Spartan Superway
Electric Auto Association
Silicon Valley
Ron Swenson
International Institute of
Sustainable Transportation
June 21, 2014
INIST is developing a transportation
system based on zero net energy
San José State
has accepted the
challenge.
Will you join us?
Here’s what it might look like
in an urban setting
History
After my first EV, I built a solar trike
1981
We did a VW conversion in Mexico
1994
The burning question was, how to
power transportation with solar energy
1995
We raced across Australia in the WSC
1996
Then we built several prototype ebikes
1998
… and a solar powered electrathon
1999
… and a Utility Solar Vehicle, “USV”
2002
Then I figured out how to incorporate solar
2006
We got a chance to build a prototype
guideway that is aesthetically pleasing
2011
And we first demonstrated the Spartan
Superway at Maker Faire last month
2014
Why?
Have you noticed the climate is
changing?
Are we seeing a glut of oil?
How long will the earth yield our needs?
We are consuming more than one planet
2007
We can’t solve probems using
the same kind of thinking
We can’t solve probems
using the same kind of fuels
Congestion looks like this
Electric vehicles will look like this
Automated cars will look like this
Economics
J Y “Dave” Wang told me
There are two kinds of
business:
• Good business
–Selling
• Bad business
–Buying
1975
The USA is buying
imports
79%
91%
48%
26%
34%
CIA Factbook 2012
Gap
Mexico
Canada
Japan
China
Saudi Arabia
32%
exports
68%
2012
Which will it be?!
Sustainable
Today’s Quiz:
What’s the difference between…
Power …
… Energy?
time!
Let’s revisit that Quiz: What’s the
difference between…
Sustainability is defined as balancing
economic, environmental and equity
interests.
Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
… time
Peak Solar
1992+ Tonatiuh, Coche Solar de Carreras
San José introduced solar in their first
Automated Transit Network RFP
• Ensure that the ATN system is built … utilizing
renewable energy
• … maximize energy efficiency and potentially be
powered in whole or part by renewable energy.
•
•
• … and calculating carbon emissions reductions
achievable through renewable energy
•
•
• evaluate cost/benefits of using renewable energy to
offset all or a portion of the energy requirements
• Provide analysis of cost/savings and recommend
How can we deliver on the solar
skyways challenge?
3m
2m
Solar Race Car averages 90 km/hr with 6 m2 solar panel
Knowing it can be done, let’s ramp onto the Solar Highway …
17 X
2 seconds apart @ 90 km/hr = 50 m
… Podcars have 50 m ÷ 3 m = 17 X more collection area than solar race
cars!
Storage?
What’s wrong with this picture?
Spare capacity is not spare energy
Typical trip patterns closely match the
pattern of sunshine, with evening extension
We must raise the bar to succeed
In Silicon Valley, a dollar can get you 10!
How can we deliver this performance?
San José State has accepted the challenge
Industry is sponsoring and
mentoring San José State students
Visual Impact
Construction Hawaii before
Construction Hawaii after
Construction Hawaii
Beamways
A solar canopy can be attractive
Spartan Superway
www.inist.org
www.podcar.org
www.podcarcity.org
www.superway.us
www.gofundme.com
www.intersolar.us
Wake Up!!!
… to the Power of Solar
Thank you!