In 10 years' time trains could be solar powered

A technique has been devised that allows electricity to flow directly from solar panels to electrified train tracks to the trains themselves making solar powered trains more feasible than ever beforeLast week, my10:10 colleague Leo Murray co-authored anew report on solar-powered trains with Nathaniel Bottrell, an electrical engineer at Imperial College.It ’s exciting stuff. We think solar could power 20% of the Merseyrail network in Liverpool, as well as 15% of commuter routes in Kent, Sussex and Wessex. There’s scope for solar trams in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham, London and Manchester too, and there’s no reason it should just be a British thing either. We’re especially excited about possibilities in San Francisco, Mexico City, India and Spain, but trains and trams all over the world could be running on sun in a few years time.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Science Environment Energy Transport Science policy Climate change Solar power Renewable energy Transport policy Source Type: news