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Comment by rukittenme | Hacker News Reader

Electricity is weightless... Leave the power plant at home. Just transmit the electricity by wire (if an electric train) or don't at all if its a coal train because I GUARANTEE the weight of the solar panels alone will make the train less efficient. And if it doesn't, the inefficiency of them being placed in a STATIC (i.e. not sun tracking) position on a MOVING object will certainly destroy whatever "efficiency gains" you had in the first place.

What's next? A nuclear power plant in the trunk of my car to power my radio??

Also, why use solar panels to power interior lights? You only need lights when the sun isn't out. And when do solar panels work? So now we're hauling batteries around the city too.

WHAT. A. WASTE. And what's frustrating is I see bullshit like this everyday!

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I didn't down vote you. But, I wanted to put some views here:

> if its a coal train

No coal trains in India except Heritage pieces.[1]

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Railways#Locomotives

You have a point. But, consider this:

- Currently 47% kms length of the running track is electrified. They are not doing away with electrification and completely going solar. - Currently they have 5869 Diesel and 5214 electric locomotives in total. (almost 47% again.) [2]

[2] - http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/direct...

The Diesel ones have an Auxiliary power units to save Diesel which they are hauling around anyway now. Your point of hauling around batteries and equipment even now happens in all Diesel locos with multiple compressors and stuff. [3].

[3] - https://medhaindia.com/index.php/products/fuel-saving-soluti...

The Solar changes will mostly augment the Diesel units progressively thus strategically reducing dependence on Diesel, which India is a huge importer every year.

The Strategy is twofold as they are speeding up electrification plus thus reducing the share of Diesel locos and also experimenting with Solar stuff.

> No coal trains in India except Heritage pieces.[1]

Sorry, I meant diesel.

> The Diesel ones have an Auxiliary power units to save Diesel which they are hauling around anyway now. Your point of hauling around batteries and equipment even now happens in all Diesel locos with multiple compressors and stuff.

Consider the energy density of diesel versus a lithium ion battery. Now consider the weight of an array of solar panels versus a small diesel generator. It's a great deal of weight gain. The compressors you carry are a sunk cost and are irrelevant.

The weight gains just put more work on the locomotives diesel engine. You will use more diesel in one location.

> The Solar changes will mostly augment the Diesel units progressively thus strategically reducing dependence on Diesel, which India is a huge importer every year.

You're not reducing diesel consumption. You're just moving it from an array of generators to the engine.

Consider that building powerlines or a third rail is more complicated and expensive then plain track.

Consider that solar panels on a train are a pointless expenditure that decreases efficiency and increases the train's carbon footprint.

Choose the third option. Do nothing. It's better for the environment and their wallets!

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