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Does a car with zero emissions, requiring
an infrastructure with little environmental impact, and batteries that are
fully charged within minutes sound too good to be true?
It is true,
and it is called the Ridek. It is a battery electric modular car, an out
of the box idea that will redefine how we perceive the car in our
environment.
The Ridek is a new type of vehicle—one that is
modularized into upper and lower components, one rented and one owned. The
rented Modek contains the running gear and associated machinery. The Ridon
carries the passengers and cargo; it rides on the Modek. When the Modek
requires servicing, it may be quickly exchanged without delaying or
disturbing the passengers. The Modek would normally be charged overnight
at home, however, if an immediate recharge is needed , it will be
exchanged for a fully charged Modek, accomplished in the amount of time
needed to refuel by conventional methods. This feature makes the electric
car practical, more economical, and more convenient than a conventional
vehicle.
When Dr. Gordon Dower began working to solve the problem
of battery exchange seven years ago, the demand for lower emission
vehicles had only begun to accelerate. It soon became clear that the world
would have to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and find alternative
energy sources if we were to continue to maintain current levels to meet
the world’s energy needs.
In response, manufactures are turning to
hybrid and fuel-cell cars. The difficulty is that the hybrid reduces CO2
emissions only in city driving, and uses conventional fuel at highway
speed; it is a transitional car until the zero-polluting vehicle is in
production. The fuel-cell car is not yet developed as a viable
alternative, and the hydrogen infrastructure to support it will prove to
be expensive, both in cost and environmental impacts. Dr. Dower’s Ridek
utilizes an already fully developed, inexpensive technology and
accompanying infrastructure: the battery electric car and the electricity
grid. The range of the Ridek is the same as that of the hydrogen fueled
car and the operating costs would be much less. The cost of ownership of
the Ridon would vary dependent on the features desired to outfit the
cabin. The advantage of the Ridek is the modular design and quick change
battery recharge. It is now possible to use the proven efficiency of
electricity.
Initially, it appeared that splitting the car
horizontally, separating the passengers and controls from the running gear
may seem difficult, complicated, expensive and insecure. This is not the
case. There are innumerable examples where modular construction has made
manufacture and servicing simpler, better and cheaper. Even the conversion
of a conventional vehicle to a Ridek is practical (see photo). Securely
locking the Ridon to the Modek is no more challenging than locking heavy
containers to the decks of ships. Modek exchange is as simple as moving
your car through a car wash.
The Ridek looks like a conventional
car, but regardless of the style of the Ridon, it would be as tall as an
SUV to accommodate the Modek. This places the passengers above the point
of impact in a T-bone collision, and provides the driver with a better
view of his surroundings. A serious safety issue associated with SUV’s is
mitigated by Ridek design; because of the low center of gravity, combined
with the weight of the batteries, the Ridek will not be subject to
rollover incidents.
Dr. Dower’s field of expertise is in
electrocardiology and polarcardiography, and it was necessary to consult
with many experts in the field of automotive engineering to determine if
the Ridek was feasible. Since then, two prototypes have been made and
demonstrated, using readily available materials. The improved storage
capacity and extended lifetime provided by new battery technology, coupled
with the use of the strong and lightweight materials make the full-size
Ridek an attractive option for the individual commuter and for operators
of fleet vehicles.
Ridek Systems
PO Box 1939
Point Roberts,
WA 98281-1939
360-945-0876
http://www.ridek.com
dower@ridek.com |
