Application of Kinetic Energy Propulsion to Mass Transportation

The need for new mass transit vehicle alternatives has been spurred by the growing concern in our cities over photochemical smog, noise, smoke, odor, and transit system operating deficits, which are to a large degree the products of present rolling equipment. A project planned in conjunction with the San Francisco Municipal Railway is intended to demonstrate a practical kinetic energy (flywheel) propulsion system providing optimized electric transit with route flexibility and increased quality of service. The dual-mode trolley coaches used for the demonstration will be capable of providing scaled operational data that can be extrapolated to new classes of ecologically and socially acceptable vehicles.