JPods PRT vehicles to run on track under solar panel canopy
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Renderings of what production JPods might look like
An early demo model JPod proving to be a cosy fit for six passengers
The demo model's bogie features two 1-watt electric motors and sits inside the overhead rail track
Junction switching possibilities explored
The JPod is suspended beneath an overhead rail structure, which would be topped with photovoltaic panels
Drawing of a JPod station at Kenberma in Massachusetts
A user tries out the touchscreen control system of the JPod demo unit
A short rail working demo unit has been built to demonstrate various operational aspects of the JPods concept
Bill James explains the operation of the touchscreen control system
The JPods demo unit bogie
The demo model's bogie sits inside the overhead rail track
The computer-chauffeured pods pick up power from a third rail using brushes
The JPods demo unit bogie
Bill James says that production JPods are likely to have motors of 700-watts to 6.5 kilowatts, depending on need, and will run at speeds of up to 30 mph
Drawing showing a JPod vehicle powered by two bogies
Flowchart detailing the conversion and storage of solar energy as synthetic gas, which would then be used to power distributed power networks
The JPods concept centers around a four to six seat electric vehicle suspended beneath an overhead rail structure, which is topped with photovoltaic panels
Rendering showing the scale of a production JPod and components
Article Summary
Autonomous vehicles and personal transportation pods featured quite heavily in our recent round-up of the Top Ten railways of the future, and the JPods concept from Bill James has both. At the center of the scheme is a driverless, on-demand electric four to six seat vehicle suspended beneath an overhead rail structure, which is topped with photovoltaic panels. A user would let the JPod know the desired location via a touchscreen interface and the vehicle's networked computer system would determine the best route and motor there without further input from the passenger.
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