Solar SkywaysInstitute of Transportation EngineersSan José State University

Ron Swenson

INIST

March 10, 2014

If climate change doesn’t get us…

If climate change doesn’t get us…

If climate change doesn’t get us…

… peak oil will

We have gridLock now & we will see gas lines in the future

What can be done?

1992+ Tonatiuh, Coche Solar de Carreras

1992+ Tonatiuh, Coche Solar de Carreras

In Silicon Valley, a dollar can get you 10!

We must raise the bar to succeed

10 X

How can we deliver this performance?

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 …

Typical trip patterns closely match the pattern of sunshine, with evening extension

What can we do in Silicon Valley?

What we can do is Silicon Energy

What we can do is Silicon Transportation

We are using a unique and challenging approach

1. Technology: Engaging Universities with focus:• High capacity electronics• Suspended system

3. Economics: Engaging Industry • first as mentors to students• then as vendors building ATN• then as buyers of ATN services

2. Government: Engaging Cities• Encitra Modeling with UP students• join ATNA

San José State has accepted the challenge

Solar Skyways: More Info

www.oilcrisis.com

www.inist.org

www.encitra.com

www.podcar.org

www.podcarcity.org

www.superway.us

www.solarskyways.com

Wake Up!!!… to the Power of Solar

Thank you!