PODCARS GO GLOBAL

South Korea's Vectus PRT now regularly carries passengers at the Suncheon, bringing modern, 21st-century  ATN mobility to the eastern shore of Asia. Like its recent counterparts in Abu Dhabi (Masdar by Holland-based 2getthere) and England (Heathrow Airport by Ultra), the Vectus project is late. Of immediate significance is the triangulation it brings to the the geography of modern mobility.

Will South Korea be the site for the 9th Podcar City conference?

Congratulations to the Korean, Swedish and British team that have added Vectus to the menu of modal options! May they navigate the first weeks and months of passenger service without major debugging problems. By September, when PCC8 takes place in Stockholm, the O&M aspects of their product -- more robust than battery-powered Ultra and 2getthere -- will stand up.

How closely are officials in Japan and China watching? Perhaps they already have serious R&D programs underway. For now, the spotlight is on the south coast of the Korean peninsula. And then, across the Pacific Pond, officials in Seattle (especially Boeing and Micosoft) and Silicon Valley (especially Google and Apple).