Solar Shuttle

Thomas reflects on his experience seeing the Solar Shuttle

The city of London has roots that stretch back centuries, but as a city it is poised for the future like few others. It is trending towards the environmentally sustainable model that will be the usual in the world of the future. I set out to find this green mindedness within the swath of London around me. 

In Hyde Park I found a clear example of the innovative technology of the next age. It was a truly self-sustaining shuttle that floated the lazy Serpentine Pond amidst the geese. It was a shuttle covered with a canopy of glass and 27 solar PV cells. The PV cells use semiconductor technology to convert the sun’s energy into usable electricity. That electricity then powers a battery optimized to run the full functions of the shuttle, transportation, music, lighting, and other equipment. This equipment can turn the average, every-half-hour-on-the-half-hour shuttle ride, into quite a party boat. 

The Solar Shuttle is not all fun though; it eliminates over 3900 lbs of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year compared with a traditional diesel powered shuttle of the similar size. And even if the sun is shaded the PV cells are sensitive enough to power the boat at ambient light levels. And do not think that this machine is merely publicity stunt to satisfy the hippies, the economics make sense too. The machine did cost approximately 15% more but the cost would be saved in fuel in right 3 short years of the machine's over 10 year lifespan. And at the end of that lifespan I hope to see many other cities following the initiative that has begun to transform London.