<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; "><div style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leander1.jpg" class="image" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(6, 69, 173); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; "></a></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><br></span></font></div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">The LRT vehicles would be the most prominent and newsworthy feature of the LRT system. So it is fortuitous that the major sustainable innovative IDEAS would be mostly on the vehicle and not the track system. This will help maximize the likelihood of initial and continuing success -- for ourselves and in the World's eyes. </div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">A strategy of initial best possible technologies and continuously upgrading in a cost-effective manner using new appropriate technologies -- especially a more sustainable off-grid propulsion system -- will help ensure best-possible performance and a perpetual World-class rating.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">The Perimeter Institute's recent EQUINOX Conference indicated the necessity to ASAP globally implement reliable, safe, renewable, and non-carbon sources of energy in a conserving manner if we are to continue Humanity's complex advancement. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; ">(e.g."A Paradigm Shift Towards Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport", </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://www.itdp.org/documents/A_Paradigm_Shift_toward_Sustainable_Transport.pdf)">http://www.itdp.org/documents/A_Paradigm_Shift_toward_Sustainable_Transport.pdf)</a></span></div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">The Region's current LRT plan is counter to this objective. It calls for a LRT vehicle that uses very basic electrical technologies that date back to early streetcars -- a DC electric motor and an overhead wire (catenary) for DC power. This approach would use the current electrical grid as a power source which involves mostly carbon-energy and other potentially unsafe means of power generation. And carbon-caused worsening storms will make large generating plants and their transmission lines less stable.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">Further, as a power-grid based approach, it is also subject to large rate increases especially during daytime use. And to build a catenary power system would represent about one quarter of the project capital costs.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">These electrical power source problems could be solved in an exemplary manner if we used <b>new smart technologies</b> -- especially propulsion systems proven in the auto industry. Although lagging auto makers, many LRT vehicle manufacturers are currently using various propulsion energy approaches (including smaller bench-type all-battery LRT's from 2 Japanese manufacturers).</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">I am suggesting that a combination energy approach is best for the sake of reliability (independence, redundancy, ...), operating costs (self-generate energy), up-grading (exponential advances, modular design) and modeling (SI education locally and globally). Here are my initial best suggestions:</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">1. <b>Batteries</b> as the primary on-board energy source because they enable grid-independence via charging by large banks of solar cells with stationary vanadium flow batteries at terminals and central maintenance yard. This technology is finally improving rapidly as evidenced by the new Nissan Leaf (lithium ion battery, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Leaf#Battery)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Leaf#Battery)</a>. But now arrives Germany's government-proven extraordinary Lithium-Metal-Polymer Battery (vanadium cathode) whose high-performance design allows for a relatively much smaller and lighter battery, <a href="http://gmvolt.com/forum/showthread.php?5538-DBM-s-Lithium-Metal-Polymer-Battery">http://gmvolt.com/forum/showthread.php?5538-DBM-s-Lithium-Metal-Polymer-Battery</a>;</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">2, <b>Ultra-capacitors</b> (efficient, fast, light, long-lasting, ...) for capturing braking energy, then releasing it to assist in vehicle acceleration. Suggested use of off-vehicle form so as to conserve LRT vehicle space and to minimize exposure to electro-magnetic fields from high "power" flows. (Note use of on-board form -- and primary grid-dependent energy source -- by Spanish manufacturer CAF, <a href="http://www.nesscap.com/news/press_view.jsp?seq=96.)">http://www.nesscap.com/news/press_view.jsp?seq=96.)</a>;</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">3. <b>Hydrogen V-10 combustion engine</b> used by small Ford in-production buses, <a href="http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=20332">http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=20332</a>. When connected to an electricity generator, it could be used for emergency power, topping-up battery, heating, air-conditioning, lighting and other power uses -- as needed. The use of hydrogen in a transit system would help prepare the community for the greater use of hydrogen in fuel cells. The Green Box waste could be used to produce methane, then in cooperation with a new local business, produce hydrogen (and carbon composite-grade carbon feed). This would help familiarize local governments, businesses and citizens with the use and generation of hydrogen -- perhaps catalyzing entrepreneurs to create new hydrogen and carbon composite businesses ;</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; ">4.<b> Solar cells on the vehicle roof</b>, an in-production hybrid car technology with a 2 to 3 year payback, could be used to spare both the primary battery and hydrogen, <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/solar_hybrid_ca.php">http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/solar_hybrid_ca.php</a>.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><br></div><div style="font-size: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; "></span></div></span></div></div></body></html>