by Ken W2KB
caduceus wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:50 pmSome twenty years or so ago, I recall reading an Electric Power Research Institute ("EPRI") article suggesting, albeit for lightrail vehicles, that extremely rapid charging of batteries could be accomplished at each station stop during passenger dwell time by using capacitive coupling. Most of the underneath of the railcar would have a large plate mounted and between the rails at stations a fixed plate would be mounted, forming a large capacitor thus requiring no labor to attach cables at stations or elsewhere. Such would eliminate the need for out of service charging, or at least require it at several hour intervals, perhaps before and after the rush hour periods.charlesriverbranch wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2019 5:19 pm But if a battery-powered car such as a Tesla is practical, then surely a battery-powered EMU is practical. Why build all that catenary infrastructure?Moving a railcar requires just a bit more power than a passenger car. It would require MUCH more battery power, which comes with its own weight, which adds to the power necessary to move it.
It can also take hours to fully charge a Tesla, and you can only practically provide so much power to charge, so unless you are OK for a single rail car to make a couple runs and then need to charge for half a day, I don't think they're practical yet.
You could try swapping out battery packs, but that would be labor intensive. There were some tests with buses, but don't think much came of it.
~Ken :: Fairmont ex-UP/MP C436 MT-14M1 ::
Black River Railroad Historical Trust :: [/url]
Black River Railroad Historical Trust :: [/url]