Some Economic and Design Aspects for an Interurban Microwave-Powered Air-Cushioned Vehicle*

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Abstract
This paper discusses a reference design to provide an interurban microwave-powered air-cushioned vehicle (impav) suitable for use in a high-speed ground transportation system. The microwave power transmission line, for both directions of travel, is achieved by a single pair of confocal parabolic reflectors extending in 30-km‡sections between the urban centers, which for the purpose of this study are at a distance of 600 km (Montreal–Toronto, Montreal–New York). Power transfer to an impav, moving in either direction, is achieved by means of an elevated power rectenna positioned on top of the vehicle. Microwave transmission line attenuation considerations indicate a 10 per cent power loss in a 15-km half-section at 915 MHz. The unit microwave power requirement is 3.5 MW, and the total power required is 140 MW. Each microwave power unit feeds an impav from the end of a half-section of the 30 km transmission line section. The impav cruising speed is 330 km/h, and the average speed for the 600-km distance is at least 300 km/h. An economic evaluation of the proposed 600-km transport system indicates a basic cost (which excludes land costs) of less than $16.00 per passenger trip at the maximum impav departure, or arrival, frequency of 10 per hour. At 50 passengers per impav the transport capacity is 8.76 million passenger-trips/year.

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