Ron Swenson

International Institute of

Sustainable Transportation

June 21, 2014

Spartan Superway Electric Auto AssociationSilicon Valley

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

1999

… and a solar powered electrathon… and a solar powered electrathon

2002

… and a Utility Solar Vehicle, “USV” … and a Utility Solar Vehicle, “USV”

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 meThere are two kinds of

business:

• Good business–Selling

• Bad business–Buying

1975

exports

importsG

ap

The USA is buying

Mexico 79%

Canada 91%

Japan 48%

China 26%

Saudi Arabia 34%CIA Factbook 2012

68%32%

2012

Which will it be?!

Sustainable

Today’s Quiz: What’s the difference between…

time!

Power …

… Energy?

Let’s revisit that Quiz: What’s the difference between…

… time

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.

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 specifications to execute energy-efficiency and renewable energy strategies…

••••

How can we deliver on the solar skyways challenge?

2 seconds apart @ 90 km/hr = 50 m

Solar Race Car averages 90 km/hr with 6 m2 solar panel

… Podcars have 50 m ÷ 3 m = 17 X more collection area than solar race cars!

17 X17 X

2m

3m

Knowing it can be done, let’s ramp onto the Solar Highway …

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

10 X

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!