4 ms·

I consider this as one of his least bright thoughts. I really hoped he would come with a light rail with shuttles carrying (electrical) cars, containers etc..

by uranian 10y ago

I consider this as one of his least bright thoughts. I really hoped he would come with a light rail with shuttles carrying (electrical) cars, containers etc.. This is a thought I had some 16 years ago in an attempt to solve traffic jams. I truly believe cars shouldn't drive on highroads. Unfortunately I don't have the contacts and financial power to even get close to the people who can accomplish this. If we have a world wide network of light rail, carrying electrical cars etc.. at a speed of about 500 mph it would really be more environmental friendly, as it would be a serious competition for polluting aircrafts. Imagine: Los Angeles -> San Fransisco in less than 1 hour, in your own car! I think Elon is one of the single few people in the world capable to make a start with this.

anonu 10y ago
The premise of what hes doing is "lets do it faster and cheaper"... If you could improve the boring process 10x, maybe people would look at digging tunnels in a completely new light!!! For example, the real problem with rail is getting right-of-way. With a cheap boring machine - your plans wouldn't be as difficult. As Musk put it, you got to think in 3D....
- AlexandrB 10y ago
  Actually you should think in 4D. In the future all those tunnels require maintenance that is much more complex and expensive than maintenance for surface roads. If the US is not able to keep its roads in good condition (and in many places it's not), how is building more expensive roads underground going to solve the problem long term?
  - JoeAltmaier 10y ago
    Roads need maintenance almost exclusively because of the weather - sun and rain, heat and cold. Underground, none of those things. We have tunnels today that are a century old with only minimal maintenance, right?
    - jcranmer 10y ago
      We have tunnels that are a century old which are in danger of complete failure. Underground structures tends to exacerbate issues with water intrusion and drainage, not to mention persistent problems with air quality (air can only diffuse effectively in 1 dimension, not 3).

by uranian 10y ago

anonu 10y ago

The premise of what hes doing is "lets do it faster and cheaper"... If you could improve the boring process 10x, maybe people would look at digging tunnels in a completely new light!!! For example, the real problem with rail is getting right-of-way. With a cheap boring machine - your plans wouldn't be as difficult. As Musk put it, you got to think in 3D....

AlexandrB 10y ago
Actually you should think in 4D. In the future all those tunnels require maintenance that is much more complex and expensive than maintenance for surface roads. If the US is not able to keep its roads in good condition (and in many places it's not), how is building more expensive roads underground going to solve the problem long term?
- JoeAltmaier 10y ago
  Roads need maintenance almost exclusively because of the weather - sun and rain, heat and cold. Underground, none of those things. We have tunnels today that are a century old with only minimal maintenance, right?
  - jcranmer 10y ago
    We have tunnels that are a century old which are in danger of complete failure. Underground structures tends to exacerbate issues with water intrusion and drainage, not to mention persistent problems with air quality (air can only diffuse effectively in 1 dimension, not 3).