The Solar Component

I sometimes get the question "Why solar?" for Podcar systems. Well, there are many reasons for it. First, the sun is the most natural source of energy on earth, and it's endless free energy. Second, the electric energy derevied by PV cells is very suitable for transportation as electric motors are highly efficient. Third, we move with almost exactly the same pace as the sun shows itself - we sleep in the night and travel during the day. All of these good reasons add up to a solution that outperforms all non-renewable sources of energy for transportation. To furthermore add to the good news, todays cost for PV is more competitive than ever, and to install a PV system for a podcar network is also a sound financial investment.

 

 "But, how can you travel when there is no sun?"

 We just use the other sources of storage - hydro and wind. Since the travel patterns are much less intense during the night we need much less than during the day. For this day and time, solar energy as primary source of energy for transportation is not only a great idea, it's a very feasible and economical solution. On March 27 I will travel to the European Investment Bank to present the Uppsala preliinary ELENA application. The key component for the Podcar network proposed in Uppsals is the solar canopy over the track, feeding the system with 100% energy. It's amazing that less than 100 years after the break-through of the car that we now can seriously approach a solar based transportation system that performs better than the car. Human innovation and entrepreneurship that led us here is impressive, and it's the effort of many, many people that has made this possible. I really feel their strength and appreciation in my work, and it's an honor to carry these ideas forward. 

Lastly, one example of many of the change solar energy can bring to people: The Barefootcollege

New year, new energy and new people.

The World of Sustainable Transportation is stronger than ever. Since last year we have seen a dramatic growth in interest from Universities in all over the world. It's amazing. Here are selected bits from last year's happenings:

Sweden

The University of Linkoping recently finished a study of how to find the best route forward in getting financing for the GTS Foundation. http://www.gtsfoundation.se/english/

Ångström Laboratories, a part of the Uppsala University, now have seven students under the leadership of grad student Hanna Jansson in researching possibilities and challenges of solar as main energy source for the planned Uppsala Podcar System. http://www.asc.angstrom.uu.se/en/


Hanna Jansson

Lund University and the LUMES program student Aurora Lindström (yes, my daughter), were instrumental in structuring the Solar Skyways Challenge for San Jose University together with Professor Burford Furman.
http://www.lumes.lu.se/

USA

The San Jose State University has launched the Solar Skyways Challenge, an impressive incentive to win the $10,000 prize to best team presentation of a high quality study in making a solar podcar system. The team has its own homepage: http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/smssv/team.html

The Challenge is presented here: http://www.inist.org/challenge/
The challenge is also one of the KATERVA nominees:
http://katerva.org/2012-nominees/solar-skyways/


UK

Professor Paul Newman of Oxford University is looking into the Robotics aspect of the ULTra system at Heathrow Airport.  This work is essential for understanding of the control systems and human-machine interface.
http://www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~mobile/wikisite/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=People.PMN


China

A "Personal Rapid Chair" video was recently posted on Youtube. It was developed by Hu Yingping at North China University of Technology:

This is just a very short list. The interest and understanding of the need for something better
than current transportation modes is getting really strong. I am sure we will have a very
exciting 2013.

Time to meet!

In a few weeks the core of people involved in promoting, discussing and analysing Podcar technology will meet in Berlin in conjunction with Innotrans 2012. Our meetings are held September 19-20 at the Technical University in Berlin, with speakers from Germany, UK, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, USA and more.

Last years conference in Stockholm was a great event, and from what we see now, we will be almost a hundred people in Berlin!  Fantastic. As the icecaps melt, the price of oil rises and the cities becomes even more congested than before, the work people do to try and find better solutions for energy use, transportation and land development is more important than ever. I look forward to meet again, with new people from around the world attending. A special welcome to students in Sweden, USA, Netherlands and Germany that are keen on understanding the Podcar concept and carry it forward to new ideas and implementations.

For registration, go to The Conference Homepage