Could induction grids be the future for urban transportation?

Question

The biggest drawbacks to electric cars both result from battery limitations: running the car at higher speeds (freeway, highway) drains the batteries too fast, range is lower than conventional cars, finding a public recharging station limits where and how you can drive.

What if we had hybrid cars that had the ability of operating 100% electric at highway speeds with electricity provided through a public owned induction grid built into specially designated freeways in major urban centers. Yes, it would be expensive, but no more or maybe a lot less then building a public trasnportation system from scratch. Since the car is a hybrid, you would still have gasoline to fall back on when running off the grid. You could also build induction coils into specially designated public parking spaces to charge your car while you park, eliminating the need for construction of numerous recharging stations. Private business and retail centers would have the added economic incentive of selling

Answer 1

I think the next major nationwide project will actually be a water grid vs. transportation.

We really don't have a transportation problem anymore, because more than 50% of the people on the roads could just as easily do their jobs remotely, either from home or from local office centers.  The only reason this doesn't happen is to stroke the egos of corporate management, who get a rise from their corner offices overlooking the minions of peons in tiny cubicles, and that's a pitiful excuse to trigger billions in new infrastructure costs.

However, water is a major concern that will need to be addressed, even more than all this global warming BS.  If we had a nation water grid, droughts and inland flooding would be things of the past.  Water could be redirected from where there is too much to where there is not enough.

That will take a major national infrastructure project similar to the Eisenhower Interstate project.

Answer 2

I must admit that I have problems with this concept but haven't attempted any sums.  It is rather like the principle of a solenoid or an electric motor without the close tolerances between the stators and rotor assembly and I imagine very inefficient in electricity usuage.  Also very large electromagnetic fields with possible health hazards.