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There may be an alternative solution to the problem of EVs not having sufficient range for long trips, and it may solve other problems as well. Here is my idea:
Design all-electric (or even hybrid) cars and trucks so that they can also ride on rails. The transition from road to rail would be under computer control so that you just program your destination and it sets up a route, and also takes over all driving functions. So once you are moving on the rails, you can just relax and read or use your computer or take a nap. Your car will automatically take you where you choose without dealing with traffic.
Railways are built with minimum grade, have very low rolling friction, they use less space than roads, and the surface is permeable so they are less damaging to the environment and help keep aquifers replenished. It may be possible to power the car's electric motors and charge its batteries through the rails via magnetic induction (rather than high voltage pantographs), or the cars may be coupled to each other and pulled by an electric or hybrid locomotive.
This would, eventually, eliminate much of the traffic on highways and reduce the wear and tear that make it necessary to rebuild them every few years. Without heavy trucks and excessive use, the highways can be used mostly for recreational driving while basic transportation of freight and commuting will be handled by the more efficient and safer rail lines.
Since most of the fossil fuel energy waste is due to the huge amount of commuting and freight hauling, it would allow much reduced oil prices so that one can still go on a trip as we do now, but not have to contend with traffic jams and heavy trucks and other dangerous and unpleasant adjuncts to travel.
There are certainly many challenges and problems associated with this idea, but I like to think outside the box and toss out ideas that are much different from conventional thought. Might be worth a shot!
Design all-electric (or even hybrid) cars and trucks so that they can also ride on rails. The transition from road to rail would be under computer control so that you just program your destination and it sets up a route, and also takes over all driving functions. So once you are moving on the rails, you can just relax and read or use your computer or take a nap. Your car will automatically take you where you choose without dealing with traffic.
Railways are built with minimum grade, have very low rolling friction, they use less space than roads, and the surface is permeable so they are less damaging to the environment and help keep aquifers replenished. It may be possible to power the car's electric motors and charge its batteries through the rails via magnetic induction (rather than high voltage pantographs), or the cars may be coupled to each other and pulled by an electric or hybrid locomotive.
This would, eventually, eliminate much of the traffic on highways and reduce the wear and tear that make it necessary to rebuild them every few years. Without heavy trucks and excessive use, the highways can be used mostly for recreational driving while basic transportation of freight and commuting will be handled by the more efficient and safer rail lines.
Since most of the fossil fuel energy waste is due to the huge amount of commuting and freight hauling, it would allow much reduced oil prices so that one can still go on a trip as we do now, but not have to contend with traffic jams and heavy trucks and other dangerous and unpleasant adjuncts to travel.
There are certainly many challenges and problems associated with this idea, but I like to think outside the box and toss out ideas that are much different from conventional thought. Might be worth a shot!
