Below, is a repost from our sister publication, Windermere Sun.
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Transit X passenger view (credit: Transit X)
Transit X in Boston (credit: Transit X)
Transit X pod with family (credit: Transit X)
Transit X viewed from sidewalk (credit: Transit X)
Florida Transit X (credit: Transit X)
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After a week of reporting on Trump affairs, I really have to thank Dave Finnigan (of jugglingedge.com) for bringing to my attention a much more refreshing topic, a solar powered, quiet, clean, and efficient mass transit system, developed by Transit X.
Can you envision our future world, where commuters would have access to wait-free, pollution-free, and accidents-free commute, 24/7 available, autopiloted within cities, beside highways, and along rail corridors? It is a privately-funded surface transportation network with the convenience, capacity, and cost that would offer much relief for our current buses, trains, cars, trucks, and short flights. With our current earthly population of over 7 billion, growing toward 9 billion, we will be needing much help with our current transporting system. Transit X pods may be the perfect solution for our 21st century transportation network, beyond what the Jestsons sic-fi cartoon offers, by having its autopilot feature and seating from one to five. It would also be a great way to help reduce the rate of climate change.
Transit X pod with family (credit: Transit X)
Transit X’s solar powered pod system has many advantages:
Headshot of Mike Stanley, founder and CEO of Transit X (credit: Transit X)
It is 100% solar powered, with solar cells on the track providing the energy to charge pods, and therefore providing carbon-free and zero pollution.
It is fast, with nonstop travel at 45 mph (72km/h) along main pods and 135 mph (217 km/h) along highways.
It is much safer than our current roadway system, about 100,000 times safer, according to Transit X founders.
It is affordable and with comparable fares to conventional mass transit. Private financing is possible even with low population density (350 people/km squared)
Cities and towns can apply now to begin service in 2019. Installation is fast and not disruptive to neighborhoods. The first pilot will be ready in Boston, MA by end of 2018.
Below, is a video of an interview of Founder and CEO of Transit X Mike Stanley, by Jay Sugarman:
About three weeks ago, Mike Stanley was here in Central Florida to give a demonstration/talk about Transit X, for Osceola County Commissioner Transportation meeting, Orlando City Commissioner (of District 4) Patty Sheehan, and Orlando City Director of Sustainability Chris Castro. Subsequently, Dave Finnigan gave a two minute presentation to Metropolitan Orlando about Transit X, and also briefed Carolyn Fennell (of Airport Authority), Nicole Liquori (CEO of Sunrail), Eric Johnson (CEO of Lynx), and Laura Kelley (Director of Central Florida Expressway Authority) about Transit X.
Allow me to share a blueprint of the Florida Transit X Way, below:
Florida Transit X (credit: Transit X)
While we anxiously await for the first Transit X pods to be running in MA by the end of 2018, innovators, solar enthusiasts, and potential investors of Central Florida and other parts of the world are strongly encouraged to get in touch with Mike or Dave Stanley, via:
Below, is a repost from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun.
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Pope Francis since March 13, 2013
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On Wednesday, May 24, 2017, President Trump had the opportunity of meeting the Pope Francis in person, later stating the meeting being “honor of a life time“.
One thing one can say about Trump: he is not rigid. About a year ago, the Pope Francis commented that Candidate Trump’s call to build a wall (instead of a bridge) is not Christian. Trump respond angrily, saying “for a religious leader, to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.” But today, the Pope Francis and President Trump met each other with open hand shake. Pope gave Trump his encyclical, where he makes a passionate case for fighting climate change. At meetings today, the Vatican urged Trump not to drop out of the Paris Accord/Paris Agreement on climate change. President Trump promised to consider Pope’s request and said, “I won’t forget what you said.” Let’s hope that President Trump was truly moved by Pope Francis and will reconsider his position regarding climate change. Thank you, Pope, for being persuasive and helping the planet earth.
Below is a repost from our sister publication, Windermere Sun.
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Tesla Dual Motor design (credit: Tesla/Screen shot)
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After all that’s been going on with Trump Administration this week, I seriously need to report/share on some topics that would make me feel good. Last night, as I came across an article about Tesla’s dual-engine or dual motor design, I realized that I never did report, in detail, about this intriguing design in the past. I’ve known about Tesla’s self-driving or autopilot optional feature in Tesla Model S/X/3, but did not mention much about its dual motor design until last night. It is very impressive both in its efficiency and optimized outcome in speed and acceleration. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.20 seconds, with top speed at 155 mph. Any of the Tesla cars that comes with dual motor/engine would come with “D” in its model name. In the video below, one can see the front drive unit and rear drive unit of Model S. Its uniqueness is in its ability to be able to shift its dynamic power from front to rear in a matter of millilseconds. So its torque can be quickly adjusted, much better and quicker than the historical mechanically linked system (linked with the shaft). So, this is a design equivalent to the digital system, replacing the old analog system. Its constant optimal efficiency level is actually able to compensate for the increased mass of a dual motor design. Every thing is improved with this design. In Elon Musk’s words, “it’s like having your own roller coaster.” It is actually coming with the option of having 3 settings: Normal, Sport, and Insane. Elon Musk also assured us that future designs of Tesla will continue to improve. The more affordable Tesla’s Model 3 (costing about $35,000) should be arriving by the end of 2017. Model 3 of 2017 currently comes with single motor, and Model 3 dual motor design can be ordered in 2018.
I was also very happy to find out about Elon Musk’s presentation in December of 2016 for Tesla Solar Roof. So, hopefully one day, soon in the future, we will be able to order an autopilot, dual motor, solar powered car from Tesla. In the mean time, apparently Tesla is also planning on bringing a new compact SUV to the market. This vehicle will be the crossover version of the Model 3 and will be called Model Y, expected to be rolled out by 2020.
Below is a re-post from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun:
Over some of the social networks, our previous post of Climate March Orlando on April 29, 2017 received much attention and debate/discussion regarding climate change. At one point, I did comment, “I am optimistic, for solar and wind costs have already dropped tremendously in recent years. Solar is more cost effective than conventional fossil fuel in many places. Electric vehicle and solar e-vehicles are coming in. These progress will all help in keeping carbon emission in check or be reduced in our earth’s atmosphere.”
Case in point, I’d like to share a video that demonstrates how Panasonic is building the full-length solar roof for Japan’s Prius Prime plug in hybrid, below:
Panasonic announced an advanced solar car that will debut as the 2017 model Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid in Japan (the Prius Prime) last week. This is going to be the first commercially available, mass produced passenger car to feature an optional solar charging system! Improvements in solar technology efficiency combined with advanced design and technologies to laminate three-dimensional curved glass have allowed a high output (tripling the output of previous solar roof that was only able to ventilate parked cars and auxiliary charging of the standard 12-volt lead acid battery). As the solar panels and electric vehicle become cheaper and more efficient, the potential range boost will likely to occur. The 2017 Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid with about 25 miles of range available on a fully charged battery before it needs gasoline.It gets 54 miles per gallon (combined city-highway EPA estimate) when running on gas. Its EPA estimated electric mileage is 133 mpg-e.
Its solar roof option will initially be offered only in Japan (on Japanese models) until Toyota and Panasonic develop an improvement to the reinforced curved glass panels, which would not pass U.S. rollover standards.
The panel is capable of producing 180 watts of electricity, which is apparently enough to power car accessories (which weren’t specified) and also charge the lithium-ion batteries. According to Toyota, this panel can add up to 3.7 miles of range a day to the car’s battery while parked, and it also helps charge the battery while the car is in motion. It also fits the contours of the Prius roof and doesn’t change the design.
Tesla CEO Elon Musktweeted in November 2016 that he wanted a solar roof option for the Tesla Model 3, Tesla’s affordable long-range electric car that had record pre-sales. Whether it will be Tesla solar car or Toyota solar car make it into the U.S. showroom first, one thing to be certain: our streets will soon be covered with Solar Powered Electric Vehicles….to reduce carbon emissions and to slow down the warming of our planet earth! I gladly await for the electric vehicle that will allow me to have both self-driving and solar powered features long before I reach my 80’s. It is an amazing world we’re living in!
