Lean, Green, Moving Machine:Sustainable TransportationMads Ydemark, Campbell Stevenson, Nick Aubin

Focus QuestionsWhat is the future of mass transit in the United States?What have European countries done right?Will the U.S.A. ever have a truly clean form of transportation for the masses?Does our culture prevent us from “Goin’ Green”

The Future of Green

Futuristic TechnologySkyTran- NASA is developing technology to have elevated highways with vehicles boasting 200 MPG efficiency and no pollutionPorsche has developed a hybrid 918 Spyder concept car that gets 78 mpg yet still has a top speed of 198 mph

Political Interests Issues today CAFE – Nationwide standards or allowing states to regulate emission levels? Flex-fuel – Do car owners utilize their cars’ green features? STS – How big a role should government play when it comes to regulating the car industry?

1884- First electrically propelled vehicle created by English inventor Thomas Parker1897- First commercial application of the electric automobile

• Fleet of electrical New York Taxis operated by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia

1900s- Electric automobiles find niche as “city cars”• Limited range and slow speeds better suited for urban travel

1912- Sales of electric automobiles peak• 38% of cars on the road are powered by electricity

1915- Mass production leads to Fords becoming much less expensive and thus more popular

• Ford- $440 Electric roadster- $1,7501959- Improvements in battery technology lead to another attempt at a mass produced electric automobile- The Henney Kilowatt

• Improved performance but still too expensive to revive popularity1990- General Motors unveils an electric concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show1994- REVA Electric Car Company presents REVAi

• Production begins in 2001, now best selling electric car worldwide1999- Honda Insight hybrid car becomes the first hybrid to be sold in the United States

• 2000s energy crisis renews interest in alternative fuel automobiles2000s- Economic recession as well as skyrocketing gas prices spur an increase in automakers’ commitment to alternative energy vehicles

• Hybrids begin to gain larger market share2010- The much anticipated release of the Chevrolet Volt, seen at left, signals the return of the electric car hybrid to prominence

• Improvements have made electric vehicles a viable alternative in modern times and automakers will continue to produce them in larger quantities than ever before

Technological Advances/Public Perception

“The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we're contributing to the warming of the earth's atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe” – Barack Obama