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StumbleuponFuturistic 'MonoMobile' inventors ride into Dayton
> Would you drive this electric car?
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
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Cincinnati inventors Jay Andress and Andy Webster know their MonoMobile looks like something from an episode of "The Jetsons."
Then again, Webster said, "This summer's gas prices have shocked us all into realizing that the future has arrived."
The men are bringing to Dayton on Wednesday, July 2, their concept electric car called the Liberator. It drives on roads using battery power, then could hook to an overhead track for longer travel, allowing the battery to recharge while the driver relaxes or works.
They will be outside the Wright Brothers' Cycle Shop, 22 S. Williams St., at 10 a.m.
"I think what we're trying to do is similar to what the Wright brothers faced in getting new technology accepted," said Andress, 55. "They came up with a very radical idea and developed that into something that is a tremendous asset. We're trying to do a similar thing and facing many similar frustrations."
One major challenge is getting the $10 million they need to build a one-mile demonstration track in Clermont County and two prototype vehicles.
They believe the MonoMobile System they began developing 15 years ago would offer solutions to some of today's biggest problems — freedom from dependence on oil and a 70 percent reduction in transportation global warming gases.
The car could travel 150 miles on $4 of electricity, Andress said.
Building a dual mode system that would follow 46,835 miles of existing interstates would cost $514 billion, according to an analysis by the Texas A&M/Texas Transportation Institute.
But it also could bring $478 billion in annual benefits, including $95 billion in fuel savings and additional savings in areas such as driver productivity, improved safety and congestion relief, the study found.
Right now their concept car is a one-person, three-wheeled electric vehicle Andress bought used in Switzerland and refit to run on a short overhead track he had set up. But the inventors envision a more aerodynamic prototype that would seat four.
Webster's background working with amusement park ride brakes became the key to their switching system, which they said would allow multiple cars to enter and exit the overhead tracks almost seamlessly.
And while they'll be tooling around Dayton in the car Wednesday, they won't be driving it up here on Interstate 75. It will arrive on a trailer.
"Without the electric rail, we don't have the range," Andress said, noting the car's top speed is 35 mph.
To learn more about the MonoMobile, go to www.monomobile.com.
Comments
By Jeff Hughs
July 11, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Actually this is not a new idea by no means as shows such as Back to the Future etc.. showed similar concepts that are crazy.
By Jeff Hughs
July 11, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
The Aptiva which gets between 300 and 330 mpg, AirCars $3 for 300 miles or one cent a mile.
You don’t bring a knife to a gun fight, I think they need to go back to the camp site and stay away from introducing small minded idea’s that are outrageous and not do able. As a couple other users stated on here there are better technologies that exist that makes this look like introducing people back to the horse and buggy days in comparison.
Gee been smoking some bad Weed maybe?
By Scott Anderson
July 11, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
I seen first hand a technology that would cost about a penny a mile or $1.50 per 150 miles that is millions of times better and not restrictive like this on movement along with not having to have ongoing infrastructure maintenance costs added forever.. Good luck finding investors to get this beyond the drawing and planing stage.
By Scott Anderson
July 11, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
What a joke, This by no means is a viable solution there are many better solutions out there at a much lower cost. One I seen talked about on InvestorsPit.com.
The days of governments spending a half a trillion plus on infrastructure are over as the nation in the middle of the next decade won’t even be taking enough tax revenue to pay out medicare & social security and other liabilities that total more the 63 Trillion not counting the 9.4 trillion National debt.
By PAUL JOHNSON
July 11, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
MARGO,
I SAW THE MONOMOBILE ON CHANNEL 19 LAST NIGHT.
I’D LIKE TO HAVE THAT CAR AT THE ENERGY REVOLUTION FREEDOM RALLY TOMORROW AT 12 NOON.
RICHWOOD FLEA MARKET, EXIT #181, & I-75 IN NORTHERN KY.
I’M RUNNING A ONE MINUTE AD ON WKRC AND WLW AND I’M TO BE ON THE BILL CINNINGHAM SHOW AT 1 PM TODAY.
I’D LIKE TO EMAIL MY RADIO AD AND A PRESS RELEASE IF YOU’LL SEND MY YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.
CALL ME IF YOU CAN.
NEVER FORGET,
PAUL JOHNSON WALTON, KY 877-US-9/11-01 859-485-7752
By Christina
July 1, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
I welcome this technology. First, it lowers the impact on the environment. Right now in the USA the national park system is the same size as the highway system. Look it up; this is a fact. A rail would take up a lot less space. Secondly, it would save on fuel costs. Third, it is safer. Cars on the rail cannot collide with one another the way they can on the road. Fourth, it makes transportation faster (100+mph on the rail). Last, it’s the perfect balance of mass transit AND autonomy!
By Christina
July 1, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
I welcome this technology. First, it lowers the impact on the environment. Right now in the USA the national park system is the same size as the highway system. Look it up; this is a fact. A rail would take up a lot less space. Secondly, it would save on fuel costs. Third, it is safer. Cars on the rail cannot collide with one another the way they can on the road. Fourth, it makes transportation faster (100+mph on the rail). Last, it’s the perfect balance of mass transit AND autonomy!
By Christina
July 1, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
I welcome this technology. First, it lowers the impact on the environment. Right now in the USA the national park system is the same size as the highway system. Look it up; this is a fact. A rail would take up a lot less space. Secondly, it would save on fuel costs. Third, it is safer. Cars on the rail cannot collide with one another the way they can on the road. Fourth, it makes transportation faster (100+mph on the rail). Last, it’s the perfect balance of mass transit AND autonomy!
By Jon
July 1, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
I want what happened to all of the forward thinking people that used to live in this area. (Patterson, The wrights, Fraze, Dunbar, Kettering) No wonder why this area is going down the shithole.
By Give It Up
July 1, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
I’m going on record as saying that I will deliberately avoid any event that involves whoever this Papa Ubu/T. Graspar/Bill Pout guy is. Pack up your lunchbox, it’s time to go home!
By MO FROM BORO
July 1, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
The so called inventors from Cinci are a little behind the times. There is a company in Carlsbad, Ca., (Aptera) already testing a combination electric, fuel driven car on the Ca. freeways. It is a 2 seater, 3 wheel vehicle that can get up to 300 miles to the gallon and get up to 65 mph in 10 seconds. Their website is aptera.com. I sent them an e-mail but they haven’t answered me yet. I asked them how would it handle in the rain and snow. The price will $27,000 to $30,000.
By Papa Ubu
July 1, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Dayton backward? What about Bill Pout and the Creative Crass Inanity? They’ve accomplished so little. And the SnoreAgain District? Does Cincy have five downtown art galleries that are never open? Dayton has South Farce, where T.Graspar is flipping crack houses and pocketing the proceeds. Pollyanna has nothing on me!
By felixinKett1
July 1, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
rob in cincy calling dayton “backwards”. how dare you insult this area. have you not heard of Dayton Public Schools, our great mayor, or even taken an evening stroll on Home Ave or maybe out Gettysburg and Hoover. go down to third and main sometime and check us out. plus you insult this board. your attitude makes me sick. we have just as many murders per capita as cin. so who are you anyway?
By dirk sniggler
July 1, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Americans are much too stupid to do anything besides drive themselves into abject poverty.
By Lyle Lanley
July 1, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
By gum, this could put Dayton on the map, just like Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook!
By No Thanks, RTA
July 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Painfultruth - mass transit has great potential, but speaking from personal experience, I avoid it as I like to avoid violent criminals, obnoxious drunks, racist bus drivers (calling your customers “peckerwoods” does little for public relations; nor does it help when the supervisor backs them up), drivers who drive past riders at stops… the problem isn’t mass transit. It’s the people running and riding it.
By BoogieStu
July 1, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Of course I would. I don’t have self esteem problems. If it saved money - I’d drive it.
By Rob Cincy
July 1, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Shawn, are you afraid to ride a harley? Under this logic there should be seperate roads for motor scooters, motorcycles and other alternative vehicles. Also, the tank mentality is what has given us these automobiles that weight much more than they did a decade ago, hence we are not able to reach cafe fuel standards like we were once able. I for one have never been in an accident, driving everyday for 20+ years in very congested circumstances. I’ll concede this is a early stage concept.
By Shawn
July 1, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
It is the lifestyle that needs changing. I’ve seen more advanced elec cars out there, and this is nothing more than a spiffy golf cart that requires city power (at a cost of $$$ to the city). Never going to happen, but it is only a concept, and more advanced technogy/ideas to follow. This along with all other small elec cars would require their own road system (like HOV style lane) because like earlier post said, lawsuit waiting to happen. I’m not going head to head with a semi truck.
By Shawn
July 1, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
It’s a lifestyle change that’s required. There are electric cars out there now, they are called golf carts, and this is nothing more than a golf cart w/ the ability to hook up to city overhead power(of course at a cost of billions of $$-unffeasable). I’ve seen more advanced cars that get higher speeds. Also, for any of these lightweight vehicles to work, they would require a seperate road system. Like said earlier, its a lawsuit waiting to happen. I’m not going head to head with a semi truck.
By Rob Cincy
July 1, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
Another thing, there are studies that say that within ten years the green movement in the U.S. could be in the trillions. Is everyone going to let these dollars land in the haves hands again, the cycle will continue or will you support and/or create your own green ideas to help make new haves that are much more deserving. I think complacency is unpatriotic and there are no patriots left not even john mcain or barack obama are. Wouldn’t you like to step up and be someone who changed things.
By cjd
July 1, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
painfultruth, have you been on a bus lately? They are not empty and ridership is going up.
This is a cool idea. I could see it working if the overhead track became a standard that could support a “pod” carrying 6 or 7 people. And pods were capable of long range off rail, like backup genearator on board. Charge a usage fee at disconnect. fee could be based on power consumed and weight if it affects the wear on the track.
By Rob Cincy
July 1, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Unique concept, notthe best. It as an option for the area they are going (Clermont), where I live. I would most definetly drive/support this. the problem again is americans and their set ways and ideas. I can see from the board that Dayton is much more backwards than even cincy is which is shocking to say the least. This does raise the specter that maybe congress should raise gas to $30/gallon that way people would be forced to accept the ideas that we have laying around to go green quickly
By tom
July 1, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Yep.
By dirk sniggler
July 1, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
daniel gets ignoramus of the year award. That area is a historic district packed to the brim with Urban Yuppies. The Wright-Dunbar historic district is where a lot of people wished they had they money to live in now .
By daniel
July 1, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
its a shame it is displayed in a crime ridden nasty area!!!!!i wont go to see it because of the area its in !!!!!!!!!!!
By somethingbetter
July 1, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
it won’t be long before Karon says this is a great idea. spend all my tax dollars and raise my taxes to pay for it.
if anything, its an interesting idea. i don’t think i would want one of these cars/monorails.
By dirk sniggler
July 1, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
When gasoline hits $10, which anyone who reads knows is coming, tunes will change.
By Bill Pout
July 1, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Electric cars are so “urban hip” and frivolous that I give them the official DaytonMostMediocre.Commedy seal of approval!
By James
July 1, 2008 6:55 AM | Link to this
Interesting concept. However, 35mph is definetly not fast enough for the streets of Dayton, nor most major cities, except for the downtown areas. Questions are; Who’s going to pay the big bucks for the construction of the monorail system and then the cost of the electricity to recharge all those cars being carried along by it? How is all that power going to be generated without putting more load on the existing power plants now? Will Electric Rates go up again?
By zuzu
July 1, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this
Something has got to change, people. We need to be open to new ideas and more efficient ways of doing things.
By painfultruth
July 1, 2008 5:59 AM | Link to this
Mass transit IS NOT the answer. If mass transit is so great, why is there hardly anyone on busses in Dayton? The Cleveland RTA, with a fine light-rail system, is the most underutilized rail system in the nation. Look it up at UMTA if you don’t believe me. The US isn’t Europe, and rail works only in the high density coastal areas.
By painfultruth
July 1, 2008 5:35 AM | Link to this
Can you imagine the number of lawsuits that will be filed when one of these microcars gets tapped by a normal vehicle and everyone inside is killed or injured? ANY microcar is merely a casket on wheels. Very dangerous, YOU go first!
By DALE 78
July 1, 2008 5:30 AM | Link to this
It depends probably would not . Iwould love to see masstransit in this area , mono rail connecting the major cities in Ohio together . HOW about it politicians .
By Brent
July 1, 2008 2:08 AM | Link to this
I doubt it.