NYC Subways Testing Flywheels

socolow writes "The New York Times (free registration required) has an article about the NYC subway system's use of flywheels to store the braking energy of trains approaching stations. Not only does this advance the development of flywheel energy storage, but it will help relieve a lot of the heat subways generate (always appreciated during the summer)."

Comments

levitrain

[Mt._Honkey]

Now if they just make the flywheel out of a superconductor, then not only will it store energy, but the train will be weightless!!!

Boeing, get on it!

Pros and Cons

[teamhasnoi]

Every seat will have a little crank to turn to help drive the flywheel.

Unfortunately, it takes 45 minutes of winding for 4-5 seconds of run time.

I don't buy it

[L. VeGas]

I still think my hamster could spin a wheel faster than some dumb fly.

Flywheels: Just Say No!!

[dfn5]

Yes, but they have a nasty habit of slowing down the Earth's rotation.

Save the planet. Vote NO on flywheels.

Re:Regenerative braking

[4of12]

clue me in please... why is the resistance such a problem, if the third rail is how they are powering the trains in the first place?

It's all tied together with social security.

Politicians are often heard saying something along the lines of

"Social Security is the third rail. Don't touch it."

You've probably noticed that Social Security benefits are mostly received by old people.

You've probably also noticed that those old people move slowly. The reason they move more slowly than you or me and the reason they can't drive more than 20 mph under the speed limit is simply because they are encountering resistance.

Hope that clears it up.