3 ms·

Though I am a big fan of Elon Musk's Boring company I think his used of modified Tesla's to transport people in the tunnels isn't the best idea. The old street

by rmason 4y ago

Though I am a big fan of Elon Musk's Boring company I think his used of modified Tesla's to transport people in the tunnels isn't the best idea. The old streetcars, like in Detroit, used to attach to an overhead wire to power themselves. I think you could have normal train cars using this method. In other words use the electric grid as opposed to batteries. I can't imagine a battery fire in an enclosed area like a tunnel. Much better than NYC's subway using a live third rail which I believe has killed more people falling on to the tracks than the trains themselves.

TheLoafOfBread 4y ago
Subway makes perfect sense, except when you are CEO of a car company. Then they are your direct competitor and suboptimal solution of Tesla's in the tunnel is used instead.
mikeyouse 4y ago
These are super common - all of SFs MUNI system is built using the overhead wires -- batteries in the individual cars are interesting because there's a ton of cost involved in electrifying the entire length of the tunnel to deliver as much power as a train needs. All of the substations, the physical electrical cables themselves, etc add a ton of cost to tunneling projects and long-term wear items that will require endless maintenance that often shuts down the lines. Building a dumb cheap concrete tunnel and leaving the expensive parts in the cars themselves could be a very cost effective method of urban transport. Though I think the "use Teslas" is a dumb addition since a purpose built train car similar to the airport shuttles at Denver would be much more efficient and handicap accessible.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  To clarify, the light rail (Muni Metro) and electrified bus lines use overhead 600 volt DC, but most of the bus lines are not electrified.
WaitWaitWha 4y ago
Electric trolleybus have been running in some cities pre-WWII [0]. I have seen them in Budapest, São Paulo, and Malatya. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus
nottorp 4y ago
> I think you could have normal train cars using this method. In other words use the electric grid as opposed to batteries. Like... most trains in Europe?
Symbiote 4y ago
I'm amazed that you've never seen an overhead electric caternary, be it for a train, tram or light rail system. https://www.openrailwaymap.org//mobile.php?style=electrified&lat=55.1286490684888&lon=19.16015625&zoom=3 https://www.openrailwaymap.org//mobile.php?style=electrified... Everything except the black and pink is overhead electric, and I guess I hadn't realised how little of America is electrified.

by rmason 4y ago

TheLoafOfBread 4y ago

Subway makes perfect sense, except when you are CEO of a car company. Then they are your direct competitor and suboptimal solution of Tesla's in the tunnel is used instead.

mikeyouse 4y ago

These are super common - all of SFs MUNI system is built using the overhead wires -- batteries in the individual cars are interesting because there's a ton of cost involved in electrifying the entire length of the tunnel to deliver as much power as a train needs. All of the substations, the physical electrical cables themselves, etc add a ton of cost to tunneling projects and long-term wear items that will require endless maintenance that often shuts down the lines. Building a dumb cheap concrete tunnel and leaving the expensive parts in the cars themselves could be a very cost effective method of urban transport. Though I think the "use Teslas" is a dumb addition since a purpose built train car similar to the airport shuttles at Denver would be much more efficient and handicap accessible.

tshaddox 4y ago
To clarify, the light rail (Muni Metro) and electrified bus lines use overhead 600 volt DC, but most of the bus lines are not electrified.

WaitWaitWha 4y ago

Electric trolleybus have been running in some cities pre-WWII [0]. I have seen them in Budapest, São Paulo, and Malatya. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybus

nottorp 4y ago

> I think you could have normal train cars using this method. In other words use the electric grid as opposed to batteries. Like... most trains in Europe?

Symbiote 4y ago

I'm amazed that you've never seen an overhead electric caternary, be it for a train, tram or light rail system. https://www.openrailwaymap.org//mobile.php?style=electrified&lat=55.1286490684888&lon=19.16015625&zoom=3 https://www.openrailwaymap.org//mobile.php?style=electrified... Everything except the black and pink is overhead electric, and I guess I hadn't realised how little of America is electrified.