Electric Vehicle Promoter Lays Out Radical Transportation System for U.S. Cities
By Scott Doggett January 27, 2009
By Scott Doggett, Contributor
Every so often someone comes up with a plan that, despite its merits, is so far out it doesn't stand a chance of being realized and is eventually placed in a landfill.
We suspect Tony Locricchio's plan will go that way - and we aren't convinced that it shouldn't.
The Hawaii attorney and electric-vehicle proponent on Monday presented a pod of reporters with a dress rehearsal of the pitch he'll make to the general public tonight at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
And the plan is a doosey. Titled "Time Is of the Essence: Changing America's Transportation and Power Alternatives," it requires American households, neighborhoods, cities and other entities to adopt an entirely different approach to transportation.
Households would be expected to shed at least one of the 2.3 petrol-consuming automobiles they now possess and buy at least one zero-emissions, electric-propelled vehicle such as a Land Glider 3-wheeled open-air scooter or a 3-wheeled, 2-occupant NearCar, which Locricchio says can be had for less than $3,000.
Direct or by LiFT
These EVs could take you directly where you'd want to go, or you could drive them into bus-resembling Land interlink Ferry Transports (LiFTs), which would transport your vehicle and a bunch of others on existing freeways to scheduled stops. From there, you'd drive the rest of the way to your destination.
The cost savings to you would be substantial, Locricchio insists, and think of all climate-changing tailpipe emissions that wouldn't go into the atmosphere as a result of millions of Americans commuting to and from work this way.
The vehicles would be powered by swappable batteries, which would be recharged using converted wind and/or solar energy. Locricchio held one up; it was no bigger than a small typewriter case - or 52 iPods taped together, for those of you born after 1985.
Wondering how you and your significant other could possibly live without two honkin' SUVs? Locricchio has an answer: Neighborhoods would set up vehicle-sharing programs that would enable neighbors to share trucks, vans and/or other larger vehicles.
Of course, lots of city, county, state and federal agencies would have to get on board with the program for it to really succeed. But that shouldn't be a problem, right?
Standing at a podium before the handful of journalists, Locricchio said he is occasionally accused of being called a futurist. When that happens, he says he likes to reply, "I'm not a futurist. I'm a right-nowist."
That could be. Maybe he is a right-nowist. We encourage you to view his plan and decide for yourself.
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Like *that* will ever happen.
And this is better than putting a bicycle on a bus because...
Since when is putting a 2000lb (batteries are heavy) vehicle on a transport vehicle more efficient than putting a 200lb person on a transport vehicle.
"NearCar, which Locricchio says can be had for less than $3,000."
Yea right.
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