SLAMMER
Peter Berrett wrote in article <60flr2$sgn@news.tbsa.com.au>...
>
>Hi all
>
>I have just been reading about another Solar Car challenge that has been
>anounced similar to the Darwin to Adelaide variety. This got me thinking...
>has anybody ever thought about or more importantly BUILT a solar powered
>train.
>
>The beauty of a solar powered train, unlike a solar car is the extended
>length that one can give to the train. Imagine several "cars" whose sole
>purpose is the generation of electricity to drive the passenger/motor car
at
>the front. Some solar vehicles have reached quite respectable speeds on the
>road but power generation is limited by the length of the vehicle.
>
>Imagine if one removed the driver and lenthened the car so that it was
10-15
>metres long with little more that a light chassis, wheels, brakes and flat,
>low to the ground solar panels.The wieght of the solar panels would keep
teh
>wheels on the track.
>
>The main idea of these cars is to generate power so they are as light as
>practically possible with weight devoted primarily to solar panels.
>
>Such a car could provide sufficient power for its own propulsion with some
to
>spare. With several of these solar generating cars linked considerable
power
> could be generated such that the train could propel itself at quite high
>speed and with sufficient power to also propel the lead car which would
house
>the motor and driver.
>
>Now I'm not suggesting that this could have any practical use but it would
be
>interesting to see a solar train built.
>
>Has it been done before?
>
>
>cheers Peter
>