'Lectric Rail trumps $4.19/gallon gasoline.
Science of Railway Locomotion"At the same constant speed, on level ground, drawing the same load, any steel wheeled railway vehicle already in motion, will use only 5% (1/20) of the energy consumed by any large pneumatic tire road vehicle already in motion. Upon starting and initial acceleration, any steel wheeled railway vehicle will only use 10% (1/10) of the energy demanded by any large pneumatic tire road vehicle. Further, only in the case of railroads, Train Resistance, or Rolling Resistance, is inversely proportional to GCW (train weight). This means, the heavier the train, the more energy efficient it becomes."
This sums up WHY getting America "back on track" is vital to reduce our consumption of fuel (majority is imported).
Whatever percentage of travel we move from automobiles, trucks, buses, to electric traction rail, we save 90% to 95% in fuel. (Regenerative braking recovers some of the energy normally lost, so that boosts efficiency, too)
If we reduce automobile trips by 80% by substituting
electric traction rail, that cuts energy / fuel consumption by 95% of that 80% segment. . . roughly 76% drop -
less than domestic production - which wipes out our need to import petroleum
(and export $600 billion a year).
With a finite energy budget, by rail, we can move 20 times as much -or- move the same amount for 5% of the energy consumed by other forms.
No other action will so quickly restore prosperity to America.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jetgraphics
Partisan politics aside, there are certain facts to face. [] Fossil fuels are an accumulation of past solar input, condensed and concentrated. To consume them at current rates is not only unsustainable, it is insane. We can't wait 65 million years for a refill. (We can't kick this can down the road for our grandchildren to deal with)
[] At 19 million barrels a day, down from 20 million (2006) America is still consuming far too much fossil fuel.
Thanks to government meddling and corruption, we have little choice in the matter. We're trapped into using the most wasteful form of land transportation.
[] Barring a technological breakthrough, the most cost effective, efficient, sustainable and frugal form of land transportation is electric traction steel wheel on steel rail. At a 20:1 advantage over rubber tire on pavement, it is a viable means to reduce fuel consumption. Transitioning 80% of cargo and passenger service to electric traction rail would not only eliminate the need for petroleum imports, but would have many beneficial side effects - reduced air pollution - improved quality of life - less surface area consumed - reduced traffic congestion for the remaining vehicles on the road.
[] Due to national socialism (since 1933), the proliferation of bureaucratic agencies and the burden of taxes (over 20% of GDP) on productive industry and labor have made it appear that only government funding can support rail mass transit. However, a far simpler solution is to NOT give public funding, and NOT levy a tax on electric traction rail, and any company or employee 100% involved in it. A 100% tax exemption is a far more effective stimulus. Without public funding, the only way any rail company can make a profit is to actually provide a service that the customer wants - minus the bureaucratic overhead of government meddling, red tape, delays and waste.
No company is in the business of spending money - it's in the business to make money. ASAP.
[] Investing the 500 - 800 billion per annum previously lost to buying imported petroleum would spark an economic recovery domestically.
[] An American rail renaissance can reinvigorate the economy, provide needed transportation, and integrate with a multimodal transportation network of long haul rail with short haul trucks, buses, and autos.
[] In the event that overhead power distribution is used to power electric traction rail, it might be designed to accommodate other vehicles, like trolley buses and trucks - and perhaps private electric vehicles. Access to the power grid would eliminate the #1 drawback of EV's - the limitation of power capacity in the battery.
[] Converting to electric powered transportation (at 80% rate) is estimated to increase electric load by 1.5 to 2.0%.
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References:
Science of Railway Locomotion
The Oil Drum | Multiple Birds
Passenger Rail for the Shasta Route: Table of Contents
The National Electric Railroad Initiative |