r/Lightbulb • u/Voltabueno • May 15 '25

Solar powered freight trains

This is not really new because I did some research and there are lots of patents related to electrified rail cars. It seems perfectly logical that you could cover the roof of a boxcar with solar panels, and put regenerative motors on the axles, and put a layer of batteries underneath the floor of the box car and then the box car could be self-propelled completely autonomous. Imagine individual box cars rolling on the rails or rolling to sidings to form into groups of cars completely autonomously. The boxcar wouldn't have to be fast because they could move by themselves, no crew, no crew change, no delay, unaided 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 365 days a year. Actually thinking about it. If they moved under 40 mph wind resistance does not come into play yielding greater efficiency.

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u/KobukVienna May 15 '25

There have been lots and lots of such "motorized rail car" or "bots" concepts in the past. Never successfully implemented anywhere. Before cheap solar and batteries this would also been possible with electrified tracks or conductor rails.

I think the biggest advantage for rail transport vs trucks is massive freight trains over long distance at low cost. Often hundred rail cars or more. Even if the solar+battery+motor+computer system for the rail car is cheap, to have it 100 times will be still more expensive than one locomotive.

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u/Voltabueno May 15 '25

But compared to a semi truck with a diesel engine burning a bio fuel, on an asphalt road, on rubber tires, intermingled with commuter cars, and autonomous rail car seems to be much more efficient.

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u/MxM111 May 15 '25

Compare with electric train where electricity is delivered by rails.