Land port system and method for fuel cell vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for transferring freight comprising:
- providing a network of a plurality of ports disposed near corresponding urban areas;
causing a plurality of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) to carry freight to and/or from a port and a corresponding urban area;
inducing through economic incentives a plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles to utilize services of the ports to carry freight both to and from urban areas, utilizing the ZEVs associated with the ports; and
coordinating the transfer of freight between the plurality of ZEVs and the plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles at the plurality of ports.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for operating an urban infrastructure of land ports. This infrastructure includes Truck Terminals that physically provide the land port service; a Central Scheduling Agency that transacts and dispatches pick ups and deliveries; a Land Port Credit Exchange that trades land port delivery credits between heavy duty diesel truck tractor (HDDT) owners; and a Government Fee Collection Agency. Land ports are adapted truck terminals located near transportation arteries at the perimeters of urban areas, that have been suitably configured to exchange trailer loads between HDDTs and zero emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (ZEVs). The ZEVs ferry trailer loads between land ports and the inner city, thereby causing a reduction in the vehicle miles traveled by HDDTs within dense urban areas. This reduces the inner city emissions of toxic diesel exhaust, mitigating damage both to the environment and to human health.
5 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for transferring freight comprising:
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providing a network of a plurality of ports disposed near corresponding urban areas;
causing a plurality of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) to carry freight to and/or from a port and a corresponding urban area;
inducing through economic incentives a plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles to utilize services of the ports to carry freight both to and from urban areas, utilizing the ZEVs associated with the ports; and
coordinating the transfer of freight between the plurality of ZEVs and the plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles at the plurality of ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for transferring freight comprising:
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providing a network of a plurality of ports disposed near corresponding urban areas;
inducing a plurality of zero emission vehicles to carry freight to and/or from a port and a corresponding urban area;
inducing a plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles to carry freight in areas outlying the urban area to and from a corresponding port; and
coordinating the transfer of freight between the plurality of zero emission vehicles and the plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles at the plurality of ports. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for transferring freight from an outlying area to an urban area comprising the steps of:
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providing a port by utilizing existing or new truck terminals;
inducing a fossil fuel burning vehicle carrying freight destined for an urban area to stop at the port;
transferring the freight from the fossil fuel burning vehicle to a zero emission vehicle; and
carrying the freight on the zero emission vehicle into the urban area.
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15. A method for transferring freight from an urban area to an outlying area comprising the steps of:
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providing a port by utilizing existing or new truck terminals;
inducing a zero emission vehicle carrying freight destined for an outlying area to stop at the port;
transferring the freight from the zero emission vehicle to a fossil fuel burning vehicle; and
carrying the freight on the fossil fuel burning vehicle into the outlying area.
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16. A method for exchanging freight between an urban area and an outlying area comprising the steps of:
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providing a port by utilizing existing or new truck terminals;
inducing a fossil fuel burning vehicle carrying a first freight destined for an urban area to stop at the port;
inducing a zero emission vehicle carrying a second freight destined for an outlying area to stop at the port;
transferring the first freight from the fossil fuel burning vehicle to the zero emission vehicle;
transferring the second freight from the zero emission vehicle to the fossil fuel burning vehicle;
carrying the first freight on the zero emission vehicle into the urban area; and
carrying the second freight on the fossil fuel burning vehicle into the outlying area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for transferring freight between a plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles and a plurality of zero emission vehicles comprising:
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a plurality of ports disposed near corresponding urban areas;
a plurality of zero emission vehicles associated with each port and carrying freight to and from an associated port and a corresponding urban area;
a plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles carrying freight in areas outlying the urban areas to and from the plurality of ports; and
a controller networked to the plurality of ports to coordinate the transfer of freight between the plurality of zero emission vehicles and the plurality of fossil fuel burning vehicles at the plurality of ports. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification