World's first solar train (video)

[JohnM]

Thought this may interest those into ev cars etc. I know there's been lots of discussion about solar roads but this seems more viable as you have highly controlled conditions.

[daniel1948]

Cool.

It's a short run of level track, but still pretty cool. (For those who haven't watched the video, most of the energy comes from solar panels on the platform, and only a little from the panels on the roof of the train. And the train has to plug in after each round trip. But still cool.)

[brilligtove]

Yeah, it seems like a perfect niche application. I was surprised at how much electricity they have put back into the grid, and how amazingly efficient the train is on each trip.

[daniel1948]

Electric motors are inherently more efficient than internal combustion engines. And trains are inherently more efficient than cars. It's a good match, and in many places the trains are all electric. The new thing here is getting the electricity from solar panels, as they continue to become more efficient and cheaper.

[arthwollipot]

For those who don't know, Byron Bay is the most hippie town in Australia.

...the town has not lost its attraction to a diverse range of visitors including surfers, backpackers and general tourists interested in the natural attractions of the area, and also supports a healthy cross section of creative persons including artists, craftspersons and musicians, while its more recent hippy/new age past is reflected to a degree in a prevalence of alternative "new-age" shops, "spiritual" services such as meditation and yoga classes, and holistic healing/"wellness" retreats.

Yep. That's Byron Bay.

[Alex Simmons]

Hippies are more out out Nimbin.

[Alex Simmons]

Here's a funnier take on Byron Bay:

[arthwollipot]

Hippies are more out out Nimbin.

Drugs are from Nimbin. Weird newage services are from Byron.

[PatrickG]

Cool!

The electric train has roughly the same battery and motor as a Tesla EV. The power consumption is 5 kWh for 6km (3.7miles). That results in an efficiency of 0.75 miles/kWh. For comparison, a Tesla Model 3 is about 4 miles/kWh (5X better).

But this train can carry 100 people, while the car only has room for 4. So the train is 75 person miles/kWh and the car is at 16 person miles/kWh (5X worse).