Can we electrify our highways for Plug-In Electric Hybrids?

Question

Plug-In Electric Hybrids are vehicles that have, in addition to a gas motor, an electric motor which runs off an onboard battery that can be charged at home. The problem is that battery technology to store enough power for any appreciable range is extremely expensive. But I do wonder whether our highways can be economically electrified so that PHEVs can pull their power from the road, while charging their batteries at the same time. Then much of our travel miles could be electrically powered without the huge up front cost of extensive battery storage.

Answer 1

It is plausible, but the naysayers will never allow it. If an engine was used to find the best way to pull current by induction, it would just take a powerful electromagnet strip on the highway to make it work.

The biggest problems are that it would also waste a lot of energy, and kill most of the wireless communication in the US. The power it would take to run a wire along every major road in the USA and use it for cars is enormous. Even a minimal system would wreck cell phone and similar service in areas along highways.    

I think the most realistic future we will see is using aluminum to extract hydrogen from water as a fuel. There is an aluminum alloy which exposed to water will give off hydrogen until the aluminum is used up. The resulting alumina waste can easily be recycled for reuse. That has the best potential "green" fuel future.

Answer 2

that kind of teconolgy is not ready yet and not everyone will be ready to make the change

Answer 3

<<Then much of our travel miles could be electrically powered without the huge up front cost of extensive battery storage.>>

speaking of huge up front costs, were you going to pay for the highway electrifying?

the answer is no.  it's just too expensive.

if that's not enough, who would pay for the electricity?

and how would they be charged?

is there a meter?

what if my meter doesn't work?  is it free?

Answer 4

first off the electric car was basically killed a year or two ago but also what if more old-fashioned people didn't buy a Hybrid or people who have a alternative fuel hybrid how would this new electrified road work for them? as someone already said the friction would cause sparks so a entirely new design for the wheels and roads would be needed. This Process could take years to Develop. And also years to produce the new road so the idea is good just not applicable to this situation

Answer 5

How are you going to keep people from being electrocuted?  What if it rains or snows?  What mechanism would you have to satisfy peak demands?  It cannot work.  In Pittsburgh, we used to have street cars.  they ran on steel tracks and had overhead trolleys that picked up electricity from overhead wires.  They were awful.

Answer 6

The speeds on highway driving would make a constant contact with the road surface dangerous (sparks)...and using induction to get the power is too ineffecient.

A stopgap measure would be to provide rest areas with charging stations. It'd be an extra dime in the state's pockets, and give peopel a reason to use rest areas again.

Answer 7

Hi. It would have to work using induction. Can you imagine parking garages where for a fee you could park over an inductive plate and get a 'refill'.

Answer 8

the problem with plug in electric cars is that the electricity has to come from somewhere and in the end it would (at this stage) from burning fossil fuels....

i also don't think the govt. would fork out the money for this electricity, especially if it was 'green' because it is slightly more expensive.

and could you imagine the expense of making all roads able to give cars electricity (which is what i think youre saying)..

just get a prius- its electricity comes from you breaking...

Answer 9

It's a great idea, but might be too complicated.

How about being able to recharge your whole "battery pack" at gas stations in 3 seconds!

If we start using advanced ultracapacitors in our hybrids, this will allow everyone to drive on pure electricity.

(No if only we could guarantee that electricity was cleaner than out tail pipe emissions!)

Answer 10

I believe we light our highways with LEDS light bulbs, which last longer than conventionals lights.