A different twist on electric trucks!!!!!

[CMStPnP]

This is fairly clever, never thought of this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3P_S7pL7Yg

 

[blue streak 1]

This operation is obviously a prototype.  I can see some problems with the CAT set up.

1.  The several examples have seen the CAT does not appear to be constant tension.  

2.  The CAT does not have the sweep back and forth that is needed to prevent premature wear of the PAN pickup.  

3.  the PAN does not have a wire stop that might cause the pan to have both wires on the same pickup with consequences of a straight short.

4.  the cat wires in reference to #3 may be separated sightly farther apart.  If truck has to swerve suddenly #3 might happen?

5.  If this proves commercially feasible then there will need to be an utility to supply power.  That means each truck will need some kind of metering of power consumption.  

Hopefully this post will not get lost in the web site problems!

[samfp1943]

Curious, but interesting.

1.) would work well from a specific origin to a specific destiunation.

2.) How would the charges for power and infrastructure be

oarceled out?

3.) A derlivery to any point offof the cantenary system?  Costrs$$$+  WHO PAYS?

...Good start...

[Overmod]

I see evidence in the video that pan-wear 'wiggle' relative to the travel lane is provided.

They note that the 'default' action for any unusual problem that might produce a short is to drop the pans.

There is for some reason no comment on this, but any current camera-based "autonomous driving assist" system would assure both good lanekeeping and some of the usual forms of accident avoidance.  Likewise issues of pan following or accommodation -- optical 'following' of the wire has been a 'thing' since the 1970s and is simple with OTS components now.

In Europe you'd have smart meters on the trucks that tie into the log system.  And probably divide the 'wire' into relatively short block sections so energization is made when traffic is present.  Note that most of the advantages of punctuate electrification on railroads -- and implications for truck vehicle design -- follow here.

[Backshop]

Would there be gaps at underpasses and other, low overhead areas?

[CMStPnP]

blue streak 1

Hopefully this post will not get lost in the web site problems!

Completely off topic but even I have limits to my patience in this regard.    How many bad choices in IT providers do we as clients have to be tortured by????

[York1]

CMStPnP

 

blue streak 1

Hopefully this post will not get lost in the web site problems!

Completely off topic but even I have limits to my patience in this regard.    How many bad choices in IT providers do we as clients have to be tortured by????

 

Since we as 'clients' are getting this service completely free, we can end the torture whenever we want.

 

[Ulrich]

Great idea.. the heavily travelled I95 corridor would be an ideal candidate for this..

[54light15]

Wouldn't it be simpler to electrify the railroads and have electric powered freights like in Europe? 

[Overmod]

Backshop

Would there be gaps at underpasses and other, low overhead areas?

The way it was being explained a decade ago was that the catenaries would be continuous, like a tram, and the truck lanes would be undercut or bridges raised where necessary to facilitate that.

With the gains in battery and charging effectiveness, and camera-based alignment and navigation, I get the impression the catenary is now more for continuous 'float' charging and grade accommodation than as a 'rubber-tired electric railroad'.  That does not mean there can't be 'straight electric' capability, but to have zero-carbon last mile, many of which places can't practically be wired for this system or navigated under dual wire practically -- you need substantial battery or hybrid capability.

[Erik_Mag]

Backshop

Would there be gaps at underpasses and other, low overhead areas?

I recall reading that the CAT is energized with a relatively low voltage DC, so there is less of an issue in providing clearance. DC would also eliminate the need for phase breaks, though sectionalizing would help with isolating short circuits. The low voltage would entail close spacing of substations, though that may be more of a plus than a minus.

Addendum:

I don't see any technical roadblocks to implementing the system, and would be more practical than trying to put 500 miles of battery range on a semi. The obstacles will be mostly economic, string said catenary is likely to be at least as expensive per lane-mile as it would be per track mile.

One exception to "mostly economic" is the peak demand issue - though that could be worked around with batteries at the substations, which would give some time for the road to shut down in case of a blackout.

[MP104]

reference: "....bad choices in IT providers do we as clients have to be tortured by???? 

I thought it was just me. Thanks for the mention, and realization I'm not alone. endmrw0428242140