Short description
Creating a new sustainable infrastructure for transport/communication will not be easy, but maybe not as hard as we think with the help with apps like Plugshare. This app was developed by a team of creators of innovative software for electric vehicles. They are optimists and say that:
“We believe technology can solve our world's problems. The members of our team have built solar cars that race across continents, electric motorcycles that go 160mph, and iPhone apps that are used by millions of people every day.
PlugShare is a community-powered electric vehicle charging network that also includes an up-to-date listing of all public charging stations compatible with the newest generation of electric vehicles
If you have an EV, you should sign up to access the most comprehensive database available of places where you can charge your batteries.
If you don't own an EV, you should sign up to join an exciting community tasked with weaning our dependence on fossil fuels. Sooner or later an EV owner may ask to charge at your outlet, and you'll be able to talk to a real person (not a dealer or a salesman) to find out if an EV is right for you!”
With this approach they can hopefully add information so the charging spots are also tagged with the CO2 and nuclear waste content. This would encourage a discussion in the network of electric vehicle owners about the responsibility these owners have to take the lead in moving to sustainable renewable energy sources.
More information about the app can be found here.
The best with the app/supporting initiative
+ Contributes not only to a shift towards electric vehicles, but a network of early adopters that want to collaborate in order to help create a sustainable 21st century infrastructure.
The weak parts of the app/supporting initiative
- The single focus on physical mobility.
- No incentive to move to low-carbon/nuclear power free electricity.
What could accelerate this app/supporting initiative into a world changer?
> Encourage use of public transport and teleworking and other “tele-activities” that help reduce the need for unnecessary physical mobility.
> Support net producing buildings and other sustainable ways to provide electricity for the vehicles.
Delivery
How direct is the delivery of the result the app tries to achieve
- Direct
- Indirect
- Inspirational
- Long shot
Comments
When people get information about charging spots they can charge their vehicles.
Transformative approach
How transformative is it
- A new world
- A major shift
- A bit of a shake-up
- A gentle rocking
Comments
Without a link to teleworking, public transport and renewable energy the app only has transformative potential.
How much does it encourage collaborations
How much are new networks supported
- Strong support for global networks?
- Currently encourages new forms of collaboration
- Provides interesting opportunities in the future
- Restricted to a small (expert) group
Comments
This is the true strength of the app. By linking early adopters together with more sustainable lifestyles the app can support transformative collaboration and networks. Among those connected a network capable of delivering transformative change is likely to emerge, especially if encouraged.
What synergies can be delivered
How well does it also solve other problems/generate solutions
- It solves everything
- Several important challenges
- Some important challenges
- Only one challenge
Comments
The links to broader transport/communication solutions as well as sustainable energy generation are obvious.
Nine billion contribution
How global is it? Is it helping/will it help everyone on the planet
- Instant global equality
- Almost global
- Getting (incrementally) global
- Not applicable
Comments
Here is probably the weakest part. Even if the app promotes a more sustainable way for mobility more is needed in order for it to be transformative and support solutions that everyone on the planet can use and not just a few rich people.
Building on current trends
How well does it use current trends
- The app is setting new trends by itself
- Building on multiple trends
- Effectively building on one trend
- Not really building on any major trend
Comments
Falling costs of electric cars and the possibility for decentralised production of renewable energy production combined with a smarter way of working makes the potential of this kind of app significant.
Timeframe
How fast can it deliver
- It's already happening
- In the coming weeks
- In a year or so
- In a distant future (hopefully)
Comments
The network and possibility for a new infrastructure provide a platform for transformative change.
Transparency
Does it support transformative transparency
- Brave new transparency
- Transparency that is innovative (never seen before)
- Increased transparency, but nothing innovative
- No increase in transparency
Comments
The app can help us see the emergence of a new infrastructure, or not, in real-time.