Comments on: 220MPH Solar-Powered Bullet Train on Arizona Horizon http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:18:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: topcatrwhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-147500 topcatrw Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:27:43 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-147500 Actually it will work just fine. The price quote in the paper was incorrect. The target cost is about $20 - $40 Million a mile. The technology is sound. Have you driven a hybrid car? Now consider the fact that with a fixed known path, the weight of the hybrid energy storage system (Supercap/Battery mix) can be moved from inside the vehicle to outside. Now add modern aerospace fuselage technology to reduce the weight and then consider removing power conversions and transmission losses by using High Voltage VDC instead of non green friendly AC, see Joint Strike Fighter and Space Station, then you easily start to close the technology gap. Also by having the "Linear powerplant approach" robotic cleaning of the panels can be achieved. Not a far stretch at all. RW Actually it will work just fine. The price quote in the paper was incorrect. The target cost is about $20 – $40 Million a mile. The technology is sound. Have you driven a hybrid car? Now consider the fact that with a fixed known path, the weight of the hybrid energy storage system (Supercap/Battery mix) can be moved from inside the vehicle to outside. Now add modern aerospace fuselage technology to reduce the weight and then consider removing power conversions and transmission losses by using High Voltage VDC instead of non green friendly AC, see Joint Strike Fighter and Space Station, then you easily start to close the technology gap. Also by having the “Linear powerplant approach” robotic cleaning of the panels can be achieved. Not a far stretch at all. RW

]]> By: Kaihttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-146554 Kai Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:11:55 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-146554 Umm, this is $14,500 per resident of Tucson and Phoenix... It\'s sort of a nice idea, but if you want a cheaper idea you could wait until 2012 when the prices come down and buy a $30,000 all-electric plugin hybrid car for each household in either city... only $24 billion! That plan will be complete six years earlier, and cost $3b less -- win-win. Umm, this is $14,500 per resident of Tucson and Phoenix… It\’s sort of a nice idea, but if you want a cheaper idea you could wait until 2012 when the prices come down and buy a $30,000 all-electric plugin hybrid car for each household in either city… only $24 billion! That plan will be complete six years earlier, and cost $3b less — win-win.

]]> By: pmickelberghttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-144716 pmickelberg Sun, 24 May 2009 08:26:31 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-144716 Living in Tucson this could be a great idea. The panels would be better located in the tracks as the train would only shade them for a moment as it passes by and there would not be added cost for the structure to support the panels. It would not need to be a 220mph train to be more cost effective. There are few options in public transportation between the cities now so even a 90mph version would reduce the travel time by 50%. Living in Tucson this could be a great idea. The panels would be better located in the tracks as the train would only shade them for a moment as it passes by and there would not be added cost for the structure to support the panels. It would not need to be a 220mph train to be more cost effective. There are few options in public transportation between the cities now so even a 90mph version would reduce the travel time by 50%.

]]> By: jirehhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-143407 jireh Tue, 19 May 2009 19:26:18 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-143407 wow!fantastic.... wow!fantastic….

]]> By: davidwayneosedachhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142899 davidwayneosedach Fri, 15 May 2009 22:26:41 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142899 Don't forget the Los Angeles - Las Vegas connection! Don’t forget the Los Angeles – Las Vegas connection!

]]> By: chrisp68http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142758 chrisp68 Thu, 14 May 2009 22:30:52 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142758 Stupid idea but, if you must use solar panels make them part of the track so you don't have to another sturcture to construct with this proposal. The only chace for this to work would be the mag lev idea which supports placing the panels in the track anyway.Any yes, terrible rendering. Looks like color by numbers. Stupid idea but, if you must use solar panels make them part of the track so you don’t have to another sturcture to construct with this proposal. The only chace for this to work would be the mag lev idea which supports placing the panels in the track anyway.

Any yes, terrible rendering. Looks like color by numbers.

]]> By: applemanhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142239 appleman Wed, 13 May 2009 09:39:40 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142239 @walter: putting the panels above the train is a great idea since it significantly reduces the amount of AC required to cool the inside of the train.If you haven\\\'t walked in the Arizona desert, try it sometime. You\\\'ll wish you had that panel over your head. @walter:
putting the panels above the train is a great idea since it significantly reduces the amount of AC required to cool the inside of the train.

If you haven\\\’t walked in the Arizona desert, try it sometime. You\\\’ll wish you had that panel over your head.

]]> By: Milieunethttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142222 Milieunet Wed, 13 May 2009 07:31:11 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142222 Wow, that looks really cool and solar powerd is the future. Great development. Remembers me to another amazing project in the USA, The Interstate Hydrogen Superhighway in Michigan.http://www.stichtingmilieunet.nl/andersbekekenblog/?p=2419 Wow, that looks really cool and solar powerd is the future. Great development. Remembers me to another amazing project in the USA, The Interstate Hydrogen Superhighway in Michigan.

http://www.stichtingmilieunet.nl/andersbekekenblog/?p=2419

]]> By: 4udiaryhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142188 4udiary Wed, 13 May 2009 00:48:45 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142188 Wow.. I khew this day will come.. use natural power.. Wow.. I khew this day will come.. use natural power..

]]> By: Jimmy Dolittlehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142162 Jimmy Dolittle Tue, 12 May 2009 22:28:39 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142162 Wow, now that looks WAY cool!RT Wow, now that looks WAY cool!

RT

]]> By: benjaminmbakerhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142157 benjaminmbaker Tue, 12 May 2009 22:08:33 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142157 A nice thought, but how would one maintain 700 miles of panels? There would have to be some serious consideration for the long term impact that the environment would have on this system. The projected cost is probably far too low, and the amount of water and cleaning solution that it would require to have these panels operating at a nominal capacity would be ridiculous. I hope that the maintenance and potential for failure are seriously considered before anyone invests more time in this project. A nice thought, but how would one maintain 700 miles of panels? There would have to be some serious consideration for the long term impact that the environment would have on this system. The projected cost is probably far too low, and the amount of water and cleaning solution that it would require to have these panels operating at a nominal capacity would be ridiculous. I hope that the maintenance and potential for failure are seriously considered before anyone invests more time in this project.

]]> By: Walterhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142117 Walter Tue, 12 May 2009 19:57:15 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142117 HAS ANYONE DONE THE MATH on this proposal? The article seemed to indicate that this is not a maglev, so you have to account for the rolling and air resistance on the one hand and the output of the solar collectors on the other (I am assuming regenetive braking will recover a good deal of the energy required to accelerate the train.)SECONDLY, I can see why a solar based train would be more attractive in sunny Arizona, but what exactly is the advantage of building your solar panels along the railline as opposed to be in a cluster behind a fence where you could protect it? HAS ANYONE DONE THE MATH on this proposal? The article seemed to indicate that this is not a maglev, so you have to account for the rolling and air resistance on the one hand and the output of the solar collectors on the other (I am assuming regenetive braking will recover a good deal of the energy required to accelerate the train.)

SECONDLY, I can see why a solar based train would be more attractive in sunny Arizona, but what exactly is the advantage of building your solar panels along the railline as opposed to be in a cluster behind a fence where you could protect it?

]]> By: akrenitshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/05/12/transportation-tuesday-arizona-startup-unveils-solar-bullet-train/comment-page-1/#comment-142027 akrenits Tue, 12 May 2009 13:09:57 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/?p=28517#comment-142027 what a terrible rendering.. what a terrible rendering..

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