Patent ID: 6401625
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: B60P,B61B

Abstract:
An electrically powered vehicle transportation system, comprising:a guideway with parallel rails that extend longitudinally, each of the rails having a wheel engaging surface; an electrical bus bar extending alongside at least one of the rails; an electrically powered vehicle having a body with four wheel wells, a pair of axles with a wheel mounted to each end of each of the axles, wherein each of the axles is configured to allow the ends of the axle to extend and retract between a retracted position, wherein each of the wheels is recessed within one of the wheels wells for conventional road use, to an extended position, wherein the wheels are laterally exterior of the wheel wells for engaging the wheel engaging surfaces of the rails; and an electrical contact on the vehicle that electrically engages the electrical bus bar for delivering power to the vehicle while the vehicle is located on the guideway.