Question

How useful would it be if intersections were intentionally elevated? Instead of the usual energy loss of braking and accelerating would now be temporarily stored in/released from gravitational energy. I guess less useful for hybrid and electric cars.

Answer 1

Elevating intersections to utilize gravitational energy storage and release could have both advantages and limitations. Here are some considerations:

Advantages:

1. Energy Efficiency: By converting the kinetic energy of vehicles into gravitational potential energy during deceleration and releasing it during acceleration, the system could potentially reduce energy losses associated with braking and accelerating, leading to improved overall energy efficiency.

2. Reduced Environmental Impact: If implemented on a large scale, the concept could potentially reduce fuel consumption and emissions from vehicles, resulting in a positive environmental impact, particularly for non-electric vehicles.

3. Smooth Traffic Flow: Elevated intersections could potentially facilitate smoother traffic flow by reducing the need for complete stops at intersections. Vehicles would rely on the stored gravitational energy to accelerate, allowing for a more continuous movement, which may lead to improved traffic efficiency.

Limitations:

1. Infrastructure Costs: Implementing elevated intersections would require significant infrastructure modifications, including designing and constructing elevated roadways and implementing the energy storage and release mechanisms. This could be costly and time-consuming.

2. Compatibility with Different Vehicle Types: As you mentioned, hybrid and electric vehicles, which utilize regenerative braking to recover energy, may not benefit as much from the gravitational energy storage system. This limitation could reduce the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the concept.

3. Safety Considerations: Elevating intersections could introduce new safety challenges. For instance, drivers would need to adapt to the changes in the road layout and adjust their driving behavior accordingly. Additionally, there would be a need for safeguards to prevent accidents or failures in the energy storage and release mechanisms.

4. Urban Space Constraints: Implementing elevated intersections would require additional space above or below the existing road network. This could be challenging in densely populated urban areas, where available space is limited.

Overall, the idea of elevated intersections for gravitational energy storage and release presents an interesting concept to improve energy efficiency in transportation. However, it would require careful consideration of various factors such as cost, compatibility with different vehicle types, safety, and space constraints before implementation.