One Year of Blogging

Today the blog turns one year in age and time.

It has been an amazing experience and look forward to pursue sustainable transportation as an area of blogging for years to come!

Free Car Parks

Reading an article on www.nytimes.com came to my realisation the simple implication or the role that car parks play in a metropolitan.

Written by Tyler Cowen, economics professor at George Mason University, mentions - by increasing parking costs in public parking spaces, automobile owners would be a whole lot more conscious about their driving habits.

This would culminate into sensible and timely use of their cars. Which would act as a means to cut emissions, ease traffic tensions and also improve land use.

Directly imposing the cap and trade system or a direct carbon tax might not be acceptable for majority of the world. Thus, implementing a policy which ensures a cost to parking is a small though effective means to reduce carbon emissions.

Neat thought!



Photo Link - http://www.cweb1.co.uk/

Hybrid Planes

Aeroscraft ML866, a prosposed hybrid airship to be built by the Worldwide Aeros Corporation.

Hybrid planes are to determine the future of air and even space flight. These planes are of different characteristics.

It basically means an alternative means to propel the engine, which would be even more fuel efficient and sustainable in nature, from the existing modes of flight fuel. This is done by including the aerodynamic lift to the body and fixing lighter-than-air (LTA) technology. As a result these planes would be light weight

There have been concept flights made and all of which have been successful.

Picture taken from - http://www.momist.com/uploaded_images/Aeroscraft-ML866-706360.jpg

Electric Planes

In the essence of hybrid, solar and electric automobiles, there has been a distinct critical effort in making air transportation green and e-friendly.

Similar to electric vehicle technology, aviators are being designed in ways that the propellers save energy, boosting the batteries while descending, as seen in electric cars while braking.

Also, hybrid aircrafts use a small combustion engine as a "range extender", generating power to the electric motor.

Here are two examples -



Yuneec International - http://yuneeccouk.site.securepod.com/



Lange Aviation - http://www.lange-aviation.com/

Pictures taken from - http://gabinete.org.ar/Setiembre_2009/yuneec-e430.jpg and http://news.cnet.com/i/ne/p/2008/Antares20E_550x412.jpg

TM - TMC

Toyota Motors Corporation


Tesla Motors



Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation have decided to venture into producing electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support.

Toyota's efforts at spreading green transport habits have been a distinct hit, seen by the 2.5 million hybrid Prius sales since 1997. Now, they find sense in expanding the periphery by introducing electric vehicles to the existing sustainable transport market. At the same time, Tesla would experience a new market. The cost of these Tesla vehicles would be marginalized to make them "affordable" and produce a demand in new markets. The venture is backed by Toyota purchasing $50 million of Tesla shares.

This venture will instill the reality of global warming across nations.

Response to Education Times articles

I am grateful to all those who read my articles in The Education Times and I would like to highlight what they had to say -

1) "Saahil has done a wonderful job! Congratulations!!"

- Professor Sanjay Deshmukh, Head of Life Sciences Department, Mumbai University

2) "Good effort. Cogent. Practical and will connect well with the young readers."

- Indrajit Gupta, Editor, Forbes India

3) "I was delighted to read your articles in the Education Times special edition.
They are practical and well researched and written. Its quite a coup getting so
much print space. You make us proud!!"

- Manjula Rao, Climate Change coordinator, British Council, India

4) "Excellent article, has highlighted problems concerning power, energy, global
warming. You have explained these issues with household appliances. More
importantly, suggested solutions on it. I feel some hope for the globe when I
see young and sensible boys like you who are raising their voice for a better
tomorrow."

- Vikas Naik, Private Assistant to Editor in chief, Loksatta

5) "Hi, congrats! Very informative article, well writen and in good style. Lots of
good wishes."

- Doctor Meena Dave, Senior executive, Pharmaceutical industry

6) "Hi Saahil, my heartiest compliments for freshness of ideas and positive thinking
about Mumbai's environment friendly traffic by 2025. Such positive ideas are
indeed comendable and make Mumbai a better place to live in. I myself have seen
the transformation of Delhi from a gas chamber to a liveable city, with more and
more CNG buses and Delhi Metro. in Arizona, USA there is a seperate lane on
highways for bicycles, though its use is very limited. Probably, more important
is awareness about environment. Brilliant ideas from thinking youngsters. Keep
it up. Tomorrow is yours."

- Jyotindra Shah, President, Sevenseas enterprises

7) "Hi Saahil. I read your article. I quite liked it since it did not suggest big
things for power conservation but simple and managable steps that can be
practiced on individual level. Keep it up and keep writing."

- Harshada Pote, MSc Physics, Kalina University

8) "Hey Saahil! Very nice work on the article! It seemed professional. Keep up the
good work! Cheers!"

- Dinakar Kulkarni, D.J Sanghvi College of Engg, Mumbai University


I thank everyone above.

Education Times article on Sustainable Transportation

This is my article on sustainable transportation. It is focused on sustainable transport in India.