Powered Roads

Professor Thrun and Mr Levandowski propose computer control to improve road usage and to save energy. I suggest that more energy could be saved by centrallizing power generation: let the road power the vehicles en masse. Electric motors could propel the cars, drawing power from the road while it's available and from batteries elsewhere. Alternatively, mechanical power could be transferred from the highway to cars. Advanced light rail systems use linear motors: perhaps the in-car components could be combined with driving motors for operation off the powered higheway. Appropriate fees could be charged with "Easy Pass".