The German engineering giant Siemens is researching the idea of using overhead electricity lines to power truck traffic. But the state-supported project makes no sense. It would cost billions to implement — and only lead to higher fuel consumption and more pollution.
One of the most tenacious dumb ideas within the automotive industry is the claim that what electric cars really need to be successful are overhead power lines. The logic, at least, isn’t difficult to follow: When it comes to power, cars need a lot of it, batteries store too little of it, and overhead lines can supply it.
Now Siemens, the German electrical and engineering giant as well as the country’s leading rail-technology company, hopes to carry over the best features of rail technology to road traffic. The company has outfitted two heavy-duty Mercedes trucks with electric current collectors and a modified drivetrain capable of operating with two different systems. When an overhead line is available, these prototypes run on electricity alone, much like electric locomotives. When there’s no overhead line, a diesel engine kicks in, powering a generator that continues to supply the electric system with power.
Germany’s Ministry for the Environment (BMU) saw enough green potential in this hybrid truck to channel over €2 million ($2.5 million) in federal funding to the project. Siemens used the funds to help set up its first test track at an obsolete military airport north of Berlin. Overhead lines run above and along the roughly 1.5-kilometer (one-mile) track, supplying energy to the trucks whirring steadily along below.
The difference between an electric trolley and an electric lorry is that the trolley can discharge its load into the street, when it can walk the rest of the way. The lorry load needs to be moved by people once it is unloaded. Electric lorries would need overhead power lines leading to every truck dock in the country.
There is an unavoidable problem with overhead electric lines – protected birds get fricasseed.
There is still a busline here in the next village powered that way. Dates from the 60′s. Pretty silly system since it can only swerve the length of the calipers which obviously aren’t that long.
I suppose it might work as described, although there would be three questions I’d ask first. Why did we take down all the overhead trolley lines 50 years ago? What’s the proposed gain from such a system? Other than a lot of money down another “green” rathole?
And those overhead power lines will be strung above the Autobahn?
How about roads outside of the bigger towns and cities?
Hmmm… so it’ll only work well for a tiny fraction of the vehicles, for a small part of their trips. Brilliant idea for making lots of money out of stupid people.
This “green” (sic) boondoggle will be written about right next to the 19th century Robber Barons.Same crimes, different day.
Of course this idea is ludicrous. The other commenters have put up some of the major objections to this silliness.Yet, it will continue on towards the inevitable ending – tons of loot stolen from the citizens pockets used to enrich the friends of the overlords in government.
It has come to me from observation that even with all our advance knowledge in so many fields of endevour, ‘the public’ does not get any smarter over time as we continue to repeat history’s failures again and again. *sigh*
Sadly, “the public” is catching on to the fact that the whole “green” CAGW scam is just a way to enrich cronies at the expense of the average taxpayer. The problem is that a “rent-seeker” as large and wealthy as Siemens can pay the bribes necessary to get an absurd plan like this approved, and get billions in return. GE is doing much the same already in the U.S.
Carnival bump-bump cars(trucks) now on the streets and highways!
Don’t bet against this scheme. This is a country at high lattitude, with lots of cloud cover and they have bought into the solar energy fantasy, big time.
If it is such a great idea, why does Siemens need to get public funding? Sounds like a way to raid the public treasury.