Power-sipping Eco Ride urban transportation system to hit Japan

Japan's not hurting for trains, but what's the addition of another going to hurt? Senyo Kogyo and Senyo Kiko have jointly announced plans to construct a test line for an energy-saving urban transportation system this October. Dubbed Eco Ride, the "roller coaster-like" system in Chiba Prefecture will operate "using the height difference on the railway," and furthermore, there will be drive units (complete with clanks and clangs, we bet) "installed at various points on the railway so that the Eco Ride can obtain the potential energy to run." Reportedly, Eco Ride would likely remain just a short-distance transportation system even if expanded, but no matter how you slice it, it sure beats taking the Segway to work.

[First! @ Aug 20th 2008 12:53AM]

Cool. Now I can read the article.

[Innocent Bystander @ Aug 20th 2008 12:57AM]

So it's like putting your car in neutral as you go downhill (to save gas)...

[Flashpoint @ Aug 20th 2008 1:04AM]

sounds more like a roller coaster.

[Kingus @ Aug 20th 2008 11:22AM]

Actually putting your car in neutral while going downhill doesn't save you gas. It's a myth. It would seem to be the case because your car runs at lower RPM, but that is misleading. When your car is traveling downhill in gear then it consumes virtually no gasoline because the rate of fuel injection is governed by the load the engine feels. The RPM stays high because the the engine is still turning at the same rate, but is only pumping air through the cylinders. When your car is in neutral gas is still being injected to keep your engine running, which is considerably more than when it's in gear.

[ds @ Aug 22nd 2008 9:49AM]

It is actually more like leaving your car in neutral permanently as these 'cars' will have no drive units on them. It is more like a coaster than the article lead you to believe. The companies building this thing actually design and build amusement park coasters.

[lettcco @ Aug 20th 2008 1:05AM]

you must be this tall to ride

[abib @ Aug 20th 2008 2:38AM]

or you must be under this weight to ride..

[YoJIMbo @ Aug 20th 2008 1:06AM]

You don't need to say "the Chiba Prefecture." That is like saying "the California" or something... thus ends the tirade of the Article Police.

[j @ Aug 20th 2008 1:08AM]

does it come with free cotton candies? ^^

[linuxamp @ Aug 20th 2008 2:11AM]

sweet. ジェットコースタ線

[BigD145 @ Aug 20th 2008 2:21AM]

If it's more energy efficient than a bus, then it's a good thing.

[bstear @ Aug 20th 2008 8:44AM]

Will it have loops and corkscrews?

[toyotaboy @ Aug 20th 2008 12:50PM]

It also saves time and energy by not stopping. when you need to get off, you press a button on your seat and it does a loop and unbuckles you from your seat, and you fall to the platform.

[isaac fierro @ Aug 20th 2008 7:08PM]

lol, looks like an imac g3