ecstaticist

The aviation industry is in for some bad news, and the world just might grow a little larger again if we do the right thing for a change. It seems the commuter jet is a big culprit in atmospheric degradation and climate change.

This should come as no suprise, but we typically think of automobiles and big industry as the main culprits. Hybrid vehicles are becoming more common while alternate fuel aircraft are in only very early infancy. The big winner in the alternate fuel transportation contest might be the train, and as we start to de-carbonize our economies, the train may emerge as the high-speed transport of choice.

Maglev trains currently travel up to 550kph. Not as fast as commercial jets. Yet. Maglev trains run on electricity. This means they can continue to operate normally as power generation changes and becomes less carbon-based. Maglevs are most efficient when they connect two large centres - much like commercial jets. They are in early-stage implementation in Japan, China, France, Germany, and are primarily for passenger travel right now. Commercial transport usage is beginning in Germany.

As we start to finally come around to the idea that our economic activities must be evaluated using appropriate and truthful cost-benefit analysis, carbon-based fuel propulsion will become as quiant as steam engines are today, and a necessary evil in a few areas, perhaps intercontinental travel.

But who knows what may be in store for intercontinental travel? Luxury airships might make a comback with spacious and entertaining passenger cabins, while virtually unlimited lift capacity means propulsion source is variable. They could also integrate solar cells into the exterior skin. An airship can make a trans-atlantic transit in 25-30 hours presently, and could make better time with better design.

Fuel cell passenger submarines with on-board hydrogen plants?

Tethered orbital transportation networks power by solar energy?

One thing is for sure: it is becoming evident that sky, indeed, may be the limiting factor in global travel, and trains may be the next and best way to achieve life in the fast lane.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 21st, 2005 at 9:03 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.