GROUND TRANSPORTATION ENERGY TRANSFER

Sliding contact power transfer is feasible throughout the economical range of high speed intercity ground transportation. Noncontact power transfer is not practical at present. Dividing line between the overhead catenary approach and alongside contact rail concepts is somewhere around 200 mph. Catenary distribution will very likely carry 50 kv, 60 Hz single phase power, while contact rails will most probably deliver three-phase, 60 Hz power at about 15 Kv.