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| Jun 30, 2007 6:05 pm |
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re: re: re: re: Breakthrough Li-Ion battery - Hybrid to Full Electric conversion |
Ken Hilving
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The combination of technologies across multiple domains can result in new solutions.
The battle line in transportation for people has always been between personal transportation and mass transit. Mass transit has cost advantages but personal transportation has the advantage in time, security, and prestige.
In telecommunications, the goal is to move packets of data rapidly, reliably, and securely from one point to another. A full any point to any point is the preference, but in most systems the design moves the data between aggregation points, and a "change in transport" occurs there. To move the data efficiently, there are multiple routes available. One approach is the Open Shortest Path First routing algorithm.
Monorail is small footprint mass transit method. Initially, this was a point to point approach, as are almost all mass transit systems.
Several smart people have combined the two in an initial step towards personal rapid transit (PRT). Instead of common people containers, each individual or small group uses one container. Placing stations on sidings allows any particular container to travel non stop to any monorail station. This approach starts to address time and security by having rider determined or on demand departure times, and a direct path to the destination. Security comes from not having the common car for all passengers. Design the system with multiple routes, and the system begins to look like a web. Add OSPF routing technology, and the system can react to congestion as it moves a particular user to his destination.
All of this still is lacking the perceived advantage of a personal vehicle that is effectively an any to any network element. It still fails to offer any prestige to most individuals.
Enter the breakthrough Li-ion battery powered vehicle. Use this to make the monorail container a leased personal vehicle. Monorail serves longer distances, but then we use the same container as an electric vehicle to the final destination. With 130 mile range, this would support the commute to the initial monorail station, the commute from last station to workplace, and even errand trips from work during the day. Make the container user owned or leased, and the remaining issues of security are addressed PLUS we now have the opportunity for addressing prestige.
This is where such a vehicle, capable of 0-60 MPH in 3 seconds and driven by celebrities like George Clooney, can push a fundamental shift in our transportation habits.
Over time, the value of surface freeways will shift to new uses such as green space. Long range high speed interstate monorails might catch on. Automated delivery service - monorail to GPS guided vehicle - may replace the delivery vans and drivers with faster delivery at a lower cost.
For more info on monorail PRT visit:
http://www.intelligenttransportation.com/
http://www.personalrapidtransit.com/
http://www.skytran.net/
http://www.skywebexpress.com/Private Reply to Ken Hilving (new win) |
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