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From: robertj@yale-zoo-suned..arpa (Rob Jellinghaus)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures,rec.railroad
Subject: Re: Warm superconductors (RAILWAYS and TRANSIT)
Message-ID: <18946@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Nov-87 16:22:17 EST
Article-I.D.: yale-cel.18946
Posted: Sun Nov 15 16:22:17 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Nov-87 01:32:53 EST
References: <2824@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <1062@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
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Reply-To: robertj@yale.UUCP
Organization: Yale University Computer Science Dept, New Haven CT
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Summary: What about electric motors?
Xref: mnetor comp.society.futures:212 rec.railroad:919

One aspect of the new superconductors that has not been touched on yet
is their applicability to electric motors.  With current technology,
electric cars are not practical, because the motors are too heavy and
too inefficient, as are the batteries.

Warm superconductors could solve both of these problems.  We could
create motors half the size and many times more powerful than the
electric motors of today.  The batteries could also become more
efficient by orders of magnitude.  This could get us out of our current
reliance on petrochemicals, and greatly reduce humanity's destruction
of the biosphere.  Not to mention you never need go to the gas station
again; just plug in your car overnight!

Of course, this leaves out questions of intense electromagnetic fields
inside the car, ability to quickly accelerate, etc.  But GE recently
created a solar-powered car that crossed Australia at an average speed
of over 40 mph (if memory serves).  The thing only drove during the
daylight hours, but that's still an impressive feat.  And that was with
non-superconductor technology.  If that can be done now, imagine what
will be done when the supercoductors come along!

Rob Jellinghaus                | "Lemme graze in your veldt,
jellinghaus@yale.edu.UUCP      |  Lemme trample your albino,
ROBERTJ@{yalecs,yalevm}.BITNET |  Lemme nibble on your buds,
!..!ihnp4!hsi!yale!jellinghaus |  I'm your... Love Rhino" -- Bloom County