There have been many, many attempts in cities worldwide to transform their city to become a more sustainable city - whether it is their waste/sewage system, housing development designs, urban city structure to also transportation network. Abu Dhabi has introduced their newly proposed transportation vehicle - Podcars.
Podcars are a form of PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) that function as electric taxis for local residents.
What is it like riding in a Podcar?
You will swipe a smart card through a machine at a station in the city and a welcome message will appear. It could greet you personally "Good morning, where would you like to go today?" and the system could even remember your usual daily path and offer it to you as an option for more convenience. After you select your destination, the system will direct you to your car, e.g. "Your car is arriving in 2 minutes at platform number 1".
Is it a more efficient and sustainable form of public transport?
Podcars wouldn't create any air pollution at all therefore help decrease greenhouse gas emissions to the air, which would also contribute to stop climate change. Lithium-phosphate batteries keep the car going for 60km on only 1.5 hour charge which allow each vehicle to take 40 trips without recharging. Podcars will travel at speeds of approximately 7 meters per second. The efficient little cars could operate 135,000 trips every day, offering people on a more private, comfortable public transportation experience.
What are the benefits from riding these cars?
- More sustainable form of transport
- They are driver-less! so if you are stuck in traffic, you can sit in comfort and privacy of your car, doing other productive things
- PRT is a 24-hour service - so they run on-peak as well as off-peak hours. More efficient for the city than running empty buses all night
- Improve personal security for local residents - no waiting all night long for a bus to arrive.
So what's the problem with Podcars?
Very expensive! The extra infrastructures required to successfully operate Podcars around a city are simply too costly for most cities worldwide.
Now, do you think Auckland City could benefit from the use of Podcars?
Personally, I very much dislike the current public transportation offered within the city. Buses are not only too costly for a form of public transport, but they are also very unreliable and inconvenient. I have experienced hours-long wait at the bus stop just to realise that the two buses I have waited will never come and there are NO other alternative form of public transport after midnight to North Shore City from the CBD. Many daily day buses have also not turned up, leaving many local residents frustrated waiting for hours at the bus stop.
I do believe Podcars could benefit many Auckland residents in saving time and money when compared to using private vehicles. However, this will not be seen any time soon in New Zealand as there is no way we can afford such advanced transportation systems.
Still intrigued? Check this out !!!
What do you think?
Hmm I dont see how they will fit all those podcars on so few rails (i.e. the 3rd photo in) hmm?
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of monorails which are generally cheap and nasty. Maybe a more translatable idea would be the completeing of the CDB rail loop which the new Auckland Council is proposing but central government doesn't want to help fund :(
ReplyDeleteThsi rail loop will be electric too so good for the envt too :)
I reckon it would be amazing if Auckland could sort themselves out enough to invest in something along the lines of these- but similar to the problem we have with completing the rail loop and connecting Auckland suburbs with rails there is a lack of space for this sort of initiative. Alsp, like geo said, it would be a costly investment and we already have trouble getting the government to commit to a rail loop. Have pod cars been implemented in any cities around the world or is it just an idea? I remember there was a candidate going to super mayor who proposed something similar to these and i thought it sounded like the most out there idea that would be an absolute mission to implement...
ReplyDeleteYes I was very disappointed in hearing about the lack of funding the central government would give to Auckland Council! As Auckland is the biggest city in NZ with the biggest population and highest chance of becoming the NZ's first "World Class International City", I believe any single improvement for its public transportation should be one of the government's top priorities. The CBD rail loop would've been a great improvement!
ReplyDeleteAnd yess, Podcars have become reality in Heathrow Airport in London connecting the airport terminals to the business carpark. Want to see photos ??
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/heathrow-taxi-pods-become-a-glorious-driverless-reality/
This is a really cool idea! I wish we can have them in Auckland but I know that it is impossible. If the government doesn't want to fund the rail loop there's no way they will for this idea either.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was only a concept so I was amazed to see that there are podcars in London! Thanks for the link! It goes to show that it can be done in real life.