Comments on: Is Car Platooning the next big thing?

By: Cartell Admin

Cartell Admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:10:22 +0000

In reply to stephen maher. Hi Stephen, That's lateral thinking! I hope business is going well for you guys.

By: stephen maher

stephen maher — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:05:05 +0000

I really hope this car platooning takes off… it can only mean one thing if cars a driving within such close range…. broken windscreens from stones hitting cars!

By: Cartell.ie

Cartell.ie — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:23:52 +0000

In reply to Clare. Clare we agree with you entirely. As often the case the solution to any problem is usually the simplest adjustment. Change takes place at a relatively slow pace - consider how we still depend on trains for transportation which are very much a nineteenth century form of transportation. When all is said and done people will always want to have their independence, i.e. to own their own vehicle and drive it. The cost of change is so prohibitively high for many of the alternatives to oil-based automobile transportation that we reckon an idea like car platooning makes a lot of sense.

By: Slipstreamer

Slipstreamer — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:27:05 +0000

I’m behind you on that one….

By: Cartell.ie

Cartell.ie — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:45:58 +0000

In reply to Slipstreamer. Slipstreamer, Cartell can not condone this practice. The Road Safety Authority has been keen to point out the dangers of slipstreaming on the open road in the manner you describe! I think you admit yourself that it's not safe! However, the car platooning idea will work with wireless technology which will bring the vehicles safely together and hold them together meaning the driver of all vehicles in the platoon (aside from the lead driver) do not need to concentrate on driving at all - they can read or listen to their MP3 or whatever. Thanks for your contribution

By: Slipstreamer

Slipstreamer — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:30:10 +0000

Hey, I kind of do this already, on long journeys I sneak my red 2.0 banger in behind something big and moving at a speed I like. Things like X5s and Discoveries are great as well as Transits. The bigger the car infront the better the ‘pull’, for safety reasons choosing a bigger vehicle means you can hang back a little further – think of it as entry level. I suspect Im saving about 10% in fuel but at this point its more of a game to find the target D4 tractor and see how well I can maintain a safe slipstream distance. Don’t follow Garda vans…even though they are hammering it down the N7, the force may be strong with you, but its a bit stronger with them.
The surprise benefit here is that on smaller roads I’m shielded from hidden speed traps and the dangerous speeding driver in front gets the points. Shame on him. Saved me a few times…..
PS, don’t try this at home, even on a scalextric track.
PS, if you suspect someone is tailgating the best thing to do is to gently slow down and let them pass, rather than slamming on the brakes….that is not good for the nerves or bumper paintwork….

By: Clare

Clare — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:29:31 +0000

interesting stuff. i guess with oil resources inevitably gonna run out and the problems with the costs associated with electric vehicles and hydrogen technology miles away yet I could see a middle-of-the-road solution like this one. it seems improbable now but there will have to be a solution when the situation reaches crisis point and governments will have two choices (a) huge infrastructural overheads to build new types of transport for iRobot-type transport or (b) a modified road-based solution with less overhead like the car platooning above. I know which one my money is on – but lets see