Expert: Henry Boyter - 4/8/2003

Question
I have a question on the use of liquid nitrogen for cars. I know they have used liquid nitrogen t cool railroads in Asia. I was wondering if it would ever be possible to create a public transportation system using liquid nitrogen to cool tracks. My goal is to come up with an alternative to gas. I am a student at Hartford Union High School in Hartford, WI
My grade point average is a 10.7 on a 12 point scale.

Answer
You will notice that the current train versions are either very short track systems or demo models.  Long term, the viability of the tracks is really in question.  This is because of $$$$$.  If it were not for massive government spending, they wouldn't "get off the ground" (excuse the pun).  Their future is where they are put in countries without cars where the people have no choice but to pay higher costs to ride them (Japan).

Compare cars and trains.  Trains already have track systems, cars do not so every road in the US would have to be retrofitted.  100 passengers on a train are all going to the same end stop.  100 cars, likely will go to 100 different stops. Trains run on a fixed schedule.  Cars do not.  Cars are very expensive now.  Would people buy them at 100-1000 times the current price.

Of course what you suggest is good in theory.  The cost would be astronomical and make the idea really fantasy at this point in time.  Technology would have to advance in great leaps.  One of these leaps will be to come up with the metal systems that don't need liquid nitrogen to work.  And until gasoline gets so expensive you had to start such a system, it will never be practical.