Electrified roads could power cars

HMPF.. Nikola Tesla was working on that idead a decade ago =/ True, but I believe his plans involved free energy in general. Most investors didn't like that idea...

What if it rains?

HMPF.. Nikola Tesla was working on that idead a decade ago =/ impressive considering he's been dead since the 1940s

When I was in Grade school, many many years ago LOL I remember our teacher talking about something like this. He always had interesting stories. He had another idea for cars in the future. His take on it was to put some kind of magnetic strip or metal in the roads. But that was so like with cruise control you could take your foot off the gas, that you could do the same thing with the steering wheel, set steering control, and the car would stay in its lane. As far as electrified roads, I mean sure its doable, would be expensive as hell, and you all make some valid points. But thats science for ... [More]

Heinlein used this Tesla idea in his books 50 years ago. I'm not so sure cars will be the transportation of the future, though we do love our little private cages.

what would happen if you got offroad... darn.. you stuck

People will rig up illegal connections to steal the electricity in this neck of the woods.

what would source the energy and would it be hazardous to our health?

what would source the energy and would it be hazardous to our health? Anything above about 50 volts can be hazardous to your health if you hold one side in each hand.

I think the many comments have outlined the drawbacks of this idea, but like most things it 'sounds' like a good idea initially until you think of the downside. However thats not to say that the principal couldn't spawn a usable technology, especially if used in conjunction with cell driven electric vehicles. Then the advantage would be if 'sections' of electrified road were used to recharge electric cars as they drive. A meter in the car would charge the drivers account and allow the range to effectively be 'infinite'. They could be built as 'recharge sections' running parralel to existing ro... [More]