• AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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    4 months ago

    If it is travelling on a precise guideway (more precisely aligned than a traffic lane), then it is possible to transfer electrical power to it safely, either by aligning a pantograph with an overhead catenary or by a system of conductive rails, Once you can do that, the vehicle’s weight drops (as it doesn’t need to carry as much fuel), increasing carrying capacity and/or reducing the frequency of required road maintenance, Additionally, as electrical power is fungible (and can be sourced from whatever generation method is most economical), running costs are decreased over combustible fuel (as long as you don’t need to store it in the vehicle).

    • n2burns
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      4 months ago

      None of those are advantages over a trolleybus.

      • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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        4 months ago

        A trolleybus’s speed is limited by the need to maintain contact with the cable (or two cables, as the current needs an earth connection, which doesn’t help). A fixed guideway allows the vehicle to travel at higher speeds whilst retaining contact.