Jonathan Xavier Weinert 2008

"Let China sleep, for when she wakes... she will shake the world!" -Napoleon B.

Dear friends and colleagues,
I sit here typing from a greasy McDonalds in the Karlsruhe, Germany trainstation. Unfortunately, it's the only place open at 2AM as I wait to catch the 4 AM train to Monaco to present my research at the annual Global Electric Vehicle Symposium. It's the 10th day of my 15 day 'maiden voyage' through Europe and though I've been mugged by gypsies, slept on airport floors, and had more transportation blunders than John Candy and Steve Martin, spirits are high. I write to update you on my adventures since my last Fuel Cell Trek letter (January 03). In brief, I've completed my master's degree, presented hydrogen research throughout China, the US, and Europe, driven fuel cell cars up and down California, and helped create a blueprint for Gov. Schwarzenegger's California Hydrogen Highway. It's been an exciting two years; the Hydrogen Economy seems closer and the world seems smaller.
Since much has happened since 03, I'll try to give you the reader's digest version and allow additional curiosity to be fulfilled through my website (www.fuelcelltrek.com).

Background: What is (was) fuel cell trek?
Section 1: The 3 best "happenings" in my life
Section 2: 2 Lessons from Europe.
Section 3: What's next?

Background: In January 2002, I began Fuel Cell Trek, a plan to circumnavigate the world in a fuel cell car and teach people about fuel cell and hydrogen. I started graduate school at UC Davis in the Institute of Transportation Studies to get a MS/PhD in Transportation Technology and Policy. While I've scrapped my plans to tour the world in an FCcar, I'm pleased to see some other young people have come up with similar ambitions e.g. www.kids4hydrogen.com, the hydrogenexpedition.com (good on them!!) The plan for FCT now is to continue teaching people about H2 and FC, but expand to teaching about sustainable transportation (transportation that works for everyone, including everyone's favorite mama, Earth). I'm especially interested in transportation in developing countries. In terms of a practical plan that will be sustainable for my bank account, once I finish my PhD, I plan to start a company dedicated to making today's transportation system more efficient (hint: I want to provide you better mobility and more travel options more energy-efficiently).

Section 1: Great Things
Great Thing #3: China and the Leapfrog. The newest project I'm embarking on, with some other researchers at ITS-Davis, is to investigate car and fuel use in Zhongguo. For those of you who don't "shuo Zhongwen" (a la Chris Farley =D), I'm talking about China. Auto use in China is exploding, and if the fuel choice for these cars is gasoline, we're all going to have major problems. Best case, environmental devastation, worst case WWIII in 20 years at our current trajectory.
We at ITS-Davis are working with researchers at Tongji university and Tsinghua to research the issues around this rapid car growth and gasoline consumption to see if China policy makers can do something differently. One hope is for China to "leapfrog" gasoline and go directly to hydrogen, similar to what China did bypassing landline phones to adopt cell phones . Leapfrog Oil, you say!?! That frog's going to have to pretty strong quadriceps me thinks; but let's have a go!
Great Thing #2: Transportation Education The second greatest thing that has happened in the last two years is learning about transportation. In case you forgot my first goal of FCT, it was to go back to grad school and become a sponge of learning. The things I've learned about fuel cell technology and hydrogen fuel are great, but the whole transportation system in general is fascinating. Issues like: "why is congestion everywhere", "why can't we pass a gas tax even though it's the most efficient way to improve our mobility", "why is the US so dependent on cars" are some of my favorite issues, issues that I'm getting to the heart of. I didn't know I'd become so interested in transportation issues in general, but now I find myself riding buses, trains, subways, and highways all over the world to try and get a feel for what works, why it works, and why it doesn't. Some of my learning and discoveries can be found in "My Projects" and publications for yourself.
Great thing #1: New People. Clearly the greatest thing that have happened in the past two years are the new people in my life. Hence, I've dedicated a section of my website to them (er...you). Click on the ofoto link to see who some of these people are (maybe you're up there, I included some of the old people too =)) I haven't got around to getting everyone up there that's made a difference for me, but it's a start. It's part of a new project of mine to put my people-network online. In case you don't know me well or forgot, I LOVE meeting new people and I've met a lot in 2 years. I get my energy from others I guess. And of course, I am so grateful to the 'old' friends in my life and rekindled friendships.

Section 2: Lessons from Europe
As for Europe travels, transportation, and life, I've seen two great quotes in the past week that summarize things I believe and that I want to share with you.
1. "Memento Morti". This theme was presented in the Tate Modern Museum of London. Like a bowl of fruit, flowers in a vase, you and me, we all die. Remember that next time you pass up the opportunity to spend time with someone you fancy, patch up a long-dead relationship, or bust out a crazy dance move. "Memento Morti" means "remember that you will die". If you've ever been to Europe and see how much people here enjoy life and their friends (just look to the cafes EVERYWHERE), it gives me a glimpse as to what this phrase means.
2. "Attempto". This is the university motto of a great little college tucked away in the tiny castle town of Tubingen, Germany. It just means, "try". I love this because it's so simple and so powerful. Strangely, just underneath these words, etched in small print it also said "*though you will probably fail". (naw just kidding ;-). Actually, failure is inevitable at most new things we try. I think the secret is detaching yourself from the ego-slam of failure and getting used to it. Consider that the reason the Beatles were so successful and had so many hits because they wrote SO many songs (many totally flopped). Our success is directly related to the number of attempts. This brings me to another interesting question I saw in the movie Waking Life recently (as I waited overnight in a Rome airport with friendly strangers): What's humankind's most limiting factor: fear or laziness? My answer...Who cares. In either case, Attempto overcomes both. Go for it.
Next Steps: My Silk Road to China begins in August 05. The plan is to do research at Tongji University in Shanghai for 1 year, working on implementing h2 technologies in Shanghai and/or Beijing. Before then, come visit me in Davis CA. After 08/05, come visit me in Shanghai.

Conclusion:
This is all I'm going to write for now because otherwise I'll put this off forever and I've been REALLY wanting to send you all a letter. All in all, things are pretty cool out here in California, Europe, and China. Though you sometimes need to watch out for gypsies (one just stole my frickin' wallet last week in Rome), keep "Memento Morti"-ing, "Attepmto"-ing, and send me any ideas at all you have on how to make your transportation system (however you travel, wherever you are) better.

Much Love,
Ni de pengyou, (your friend)
Jonathan

p.s. I've added a "My Fun" section to the website in case you're thinking "why is this guy such a huge nerd, does he do anything to blow off steam!?"