$23 billion to construct to replace 25,000 trucks? Doesn’t seem like a good deal. These kinds of mega projects run over budget anyway… why not run cargo trains on existing lines?
https://newatlas.com/transport/cargo-conveyor-auto-logistics/
Discussion
Because billions 💸….
I don’t know how the numbers end up but with less people / less drivers it might be necessary for them.
A further thought, Japanese companies sell a lot of autonomous transportation technology to other countries. For example, there are Japanese trains running around Doha (put in before the FIFA World Cup) and a new driverless metro network in Copenhagen.
Maybe there’s a play here to sell the technology to other countries. Again, I don’t know how good the business plan is but it’s a further opportunity.
I see it's for small parcels, kind of Takkyubin style I guess. So trains aren't good for that.
The article says the 23 billion cost would be for a 300 mile tunnel, which in my opinion makes no sense whatsoever. Such a tunnel is impossible to make, and if it were possible it'd cost orders of magnitude more than $23 B. But I could see a tube or similar device running parallel to the shinkansen and radial last mile delivery by truck/hand from the stations along the way.
Anyway I think that Japan's social specificity makes it the perfect place to deploy driverless trucks and that's what will happen in the end.
It doesn’t seem like it’s for small parcels. It says a cargo palette will weigh a ton. Sounds more like a shipping container load - perfect for a cargo train.
Someone wants some campaign donations 😉
I’m not sure I follow
Construction companies can start making donations to politicians and making back door deals so they get awarded the contract.... Can be political outreach.... To the companies. This is my understanding of how it works for large projects in some states in the US.
Oh. This article is about Japan but I suppose this could be the case here as well. You line the pockets of your buddies and they secure a juicy position for you. Or some other under the table deal.. or like you said, political kickbacks. I wouldn’t discount stupidity either.
If it’s small packages, why not a drone fleet? Batteries are getting decent, and they could use small nuke reactors for charging (with 🌽 mining the excess).
Or self driving trucks on roads?
Why not just implement the levitation tech that has existed for years and float them from point A to point B?