cash allowance to cover how much it will cost you to get that checked now a days? Sory of like How Jeep is "guaranteeing" that you will pay only $2.50 for gas over the next couple of years with purchase.
I guess these guys were designing this before the industry threw everyone the inevitable curve ball.
Then again if you can afford a 4 figure hard side bag $50 for checking luggage isn't going to set you back much.
If my luggage weighs more than 10lbs total, combined, per bag, maximum two bags, it weighs too much - wheeled, powered, or not.
This is ridiculous, nobody needs that much luggage unless they are moving.