Solar Skyways Ron Swenson ISES Solar World Congress

Solar Skyways Ron Swenson ISES Solar World Congress Sustainable Transportation Forum 2013 November 5

It’s time to get solar transportation off the ground

Podcar characteristics are very basic On demand switched network, not line-haul on a schedule Solar powered (zero net energy) Off-line stations Personal Scale Elevated

In 1956 MK Hubbert predicted the 1970 petroleum peak in the USA

The principle of solar transportation was well demonstrated, back in 1981 The burning question: How can solar become the practical power source for transportation?

Tonatiuh, el coche solar de carreras de México, raced in 1995 and 1996

Thinking ahead, Team Tonatiuh exhibited People Pods in 1992

Peak Oil details emerged on a fateful day in 1994 in México

In remote areas, solar transportation is far more feasible than fuel hauled in

Biofuels? Impossible.

The City of San José asked ATN vendors to include solar in their offers

San José consultants demonstrated solar podcars

Podcar solar canopies can be aesthetically very appealing

Students at Delft University had no trouble visualizing solar podcars

Students at Delft University were able to visualize solar podcars

There is plenty of sunshine in Sweden

There is plenty of sunshine in Sweden

Uppsala University energy engineers demonstrated that solar meets demand

Sustainable Mobility Systems Silicon Valley capstone started August 2012

SMSSV developed many podcar subsystems…

… and a 1: 12 operating scale model

1/12 Scale Model Dimensions

Then the Spartan Superway Team won the Solar Skyways Challenge

San José State’s new team is moving forward building upon last year’s work

Industrial design students are on board

Bringing the Solar Skyways Challenge to Latin America

Walt Disney envisioned and built a similar system in the 1960’s

We don’t want to meet the fate of the Los Angeles street car

Following GM’s purge in the ‘ 50 s, the best car of the 1990 s was scrapped

We can apply solar principles to line haul through transportation innovation

We can apply solar principles to line haul through transportation innovation

With sufficient innovation, solar power becomes the obvious choice

Thank you!