highway archives - planet forward - 克罗地亚vs加拿大让球

piezoelectric technologies

sun, 03 mar 2013 14:30:06 +0000

piezoelectric energy is created by the process of vibrations, friction, or static between solid materials. this can be obtained through a variety of methods, such as the friction of tires on the road, or the movement of shoes across a surface that contains piezoelectric crystals. this technology was discovered in 1880 by jacques curie, and has been subject to research over the past century as a potential new form of alternative energy.

the potential for piezoelectric energy seems endless with modern advances in technology, as it can and has been implemented in a variety of different outlets. for example, it is not uncommon for nightclubs in europe to possess this technology within their very dances floors, creating energy that powers the entire establishment, from the stereo to the lighting.

here in the united states, gyms exist in which stationary exercise equipment possesses this technology in order to power the gym. furthermore, the greatest potential for piezoelectric energy seems to lie in the outlet of highway and road construction. piezoelectric crystals that are placed under these surfaces that experience the vibrations of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians a day have the potential to power entire towns and communities, perhaps even nations and the world. this technology is one of the most up-and-coming in alternative fuel exploration and will most likely be implemented into a variety of technologies in the future

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highway monorail for trucks

tue, 26 jun 2012 07:00:49 +0000

this idea incorporates driverless autopilot technologies, that once engaged allow the driver to be hands free. the concept could not only drastically improve fuel economy, but it could also significantly reduce the need for road maintenance and tire replacement.

the stinger is a monorail automobile hybrid concept. long straight stretches of highway would be outfitted with a monorail in the center of the truck lane flush with the roadway. using the autopilot technology, the stinger is a steel wheel fixed to a strut that hydraulically engages with the monorail with enough pressure to offset the payload of the vehicle plus any vehicle weight that could be safely displaced. the vehicle would then be riding on rubber tires as well as the steel wheels, reducing friction and improving fuel efficiency.

this idea is in its infancy. i am interested in collaborating with people and/or companies interested in building a prototype and testing feasibility. currently, there are trucks that use air bags to engage extra sets of wheels when the truck is carrying a load. this idea is a similar concept; however, the wheel would be made of steel and would be located in the center of the axle. i believe this concept has potential to greatly increase fuel efficiency as well as reduce tire wear and road maintenance.

photo credit to futureatlas.com.

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a cross-country rail trip

sat, 22 oct 2011 17:10:19 +0000

pretty simple idea and not a new one, but imagine hopping on a train at a train station located at the intersection of two interstates or a small city, and relaxing as the train takes you to your destination. that destination could be across the state, or across the country. routes would be much more direct and accessible than current amtrak service. this would supplement highway travel, not replace it.
existing nationwide interstate highway construction consistencies would appear to be a good fit for rail service down either side of the interstate, or possibly in the center median. bridges could be modified to allow trains to use existing interstate overpasses. traffic and fuel consumption could be reduced as more folks park their cars for medium and long distance trips.

off-the-shelf hardware could make this a reality. no technological advances would be needed, just social and political will. there is an organization that is looking a few steps beyond the proposal outlined here, and it is worth looking to see what the future of this type of rail service could evolve into, if acted upon.
http://www.interstatetraveler.us/

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rethinking the carpool

sat, 10 sep 2011 15:08:11 +0000

here’s a scenario. you’re on a 500+ mile road trip with your family. all of a sudden you’re feeling sleepy at the wheel and still got to reach the destination in time. now think about a service where you can pull into a rest area kind of a place where there is this big truck which can carry multiple cars for a long distance and you can take a nap or watch a movie with your family and still reach the destination in time. if we can apply this scenario to all those cars travelling in the same direction on a particular freeway in any given hour, we will be able to group 20+ cars onto a platform where they can relax, talk, play or watch a favorite movie for a price. with gas prices hitting $4-$5 mark i’m thinking it’s an affordable service to have.

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reform transporation laws to encourage fuel conservation

fri, 14 jan 2011 12:30:51 +0000

why is that, in politics, no-brainers are usually non-starters.

(1) lowering the interstate speed limit to 55 mph (and enforcing it) would save thousands of lives and i don’t know how many billions of barrels of oil without sacrificing the sacrosanct american standard of living.

(2) between 2002 and 2008, the feds doled out $72 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel industries and $29 billion for renewables (half of which was for ethanol which is quite possibly even worse than oil)–see eli.org.

(3) when gas hit $4 gallon, people gave up their suvs and manufacturers dropped plans for new models. when gas prices dropped, suv sales went up. americans have short memories–keep a floor of at least $4/gallon under the price of gas and we’ll see sustained policy shifts.

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