Comments on: Toyota Turns a Prius into a Roller Coaster

By: Robert Dunkel Jr

Robert Dunkel Jr — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:16:29 +0000

If you could mount a generator to a flywheel and have a friction surface on the edge or connected to a truck tire, that the coaster on the bottom of the train to turn it as it heads down the hill, it should get that spinning to over 1000 rpm and should still be spinning by the time the next train comes through. From this it should produce power all day long and use it as a power supplement to the grid, or use it to charge up batteries for electric vehicles in the park.

By: Kristofer

Kristofer — Sun, 29 May 2011 23:43:21 +0000

Sweet. That video has coasters from Kennywood. I actually went there today.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:29:13 +0000

… recaptured power …

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:27:46 +0000

Quil is spot on. A coster operates in a constant gravitational field so, without friction/sound/wind losses, it would be conservative. The energy to push the cars up the first ramp would be equal to the energy required to stop it. Because of the losses, they have to add energy to the system to keep it going. So, regenerative breaks could never exceed the energy put into the system meaning it would be meaningless to power anything but the ride itself with the recaptured park no less than anything else in the park.

By: MDC

MDC — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:31:25 +0000

They both use magnetic brakes…

By: Piedude81

Piedude81 — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:41:41 +0000

Not necessarily. Think about coasters like Top Thrill Dragster. (Kingda Ka not included because it uses magnetic brakes, so I don't see how it could work on that ride) The force would be so massive. If coaster companies one day did build 700' coasters normally, maybe this dream could come true. Just saying. I'm a 10 year old, not a physicist.

By: Frog

Frog — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:37:59 +0000

My vote for spending the extra money saved by that technology goes to theming! That can really help rides out, and make them a better experience. Also, if the line and whole ride is themed perfectly, then people won't re-ride again and again, therefore the line will be shorter

By: Quil

Quil — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:55:24 +0000

I don't think the entire park could be powered by rides' brakes, but I do think that using this sort of technology could probably reduce the amount of energy put into lifting the train up the lift hill.

PS-CC's right. I read the note. Total bummer.

By: Prof.BAM

Prof.BAM — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:10:46 +0000

Maybe the reason they tested brakes is because Toyota has had major problems with their brakes.

By: Prof.BAM

Prof.BAM — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:10:02 +0000

does the real ride head-bang like that?