6 ms·
I had the same intuition, but if anyone is out there wondering -- there's a hidden source of energy: all the energy that goes into arranging the trash at the to
by SomeStupidPoint 9y ago
I had the same intuition, but if anyone is out there wondering -- there's a hidden source of energy: all the energy that goes into arranging the trash at the top of the hill in the first place.
So the energy that the truck is gaining is really the stored potential energy you got from the kinetic energy of bringing your food home from the store (or other similar things).
I think the idea is really clever, to utilize that kind of latent stored energy to make your trip more efficient.
- hwillis 9y agoDump truck, not garbage truck. This one is transporting rock from a mine to a cement plant. It does not transport garbage. The mine is just on a mountain. Again, trash is not involved.
- SomeStupidPoint 9y agoDerp, reading comprehension. Same reasoning applies though, albeit other processes doing the lifting.
- hwillis 9y agotectonic drift, specifically.
- woodandsteel 9y agoI wonder if someone could come up with a more direct way of converting tectonic drift into electricity. The total amount of energy available would be stupendous, but there seems to be a problem with it being low-density from being spread over such a large area.
- Pfhreak 9y agoBut that was going to happen anyways. Today, a dump truck spends energy going downhill by burning fuel and brakes that it doesn't need to if it's electric.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- ams6110 9y agoDoesn't expend much energy going downhill. Engine is probably idling and diesels idle efficiently. But, it's not recovering any energy, which is the big win with the electric truck.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]