Trucks Borrow Trolley Idea, Link Up With Overhead Power Lines

A hundred years ago, most major cities relied on trains and electric trolleys to move most of their citizenry around. These days cars and trucks rule the roads of America, although an old idea might soon find a modern application. I am talking about overhead trolley power lines electrifying hybrid trucks, allowing for long journeys on little fuel while reducing noise and emissions.

The system, called eHighway, is being developed by Siemens, and as the video below shows, trucks can hook up and detach from this trolley-like power system on the go. This system would, in theory, give trucks an unlimited driving distance, while at the same time reducing road noise, fuel consumption, and emissions. The hybrid trucks could leave and return to the system at any time, traveling the rest of the distance on either battery, or backup engine power.

Being that trolley lines have existed for a century or more in this country (though today are limited to places like San Francisco), nobody could claim this is some wacky unproven technology, like wireless in-road charging. And since the system itself is relatively simple, installing overhead powerlines on certain highways could be comparatively affordable.

That is assuming that truck makers get on board with this idea. And I can’t see why they wouldn’t. High diesel prices are eating into the profits of many shipping companies, and even the government is finally clamping down on big truck emissions. This overhead charging apparatus couldn’t have come at a better time.

Source: Gizmodo

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Tags: bus, e-highway, ehighway, electric, hybrid trucks, in-road charging, overhead charging, San Francisco, Siemens, trolley

About the Author

Christopher DeMorro A writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs, Chris can be found wrenching or writing- or esle, he's running, because he's one of those crazy people who gets enjoyment from running insane distances.

http://importantmedia.org/members/joborras/ Jo Borras

1.21 Gigawatts!!
http://gas2.org gmam

sounds great! we just have to have a study and then another study and a few more after that then the tea party can protest the cost over runs and convince its sheeple that the devil lives inside the power lines and we’ll get it in 50 years. No problem!
shecky vegas

Now, now, gmam. The devil doesn’t live inside the power lines.
The devil lies in the details.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
http://Cleantechnica.com Breath on the Wind

An interesting article, but I am curious why they would choose to pursue overhead lines when they are considered unsightly, and require substantial infrastructure added to roadways. Perhaps it is to get past the limited overhead that is being considered for buses (frequent stops) in cities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hME6du52q6M

Overhead lines have also traditionally been used with rail systems that help to keep the pantograph on the lines. They are contrasted with trolley poles used on trolley buses. It is unclear from the article how this is accomplished by the trucks. see: http://cleantechnica.com/2011/10/14/a-desire-named-streetcars/

Also curious that you characterize wireless energy transfer as “some wacky unproven technology” when the very same company has also been pursuing that technology for over a year: http://www.electric-vehiclenews.com/2011/04/siemens-and-bmv-unveil-wireless-ev.html The efficiency can be as high as 97% energy transfer, no towers are required and the equipment is safe from vandals, accidents and weather.
Chris Skinner

Instead of expensive wireless transmission coils buried beneath the surface of a costly to construct electric road…. perhaps wireless power transmission could come from above the ground or overhead as well. Such harmonic resonance transmission has already been proven to be capable of sending an enormous amount of power with no harm to people in it’s path. Perhaps such resonance coils could be mounted onto already existing electric power poles or something. Just a thought. Don’t know how well it would work.
http://deleted Chris Skinner

Furthermore, not only would the transmission and recieving coil be in harmonic compatibility…. but all the transmission coils could also be in harmonic sync with each other as you travel down the road, their magnetic fields overlapping. This would help to reinforce their ability to transmit more efficiently. Just a thought.