A UK firm has developed a parking canopy with solar panels that generate electricity, which can be used to charge electric vehicles (as well as possibly power the building or be sold to the electric company). Launch in the UK is expected for June of this year. I’m imagining in the year 20??, people with these parking canopies renting out their parking space when they aren’t using it, to other electric vehicle drivers for a nice price! And those drivers get a convenient parking spot and a charge.
Talking Cars
As this Wired article mentions, the first thing many people think of when they hear talking cars is Knight Rider.
But, the ‘talking cars’ that are being developed now are pretty interesting. It involves developing car-to-car communications, where vehicles can communicate with each other and with drivers.
Talking cars aim to warn drivers of potential collisions, and the system would minimize traffic jams and curb emissions by more effectively managing traffic to avoid congestion.
The U.S. has goals of a system “where cars talk to each other and to us in a network designed to increase safety, reduce congestion and manage traffic.” But, apparently the progress has been very slow.
However, Australian startup, Cohda Wireless, is saying that talking cars could be on the road as soon as 2012.
Can you imagine the possibilities of what cars might be saying to each in 100 years?
Solar-Powered Parking Meters
San Diego is testing out solar-powered parking meters that “are more environmentally friendly, and allow for better parking management statistics, ease of control over parking meter rates, and better displays.”
The city is also testing new parking sensors that work with the solar-powered meters to track parking activity at individual spaces.
This sounds good to me – I’m all for more environmentally friendly solutions.
I wonder what the costs are, though. Installation costs? Maintenance costs? Savings over time?
Cities Favor Cars
It's interesting to stop for a second and think about the way cities are built and how they favor cars over people.
Or as transportation planner Timothy Papandreou said, "There’s this cycle of automobile dependency. You have to have a place to park at home, a place to park at work, and a place to park at retail establishments.”
We ‘have to’ have a place to park everywhere we go. It’s our mentality and it’s the way cities have been built.
I would agree that this is not a good thing. But, how do you change it? Papandreou suggests a “total eco rehab” is necessary. He might be right, but that’s a lot easier said than done.
I don’t see this changing anytime soon, if ever in my lifetime.
The car of the future is almost here?
Aptera Motors, a Southern California startup, is on target to deliver “an ultra-efficient, high-mileage vehicle without sacrificing comfort and safety” to Californians by October 2009!
“The 2e is an all-electric three-wheeled two-seater that gets the equivalent of 200 mpg and goes 100 miles on a charge. A lithium-ion battery powers an electric motor that can propel the car from zero to 60 in less than 10 seconds on its way to a top speed of 90 mph.”
Personally, I’m not a fan of the design. I guess we’ll see if it has mass appeal.
And apparently the first models will be classified as motorcycles…
But I doubt a parking garage would charge a motorcycle rate. And it doesn’t look like two of these could fit in an on-street spot.
Either way, I am interested to see if this does come out this year!
The World’s Smallest Car?
Check out the pictures of this tiny car.
Not exactly something you’d want to take on a road trip, but it would help solve urban parking problems…
Less Air Pollution, Longer Life
The New England Journal of Medicine has found evidence that Americans are living longer as the air they breathe gets cleaner. “Residents of cities that did the best job cleaning up air pollution showed the biggest jump in life span.”
Auto emissions are one of the main factors that contribute to air pollution.
And studies show that anywhere from 30% to 50% of city traffic is caused by cruising for parking.
And this driving around generates significant emissions. (You might recall the data revealed by Transportation Alternatives last year, where their study found that each year drivers looking for parking in a 15 block area of New York City drive 366,000 miles and generate 325 tons of CO2.)
So, improved parking leads to less driving around, which leads to reduced emissions, and that in turn leads to a longer life. Sounds good to me!
Smart Meters that Call the Police on You
In France, many towns have installed a system that detects the presence of vehicles and alerts police if drivers stay over their allotted time. The smart meter sends a message to a police control room, which then alerts officers.
Not only is this supposed to improve the way the police monitor parking, but the intention is to encourage turnover and thus generate increased customers for businesses.
Apparently, the UK is considering installing a similar system. It’ll be interesting to see if a version makes it to the U.S. anytime soon.
And for us drivers -- you know the [pissed off] feeling you get when you return to your car to find a parking ticket? Imagine getting a text message saying you just got a ticket on your car…
Parking Spot Savers in Boston
“You know the most valuable real estate sits where nobody lives, on the street, next to the curbs in front of homes.” – Boston.com
Every winter when it snows, people in certain neighborhoods of Boston, shovel out their cars and then claim the parking spot with a “spot saver.”
This continues to amuse and amaze me.
For one, it only occurs in certain neighborhoods of the city. Secondly, I wouldn’t dare move someone’s saver and take the spot – I’ve read too many stories about people’s cars getting damaged as a result of doing that. Thirdly, some of the objects that people use to save the spots are ridiculous. The cones and garbage cans make sense, but full dining room sets and row boats. Really?
Lastly, and most importantly, it is ILLEGAL to save a public spot.
Does this go on in other cities?
At least the majority of people know that it’s not right. According to Boston.com’s survey of almost 15,000 people, 56.5% said people should NOT save parking spaces after a snowstorm because “its public property and no one has the right to claim it.” Although 14% of those people do it anyway, because they have nowhere to park if they didn't
Ahh Boston…
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