Date: 15 April 2009
Newsletter, May 2009 A few months have passed since the last newsletter was issued. Some of the things that have happened during this period are summed up below. For more information about Beamways see our website at: www.beamways.com
Beamways appointed as a ”Sustainable Innovators 100” company The organization Globe Forum has included Beamways in its ”Sustainable Innovators 100” list. The list contains 100 companies from 16 countries. The selection was made according to the criterion ”The Sustainable Innovators 100 is formed by innovation companies which we currently find to offer the most exciting sustainable innovations and to be most likely to succeed”. See also: www.globeforum.com
The Beamways cabin takes shape Work with designing the Beamways cabin continues and we are very happy to announce that the Beamways cabin has room for four passengers or two passengers and one wheel chair, one baby carriage or two bikes. There is also ample room for luggage. More images and info at: http://www.beamways.com/en/cabin-design
Beamways AB Westmansgatan 29 SE-582 16 Linköping Sweden
info@beamways.com www.beamways.com T. +46 (0)13-465 10 85
Date: 15 April 2009
Beamways to investigate Podcar network for Uppsala Beamways has been commissioned by the City of Uppsala to investigate a PRT network for the entire City of Uppsala. This is part of a larger investigation where TriVector Traffic investigates trolley and bus options in parallel. The target is to perform a long term analysis of the economic consequences of using the three different public transit modes. This work is to be finished by the end of June. We will use the BeamEd Pro simulator in this work, and it will get new functions as appropriate for the task, including the handling of travel demand matrices etc. Graphical display functions to visualize the simulation results are also developed.
Beamways has participated in several applications to Vinnova Beamways has taken the initiative to several applications for research grants in the “Transit of the Future 2009” program (“Framtidens persontransporter 2009”) together with different partners like VTI (the Swedish Federal Traffic Research Institute), Vectus, TriVector Traffic and Linköping University. The program has about $3 million to spend and a panel with representatives from the government agencies Vinnova (the agency for Innovation Systems), Banverket (rail administration) and Vägverket (road administration) will select which applications to grant. We hope that the outcome for PRT research is more positive than in 2007, when only one PRT project was granted.
Swedish Government appoints Kjell Dahlström as PRT investigator Kjell Dahlström, who in his previous role as director general for SIKA (The Swedish Institute for Transport and Communications Analysis) has been a proponent of PRT and GTS (the nationwide PRT) has been appointed by the Swedish Government to present an investigation of the technical and economical feasibility of PRT. He is also to suggest suitable cities for a pilot track. We have translated the official press release to English:
Appointment before project planning in conjunction with PRT trials Director General Kjell Dahlström is appointed to suggest suitable Cities for project planning for a possible installation of a PRT pilot track. PRT has small rail vehicles which automatically travel wherever each passenger wants. The main idea with PRT is that public transit can be adapted to the individual. In the City network Kompass there is an ongoing development effort to test PRT as a possible public transit solution. Beamways AB Westmansgatan 29 SE-582 16 Linköping Sweden
info@beamways.com www.beamways.com T. +46 (0)13-465 10 85
Date: 15 April 2009
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It is my hope that the appointment that Kjell Dahlström now gets will give us a good foundation for assessing the technical and economic conditions of this transit mode, says minister of transportation Åsa Torstensson.
A compilation of knowledge and an assessment of the current status for PRT systems shall be the basis of the appointment. The selection shall also be based on discussions with the involved Cities and other parties. The appointment shall be coordinated with Banverket (the Rail authority). The appointment result shall be presented to the Department of Business by August 31, 2009.
Ithaca has received $75 000 for a Podcar study Ithaca, NY has received a grant for a first Podcar study from NYSERDA and NYSDOT. This work is to be finished within 2009.
San Jose tugs along while Santa Cruz seems to be losing speed San Jose and Santa Cruz both requested budgetary offers or letters of interest from PRT companies in late 2008. San José has judged that PRT technology is “ready for prime time” and is planning to go ahead with a pilot track. They will appoint a consultant to prepare a request for quotation which is due by year’s end. Santa Cruz apparently works more slowly due to the financial crisis.
PRT conference at Heathrow April 21-23 ATRA arranges a PRT conference at the Heathrow airport, including a test trip on the ULTra system installed there. For more information: http://www.prtatheathrow.com/
Third Podcar City Conference in Copenhagen or Malmö, Dec 2009 The third Podcar City conference is intended to be coordinated with the COP15 Copenhagen conference where the successor to the Kyoto protocol is to be negotiated. Exact dates and venue not yet set. Check out www.podcar.org for more information later.
Beamways AB Westmansgatan 29 SE-582 16 Linköping Sweden
info@beamways.com www.beamways.com T. +46 (0)13-465 10 85