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Chris Allington, supported by Peter
Crabtree, Mel Allington and Maddie Wilson from Whoosh spoke to their
presentation (attached).
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Whoosh is a Christchurch-based mobility
platform company.
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The presentation introduced a concept for a three-dimensional,
autonomous vehicle, electric transportation network design to enable the
movement of people, goods and services around Christchurch.
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A test site at the Christchurch Airport will
be operational in April 2026.
Qns
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How long would it take for a system to become
operational? Once the infrastructure is in place (pylons), the installation
is quick. For example, it would take a day to span the cable between pylons.
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How well does the system cope with strong
wind? The system has yet to be tested to ascertain the operational limit,
this will be undertaken at the airport test site. As the cables are fixed,
the cars are not prone to tipping, rather it will be an issue of comfort
level.
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How much power is required? Individual cars
charge when needed and overnight. Charging can be minimised when there is
high electricity use on the network. Cars can trickle charge when stopped at
a station when passengers are getting on and off. Yet to be modelled.
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Where would the pylons go? A pylon would take
up one carpark space, and the location would be dependent on the roading
corridor. The pylons can span the distance of approximately two city blocks.
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The system is scalable but works well for
low/medium density.
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The glass in cars can become opaque and clear
again as they move past apartments, as an example, for privacy reasons.
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Operational costs are low as no staff are
required at stations.
Next Steps
Action:
Arrange a site visit to the Christchurch based facility. A staged approach to
be presented to the Council to determine the level of interest.
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