Global Warming, Lifestyle, Energy, Economy, Population, Pollution, Future Generation, Human Survival, 2206 AD?

Question

Friend........
If any of this words relate to you, get involved.
None of us alone can make any change to what’s happening and what is the future, and there is no meaning for me to talk about things which are already been discussed all around the world.
So I will skip all the question and also don’t want to argue about why the government is not doing this and why the rich country is doing that. I have been thinking of a small and simple way of eco-transport which doesn’t use any fossil fuel what so ever. I will try to be brief and express my views about it in brief points.

India 1/6th of the earths population.
Mega Metro Cities like Bombay & Delhi.
One of the most polluted cities in the world.
Transportation is the key factor for the economy of every city.
Public transport like trains, bus, taxis, rickshaw cabs & Bicycle.

Lets blend rickshaw & bicycle to make a hybrid tricycle with pedal power and electric motors/batteries.

Already there are Electric Rickshaws running in different cities of India.
http://nariphaltan.virtualave.net/itm00009.htm (Electric Powered)
http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/?p=1625 (Electric solar tuk-tuk rickshaw)

This rickshaws can cost anywhere between 15k to 75k, still its cheap and can do the same job on busy city roads as it wont use energy when its not moving. The first thrust can be given by pedal power so it won’t use more electric power and when in motion the motors can move it to longer distance with very less pedal assistance. Now the next thing is how to charge the batteries and what would it cost. Using the electric power is again a use of fossil fuel so what can be done. What if we can generate the needed energy to recharge the batteries without the use of main grid electric power. One of the solution can be solar/wind charging stations at A & B points.

The E-trikshaw doesn’t need to be waiting to get charged, multiple batteries can be charged at the stations and the batteries can be replaced when the ET (E-trikshaw) arrives to refuel. Lets talk about few benefits. Zero pollution, Zero noise, No fuel import, More road space, Employments at different stages. The normal rickshaw walas can be still the rickshaw walas but few more people can be employed at the stations to generate power with a pedal powered electric generators which can charge the batteris. The current fuel price per liter is much higher then paying someone per hour to pedal those generators to charge the rechargeable batteries. Solar power and wind power can also be used where the locations are favorable, even bio-gas energy can be used to generate the needed energy and the raw material for bio-gas is easy to get in densely populated areas. It can be anything from waste food to any sort of organic waste.

http://www.ashdenawards.org/media_summary06_india_arti

Now friends.. who ever have came till this line must have got the idea what I want my view on this is. Any feedback and corrections are welcome.
I want to get involved into this and without friends like you, it can never happen. So please share your ideas and experience and information so that we can make it happen.

I am right now in Cambridge UK, but I am coming to India in Nov and will be starting to work on this project ASAP. I have managed for the funds at the first phase of the project to build a prototype so that I don’t need to wait for funds from external sources. I have created a blog so that interested individuals can share ideas and interact.

Friends who are only after getting points to answer all the question on yahoo shold try to answer in one word like "Hello" and not try to demotivate me or others who might be intrested. Thank you.

Answer 1

Congratulations for your concern and your enthusiasm on this, the greatest threat to humanity that we have ever faced. I think your idea of the e-rickshaw is good. One difficulty that you will face in getting the Americans onboard this and other sensible energy concepts is that American cities are poorly designed. The chief problem is they tend to be vast sprawling wastelands where no one neighborhood has all it needs for people to be able to easily walk or bike to the store, so to speak. And, in case you haven't studied much American environmental history, the US lacks anything resembling efficient, effective mass transit: the auto companies, oil companies, and the US government co-conspired to eliminate most mass transit that existed during the 40's and 50's. It will take someone with vision, entrepreneurial expertise, and sheer capital to invest in retooling both the US's urban designs and mass transit infrastructure. This, of course, must be done, but we are literally in a race against extinction... whether we want to acknowledge it or not. We need to do what we can do right now, and pressure those with the resources to change those bigger issues that are out of our individual control.

Below are some sites with excellent advice. I hope you find them useful. Many scientists are becoming increasingly grim about our chances of survival, but most still suggest that we are still in a window where change is possible. WE MUST ACT NOW.

Answer 2

By the year 2206 the world will certainly have run out of oil, at least oil that is cheap to get from the ground. Also, by that time new energy sources will have been developed. Maybe fusion power, maybe bio fuel, maybe space solar power, maybe very efficient and cheap ground based solar power, probably some new technology we have not even though of yet. This will happen not only because technology inevitably advances but also because with the absence of cheap oil it will be necessary.

Answer 3

I like your idea about the tricycle.
No real disagreement on your question though I could legimately argue facts against global warming.

However, I too hope we can get more hybrids or even full electric.
The problem still is that many car/truck makers still are ignoring public demand and are still producing big trucks & cars, and still filling wharehouses with cars/trucks instead of selling them.

Example: Toyota sells so much that they rarely have time to fill the wharehouses, and per that tend to not need them.

Answer 4

I have a far more positive future outlook. We will not be pedaling tricicles like some throwback to the 17th century. Power will be plentiful by todays standards and it will be clean. Technology and automation will make us wealthy healthy and wise. For all those who have visions of gloom and doom, just remember that there have always been pesimists but just look how far we have come.

Answer 5

I'm going to trade in my truck for a pedal powered trike?

Yeah, I don't think that is going to work. What happens next time I have to move a yard of sand or a load of lumber, or just my family.

Answer 6

Don't waste you time with this..