ULTra PRT | Fully Charged

Robert Llewellyn checks out ULTra PRT at Heathrow Airport, London.
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Robert visits London Heathrow's Terminal 5 to test out the new ULTra PRT pod transport system. With 21 pods and over 4km of track it's the only system of its kind in an airport anywhere in the world.
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ABOUT FULLY CHARGED:
Fully Charged is an online show hosted by Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge, Carpool), sponsored by British Gas: Looking After Your World. During this series, Robert will discuss why we need to change how we think about energy consumption now. He will be taking a look at the newest electric cars available on the market [Volvo, Ford, Peugeot, Renault & Nissan] and also different forms of renewable energy [Wind and Solar].

[@icegiant1000]

That was back in 2012... wonder how its all working now. I think it would be cool to have a small community where you live in a building, take a pod to the mall, take a pod to the office building, kids take the pod to school and back, take the pod to the park... anything else, take it to the parking lot where you can drive some place else. Cool.

[@simonmoore2380]

Last used it just before COVID lockdowns struck in February 2020. It was fine. Looks a bit shabbier inside the pods, which given that they're 10 years old now is not surprising. But it all worked fine.

[@tjejojyj]

@@simonmoore2380 Interesting. Do you know whether the PRT at Heathrow will be removed when (if?) they build the third runway?

[@luisabela1027]

what about now, its gotta have improved?

[@ocf1fan1]

Doreen S This PRT system isn't the only system of it's kind. Masdar City, U.A.E. has this fully built & installed under the city. Also, West Virginia University has this system for their students.

[@DerVampyrEngel]

Yeah thats right and Dr Bertelsen of Aeromobile who was was an inventor in the 1950's was working on a similar hovercraft system the Aeromobile Aeroduct system which could be still taken up today but never was taken up by cities, total shame that

[@johnbenton4488]

This little device would work very well at Schipol (Amsterdam) airport, which is simply vast.Everything is 3 miles from everything else.

[@HowardPrice]

Love the idea of merging automation in cities with the ability to also drive it when you leave town. That just feels like the right balance of optimization and freedom. Brilliant!

[@cfdt101]

Howard Price à

[@filsmyth]

The PRT system in Morgantown WV went online in 1975 and still operates at 98% reliability. Cars seat 8, can carry up to 20, and have bigger windows. Works great, especially for WVU students (I was one, in the mid-1980s). The Morgantown PRT tracks are heated in winter to prevent snow and ice buildup, so there is no need for a special snow-removing car. Then again, the cars aren't battery-powered and cannot operate when not in contact with the power rails. Still, the grandfather of all PRTs.

[@Sohave]

Nice but why is the front and rear windscreen blocked by a large wall would it not be nice with a window there?

[@Mystrality]

Design I think, would've been cool to have windows though.

[@MikelSyn]

In case of breakdown, all driverless vehicles are designed so that you can push down the front and/or back and step off onto the track.

[@RiggintheDubVee]

At WVU in Morgantown WV, USA. We move close to 15,000 people a day along 16 miles of guideway on our PRT. We have a fleet of 73 vehicles total.

[@greyareaRK1]

This show has become my favourite. I really look forward to each episode.

[@fullychargedshow]

Sadly that shows how badly I must described it. They are cars, with wheels and tyres and they steer themselves, no rails. They come when you call them, take you where you want to go. There's no scheduled service like a train, you don't have to wait until it arrives, press the button, get in, choose your destination and it takes you there.

[@brickman409]

it's essentially the precursor to the self driving car

[@kylehill3643]

You don't vote Liberal enough we must eliminate you. (CIA sends one of their trained hackers to crash your self driving car in a catastrophic accident blamed on Muslims,right wing nut job or Russian agents) depending on who is in charge of the narrative.

[@fullychargedshow]

That is interesting, it's not what we see in the UK. Are you watching in North America?

[@KuraIthys]

That's a very interesting system. Reminds me of a prototype light-rail system that has a test track in Sydney. That involved small rail vehicles with capacity for about 15 people. The idea was at peak times it would operate like a scheduled rail service, but off-peak you could use them as an on-demand taxi style service. That seemed like a great idea. But this obviously has some additional advantages to it...

[@EdwinaDaleShow]

A Keystone XL Pipeline advertisement preceded this video. They have no shame. So, I clicked it. You're welcome *****

[@paulcummings55]

Kudos to our cousins across the pond for this implementation of the 'Pod.' I don't mind the trains in the airports here, that I have ridden- but that looks much more relaxed and fun! And provides a glimpse of what may be part of our future- thanks for another wonderful episode, Robert. I wonder how the influx of visitors for the Olympics have regarded this airport transportation? Do I go there...okay- gold medal for the Pod!

[@rizwinkp6211]

I'm a huge fan of fully charged show. I watch all episodes and it is so so amazing coz when I watch this show, i feel like I'm acting for a green n clean world .. great ideas and impressive technologies that can change the world.

[@salomelau]

I love how people are for this idea! I would LOVE to get into one of these awesome pods! I wonder how much the fare is for one-way trips and so forth!

[@Grecug1]

Salome Lau Its free !

[@flamerjamer]

. By far your most futureistically relevant vid. Keep em coming. What's more is these things are far more efficient than conventional public transport since they transport a person in a light vehicle from exactl where they want. No bus stops. No heavy buses cruising around sub-capacity- think about the waste in energy in hauling around a huge bus or tube//train in hours outside of rush hourr.

[@explorer47422]

Morgantown University had PRTs back in the 70s, still does

[@JoshiiWah]

this is some amazing tech! :O

[@Michael37924]

They need a system like this at the airport in Atlanta.

[@johnwang9914]

I wish they had built the German Cabintaxi system decades ago. It had been completely planned but canceled at the last minute. The user interface back then was literally a rotary dial identical to what phones at the time used, there would be a map where you looked up the number of your destination system and you dialed it in, I believe it also printed a punch card boarding pass. As to future versions, likely autonomous cars but if they do a public transit version again or even an Uber or Lyft version, the interface would be your cell phone not a touch display at the station or in the pod.

[@howlinguts]

Wonderful video Robert! I'm late to this, are these pods still running successfully? If car batteries are being used, does that make them lead acid? What are the recharge and recycle/disposal processes compared to Li Ion? Love the idea of connected infrastructure where you drive yourself in the suburban environment, then the networked system takes over into the city.

[@MUSTASCH1O]

This vehicle was taken straight from Minority report and it's awesome. Also, I'm surprised these videos don't get more views. I could imagine seeing this as a programme on Discovery or something.

[@DSDMovies]

I want the whole world podded!

[@DanFrederiksen]

a monorail is in effect similar and over some distance probably often faster than these pods but this system can have the advantage of always being ready. it's always there waiting for you to go as opposed to a monorail which comes in intervals. they are robotic taxis and I think that can be a very good public transport model. I have advocated such for places like New York as well. or London for that matter as that is even more congested than New York.

[@cazmataz83]

I travelled on something similar at Birmingham airport,brilliant!

[@zlozlozlo]

Hi Robert, brilliant episode, I loved the Pod. On an unrelated note, some time ago I suggested that you do an episode featuring the Better Place Center in Copenhagen. You wrote "What a brilliant suggestion, I'm on it". I'd like to ask, is that in the pipelines, or have you forgotten/decided not to do it?

[@OllieJonsson]

Excellent episode, thank you very much! Love the pods!!

[@Anonymous-ig4bi]

we have one of the first prt here for the university. I think it was built in the 80s. it's full electric so theres no batteries and it's a bumpy rough ride as it bounces from side to side on the track. just like old things it does brake down and sometimes it seems more then it should. the old 80s computer that runs it when there's a problem it shuts everything down. it would be nice to see them upgrade to something like this as its heavily used to transport college students from dorms and parts of the campus. if they could upgrade and expand I believe this could be a great future for city's and do away with buses crowding the small town streets and improve parking.

[@etbadaboum]

A German firm is trying to develop a complete system to connect towns. It got rails, works on battery ans is very forward-thinking. You should have a look at it.

[@welcomestranger]

I like how the delay announcement must be used so frequently that they printed out the script to use and put it on the wall behind them.

[@BHFJohnny]

That's exactly the same look that Kryten had when he told the joke to Dave in the DNA episode on Red Dwarf show :D

[@ozcanekici3394]

WOW that's new futuristic and I fill like they shall expand it toward the other terminal

[@STUCASHX]

City Pod would seem like the next logical step to me. It would be like a tram service that goes where you like when you like and could replace the bus and even the taxi. Mercedes are very close to a system that would work on the road in traffic. A road network with only driverless cars on it would have a much better safety record that putting people in charge. And what about automatic cargo transport? :D

[@martinwinlow]

Fred, You weren't paying attention! What PRT offers that simple EV tech can't is organised and autonomous journeys. So, you have all the benefits of EVs (sustainability, 'fuel' efficiency, no tail-pipe emissions etc) but no traffic jams and increased safety by relieving humans of the need to drive the vehicle!

[@kings7man]

We need these from Melbourne city to Melbourne airport

[@JRP3]

Your description, and the video, was fine. It's quite obvious how this is not like a monorail.

[@toyotaprius79]

0:55 Bloody hell Robert! That's frightening and hilarious!

[@AnsisX]

Nice as a small version on a low-sized area, but did you ever visit some train logistic station? I've been to the headquarters of the Berlin S-Bahn and they really have a lot to do just by coordinating a few trains (especially when some crash happens). Another con is the lose of "your private vehicle", the nice feeling to already be at home in your car, having fun driving home or just around... I personally prefer individual electric cars...

[@martinwinlow]

Hi Dan, There are a few frames in the video (apparently) showing the batteries they are using - Exide DrySafe 50Ah 12V with 5000 cycles at 25% discharge (500 at 75%) according to Excide's blurb. It looks similar to the Optima with the 'spiral cell'. If they are operating them at the 25% DOD level then the DrySafe are probably better value for money than LiFePO4 but not for long the way Li chemistry prices are falling. See you back over on the EVDL again soon? MW

[@theboatgoat]

these would be great around a city centre

[@elisicamost5959]

does it stop at any drive-thru fast-food restaurant?

[@kylehill3643]

Can you tell the train driver to stop at any fast food restaurant? Then it's still not exactly personal.

[@fourbypete]

Yes but it's airline food.

[@tiers93]

That is the future! We need more of this

[@philrabe910]

This is great, but he's banging on about point to point and passenger choice where and when to board... The Heathrow pods only go from A~B. [for the executive car parking lot]

[@BHFJohnny]

absolutelly agree. As I would say (and Jacques Fresco would say aswell :-), we need access

[@SolarizeYourLife]

So if it's sitting at a terminal does it plug in, charging up until the next customer?

[@taztaz79]

Thumb up for this video as always! Interesting topic about podcars! Thank you!

[@norgepab2802]

What about Morgantown,wv...

[@stelley08]

is it free? and can you catch a pod from the car park TO the terminal?

[@stelley08]

***** oh ok, so its kind of like business class flights then haha.. thnx for the answer

[@NeoDerGrose]

If you only want to try it out it is free. You could ride to the car park and back again. You just need to get to the airport first and that might be hard to do for free. ;)

[@BHFJohnny]

yes, i got to this idea too. but what else to use? lithium-iont batteries would last about 5 years too... and the lead batteries can be recycled quite well.

[@arunmur84]

Been waiting for a good detailed review of the system for a long while. Thanks for the review. Do you have any information on the capacity of this system, like how many passenger per station it can handle? How many passengers per hour can it move around on a single lane of traffic? I hear they are implementing this system on a larger scale in Amristar, India. I am not sure how many years they will take to complete. I cant seem to get enough information of it. :)

[@BIkeManBen]

No more traffic problems!! Now that I would like to see!!

[@ursulasmith6402]

we need those here, urban and rual

[@redfightblue]

The best thing going for PRT is that it is a hybrid system, private then public.

[@rhondacannon7447]

That's so cool 😎

[@XitUp]

Because those are the parameters they are designed to work in. You could make one that could do more, but it would need a more powerful motor, more energy storage and would therefor cost a lot more.

[@Persephone_]

They're really fun to go in. They are very convenient. I really wish that this tech expands.

[@XitUp]

Would be interesting to see it done. Rail network has 10,000 mile of track, vs 2.5 for this. About 4000 trains vs 21. Might be a bit more complicated.

[@BHFJohnny]

I didn't think about that. Well, what about to make the mobile app of rating of a car? Every time you log in to car, you can rate the overall car status. When you find something wrong, it will go to cleaning itself and you take another car. I don't know. You can always find some solution. I like the idea of The Venus Project. There's an advanced transport system (local, short, long, extra-long distances) which I think could work quite well.

[@martinwinlow]

Well, yes, but the Morgantown cars are not completely autonomous in that they get their motive power form rails in the 'guideway'. Also it runs in 3 different modes according to overall demand and none of them is as flexible as ULTra. ULTra is more reliable (but then, it is a lot newer) and average waiting time for a Pod is 10 seconds against Morgantown's 5 minutes or more.

[@OrielFilms]

They need to have little robot drivers like the Johnny Cabs from the original Total Rekall :)

[@hawk7852]

I tried the pod it's so fun and cool 😄😄😄😄

[@SamSitar]

extending it will help LHR greatly :)

[@Persephone_]

What shows have you done on KZbin and on the TV?

[@joewilder]

I think it's interesting they chose a lead-acid battery instead of Lithium-Ion. I suppose it was studied as to which would be more economical under the circumstances. It appears they made a good choice as it works well.

[@IainHendry]

What ULTRa has done is fantastic, but I always hate how in these interviews they completely ignore Morgantown, West Virginia; their Personal Rapid Transit system, built by Boeing, has been running for almost 40 years there.

[@martinwinlow]

Well - obviously - there is a snow plough pod! (I don't know really, but why not?)

[@Persephone_]

That face 0:54. LOL :-D

[@DopeyDalek]

it doesn't look like it can handle a lot of people in a short time. if 400 people arrive on a 747, how long will the last person have to wait? I thought that's why these systems are usually train based mass people movers.

[@alexd9432]

This system is from the carpark to the terminal. So if a plane load of people arrive they will have had to collect bags & clear immigration to spread them out.

[@davidthaler7018]

The pods also hold 4 people at a time, which decreases wait time.

[@martinwinlow]

I think I'd still want a seatbelt (conspicuously absent in the Pod) and airbags!

[@lucasskywalker]

Love the music!

[@taztaz79]

I hope they would replace the bus traffic with this in Sweden! Not having to adapt to the bus schedules and so on!.. Then i might start to go to work with pods instead! Bus traffic today is simply not working with 1 hour between the rides..

[@XitUp]

So how much do you think taxes would have to go up to buy back all the cars? What if people want to keep their cars? You would force them to sell? Most people would not pay much extra for this tech, nor should they have to if they don't want to. I agree that it would be good in cities, although that totally depends on cost. If you don't mind me asking, how do you get to work/shops/friends/etc?

[@ubuntuify]

1:41 There's no noise? Sure, it's a start, maybe concentrate on the giant jet engines next XD

[@filsmyth]

Morgantown PRT cars move faster, carry more people, and give much better outward visibility. The system works great (98% reliable) and provides an invaluable service to WVU students (for whom it is free). 'duckjock' was just saying (and I agree), it should be mentioned more often. It's true the Morgantown system only operates as a 'true PRT' _sometimes_, but it was the first and only one operating -- for decades.

[@Pinkyearlgrey]

You were surprised that Heathrow is pretty much the first to have this and then go on to list US airports whose infrastructure is probably suitable for the 80s.

[@greyareaRK1]

Projects like ULTra PRT are the foundations of tomorrow's transportation systems. I look forward to the day this system is looked on as quaint and old-fashioned by users for whom intelligent electric vehicles are the norm.

[@sockschappercat]

RiggintheDubVee "It is not considered a PRT system because its vehicles are too heavy and carry too many people. When it carries many people, it does not operate in a point-to-point fashion, instead running like an automated people mover from one end of the line to the other."

[@Patchuchan]

This seems like a much more sane idea then Google's autonomous car. Instead of having it try to work with the chaos of normal traffic it has it's own dedicated tracks. Does not contribute to traffic no forcing anyone to adopt the technology could be used anonymously if the turnstile is made to accept cash or token cards that carry no personal information. Really why hasn't someone built one of these for the Silicon Valley region it would be pretty popular there and would not clog the streets like those buses? Heck maybe even build new neighborhoods serviced by these and solve the housing crunch. Probably would not lose money even if another dotcom crash happened soon afterwards as it'll likely be popular with retirees.

[@cuddles6938]

Patchuchan Definately would be better and safer. Why they have not done this years ago when it was first designed is beyond me. Better then sharing a bus with people you might not want to be around.

[@ethanpet113]

Patchuchan Yes but the initial cost the cost for that infrastructure would be tremendous.

[@Helld00d]

Maybe, the problem is the sides of the track which makes it hard for snow to be removed...

[@XitUp]

Most cars can do more than 25mph and go up hills of more than 20% gradient. These are a good idea for applications like airports or in large factories or retail parks. But to think they are a perfect fit for all transport is a bit daft.

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

Yeah, once they are ready for large scale city driving, Pod's are going to absolutely devastate public traffic of today, especially busses and taxis are going to suffer. Trains will be a bit better off since they can transfer bigger numbers of people. But on the bright side, we'll be on time and going where we want to go. :D

[@catgirlKL]

Loook really fun.

[@XitUp]

You can still have both. I like driving cars on quiet, fun, twisty b roads. I hate driving cars in town and in traffic.

[@olivermorland5226]

I love it!

[@BHFJohnny]

On the other hand - for example - I don't need to own the car. I just need it to trasport anywhere - then park it and - maybe - someone else can use it. It's much more useful, effective, enviroment friendlier and I don't need to buy a new car every 10 years - it's changing itself all the time.

[@ekhaat]

Brilliant

[@andrewada]

Enormous potential for "roadless" property development.

[@rdberg1957]

I think pods can replace much bus traffic and make trains more effective.

[@wafi0123]

Cute pod addiction lol .

[@actiontom]

Just funny note, PRT (or prd) means fart in Slovak language.

[@iamhereforever]

2015? we already have this in the netherlands for a couple of years now...

[@quwers]

My dad kept going to Heathrow and I would ask him if the pods were working and he kept saying no. They were delayed by something like 2 years. Hmmm.

[@TheLogicalError]

A system like this has already been operational for about 10 years in Capelle aan den Ijssel in the Netherlands ...

[@DanFrederiksen]

lifepo would probably last 5-10 times as long, maybe more. it would seem like the obvious choice. Calb grey cells seem particularly obvious these days as a simple effective choice

[@polpotsdog]

How have I never seen, heard or read about these?? They should be shouting this from the rooftops. I mean....it mightn't be perfect and practical for everywhere but still...its so cool. Wish more people could see them...or even know they exist. Seems odd how quite they have kept them. Maybe even suspicious...hmmmm...

[@simonhermansson7082]

"Ahh, it's somewhere in the middle east, not important, we were fiiiiirst..."

[@NeoDerGrose]

They were first and the Arabs only have two stations. You can't choose you're destination there. And by the way, this is not only build in Britain, it's also a British company developing it. The one in the Emirates isn't developed by them, it's Dutch.

[@DaiLusional]

Sure it seems good in theory. But then Nedry takes the system offline, and the T-Rex gets out of its pen. Then for some reason your sister decides to shine a torch in its eyes. And in the end this self driving pod is just expensive packaging for T-Rex food.

[@CuriousSeeker09]

self driving cars counter this pretty well.

[@McRocket]

Brilliant stuff...I want one. Trash all cars in my city and install these. I'll pay the extra for them.