from the future looking back in time - safe energy project · august 2016 – v9 bob beth – erik...
TRANSCRIPT
ClimateCoachConsortium“Backcast”
FromtheFutureLookingBackinTime
August2016–v9 BobBeth–ErikBigelow 1
It’stheyear2025andtheSanFranciscoBayAreamodelofClimateCoachRapidTransit“CCRT”hastakenoffinmetropolitanareasglobally.Thistransformationinmobilitywasledbytheawesometechcompaniesof“SiliconValley”includingAlphabet(Google),Apple,Ebay,ElectronicArts,Facebook,Genentech,LinkedIn,Salesforce,Yahoo,andselectothers,whoco-createdtheClimateCoachConsortium.Thesecompaniesrecognizedthemutualbenefitandsocietalvalueincomingtogethertocreatevolumedemandintheirownemployeecommuterbusfleetsforazerocarbon,quiet,highlycomfortablecommutercoachpoweredbybatteryandhydrogenfuelcellelectricpropulsionthatcametobecalledaClimateCoach.Apositiveconsequenceofthescaleorvolumecreatedbyaggregatingordersfromprivatetechcompanies,wasthatcostscamedownhugely,andpublictransitagencybecameabletoaffordtheirownClimateCoaches.
ArtistRenderingofFuturisticBus(Image:ConstantinDanilenko)
Thehighpreference,evenimperative,ofMillennialsfornotwastingtimeandmoneyowningordrivingprivatecars,wasonekeyreasontechcompanieshadtoinitiallycreatetheirowncommutercoachfleets,growingrapidlyfromabout2,000employeepassengersin2011to8,500employeepassengersbyearly2016.Onceadoptedintothefleets,zerocarbon,quiet,smoothridingClimateCoachesbecamesocoolandsomuchmoresensible,thatevenformerprivatecarcommutersabandonedtheircarsinfavorofridingandcommuningontheClimateCoaches.ThissignificantreductionintrafficplusutilizingexistingcentermedianstripseitherfreedupormaderoomforafreewaylaneineachdirectiononallthemajorhighwaysintheSFBayAreatobededicatedtoClimateCoaches,sotheirtimebetweendestinationsjustkeptgettingbetterandbetter.
ClimateCoachConsortium“Backcast”
FromtheFutureLookingBackinTime
August2016–v9 BobBeth–ErikBigelow 2
AlongwiththerolloutofthefirstClimateCoacheswasthedevelopmentofthelargesthydrogenrefuelingstationeverbuilt.Thestationwasoriginallybuilttoservethefirst50busfleet,butwithcarefulplanningforexpansion,thestationnownotonlyservesdramaticallymoreClimateCoachesasdemandhasgrown,butthestationisalsoakeyregionalhydrogenstationservingtheevergrowingpassengercarmarket.Akeygoalofthehydrogenstationwasthecreationofafullyzeroemissionfuelcycle,andwiththecoordinatedinstallationofalargesolararray,allfuelcanbeproducedwithnocarbonemissions.Withthehighvolumeofhydrogenhandledonsite,thisbecameknownasthelowestcostplaceforcarstofillaswell.TheBayAreaturnedlemonsintolemonade.Theytookthemessofsuburbansprawl,itshorrifictraffic,andtheimperativeofclimatechange,andgotbehindasensible,andmostimportantly,affordabletodisadvantagedcommunities,“MobilityonDemand”visioninsteadofcontinuingtheformerbusinessasusualinsanity.
ClimateCoachConsortium“Backcast”
FromtheFutureLookingBackinTime
August2016–v9 BobBeth–ErikBigelow 3
CCRTisevocativeoftheBusRapidTransit“BRT”thatwasfirstprovensuccessfulinCuritiba,Brazilinthe1960’swhenCuritibaintroducedBRTasalowcostalternativetofixedrailandasapillartotheirTransit-OrientedDevelopment.
“JaimeLernerofCuritibainBrazilhasplacedthecityonthemapasaleadingglobalexampleinurbansustainability.DuringhisthreetermsasmayorofCuritibaandgovernorofParaná,heandhis teammadegreatstridesbothinprotectingtheenvironmentandinelevatingthespiritofthecity.UndertheleadershipofLerner,histeamdesignedanewmaster plan that integrated land use and transport, introducedthe BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), increased green space, and madepioneeringefforts inrecycling.The idea thatLernerproposed– thattransportshouldbebothefficient,affordableandsustainable,therebyhelping cities by focusing on health and community – inspiredinnovations across the city and taught a lesson to cities across theglobe.”
Curitibahadtheadvantageofavisionarymayorwhenthecitywasstillmoregreenfieldthannot.TheSanFranciscoBayAreahadtoworkwithexistingsuburbansprawlandwidefreeways.SFinnovatorsnoticedthatcitiessuchasBogotahadtransformedtheirtransportationsituationafterthefactwithlimitedresources,andfiguredifBogotacoulddoit,SFcoulddoit.Ittookvisionandcollaboration,puttingvalueonthegoodofall.
ClimateCoachConsortium“Backcast”
FromtheFutureLookingBackinTime
August2016–v9 BobBeth–ErikBigelow 4
AtthetransithubsorClimateCoachstops,plentyofhighlyworkableandlowcostapproachestotheLastMileemergedrangingfromelectricbikestosmalldriver-lessvehicles.
BeforelongtheprinciplesofTransitOrientedDevelopmentenabledbyClimateCoachRapidTransitsetthestageforconcentratingre-developmentanddensity,especiallyincludingaffordablehousing,nearthehubsfreeingupspaceforallsortsofmagicaltransformationsofpreviouslypoorlyusedlandresources.Communitiesregainedtheirdiversityandmorepubliccommonsbecameaccessibletoall.Andeveryonelivedhappilyeverafter…
So,whenandhowdidthisamazingtransformationbegin?
ClimateCoachConsortium“Backcast”
FromtheFutureLookingBackinTime
August2016–v9 BobBeth–ErikBigelow 5
Reallyitallbeganin2016whenpassionateindividualswithinSiliconValley’shightechcommunity,whowereactivelyevangelizingandleadingsustainabilityinitiatives,eagerlyacceptedtheinvitationtopartnerstrategicallybasedonthevisionforaClimateCoachConsortium.Severalkeytechcompanieswerealreadypositivelyimpactingtransportationsustainability,aspositivelyasthenpossible,byoperatingandrapidlygrowingtheircommuterbusfleetsandutilizingtheleastpollutingbiodieselbusesavailable.Theyjumpedattheopportunitytocollaborateincreatinganextgenerationzerocarboncoach.ThevisionfortheConsortiumhadbeenincubatedattheWorldBusinessAcademywww.worldbusiness.organdtookformwhentheCenterforTransportationandtheEnvironment“CTE”www.cte.tvreadilyjoinedwhathasnowbecomeaglobalmovementandtransformation.ThefirststepwasformallycreatingaProgramwithinCTEthatoutlinedindrafthowtheConsortiumwouldachieveitsmissionandgoalswhichincludedbeginningwithcallingforaconfidentialassessmentoftheroutesoperated,fleetssizesandriderdestinations,sothatproperUseCasescouldbearticulatedbeforeroughingupinitialdesignconcepts;conceptsthatwouldignitetheimaginationofthepassionateonesatthetechcompanies.Conversationsaroundstrategicpartneringwerefosteredamongainitialgroupofpeoplewhoseemedlikelytocometodeveloppassionforthisconcept,ledfirstbytheMountainViewChamberofCommerce’sthenPresident,TonySiress.InvitationsforstrategicpartneringandinputweresenttocarefullyselectedcommunitymemberswhosepassionswerehighlyalignedwiththoseoftheConsortium.Thisledtostrategicinputandcollectiveinvolvementinrefiningtheconceptfromtheviewpointofwholesystemdesignandaneventualprogramgrantapplication–allofwhichwasenormouslyhelpful.Severalfoundationsandtechcompaniesbecamestrategicpartners,andseveralthensteppeduptofundingtheprogram.Ofcoursetherewasalotofinspiredthinkingandfollow-throughcollaborationonimplementationplans,butthisistheessenceofthestory.Ifyou’reinspiredbythisvisionandwishtocollaboratewithus,[email protected]