And even in some prototype bus, the Gyrobus, in the 50’s that used an electrically charged flywheel that was also (to some degree) regeneratively recharged when breaking:
Rather than carrying an internal combustion engine or batteries, or connecting to overhead powerlines, a gyrobus carries a large flywheel that is spun at up to 3,000 RPM by a “squirrel cage” motor.[1] Power for charging the flywheel was sourced by means of three booms mounted on the vehicle’s roof, which contacted charging points located as required or where appropriate (at passenger stops en route, or at terminals, for instance). To obtain tractive power, capacitors would excite the flywheel’s charging motor so that it became a generator, in this way transforming the energy stored in the flywheel back into electricity. Vehicle braking was electric, and some of the energy was recycled back into the flywheel, thereby extending its range.
Source: Wikipedia: Gyrobus
nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 1 month ago
Agreed, but here it is done highly effective. The 1.8 degree temperature difference is a huge plus too - they can now also save serious amounts of power on ventilation.
TfL, you listening?
guy_threepwood@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Victoria, Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and the new Piccadilly Line trains (due soon) all have regenerative braking. The rest will follow as new trains are procured.
As anyone who travels on the Victoria line in the summer will tell you: it helps, but not much.