[anonuser123456]

You know all those bird scooters people leave lying around cluttering up the sidewalk? With a room temperature superconductor they will become hover scooters cluttering up the sidewalk!

And all of the high voltage transmission lines we want to build but can’t because of permitting reasons would have zero energy loss if we actually built them, which we won’t.

[HeartStrings]

Is this actually true?

[cthalupa]

Yes and no. There's no possible way to have a superconductor be an actual hoverboard out in the broader world - the magnetic field of the earth is just nowhere near strong enough. You can make specialized areas where it would work, though. It's even been done already with LN2 cooled superconductors - https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/4/9091951/lexus-hoverboard-v...

SC could help enable nearly lossless transmission over power in HVDC lines, but HVDC lines are already significantly more efficient than our regular ones and we don't build them for a variety of reasons, so it might not make much of an impact there for regulatory/NIMBY/etc. type reasons.

[ant6n]

The superconducting transmission line doesn’t need big towers, a clear path, a direct path or a shortest path.

It’ll be more like a thick pipe, perhaps buried.

Much easier it get a right of way, less environmental impact, less paperwork, less time to build.

[robnado]

I don't know if I would want such a strong electromagnet passing through my neighborhood.

[Laaas]

That Lexus hoverboard is extremely cool. How did I miss this commercial?

[p1mrx]

We would first need to build a superconducting track for the hover scooters (containing magnets) to ride on. Assuming we ever figure out how to mass produce the superconductor inexpensively.

Perhaps if the track were arranged in a grid-like pattern, the scooter could use superconducting electromagnets to accelerate and steer.

[depereo]

If it's a room temperature superconductor there's probably 10% US GDP available annually to figure out the manufacturing considerations.

[kijin]

I would actually welcome scooters that only work on specialized tracks. Walking safely on the sidewalk will become as easy as staying away from those tracks.

[j13n]

European cities found that shared space between pedestrians and vehicles reduced speeds and increased safety.

Carving up public spaces into those that are safe and those that can trivially injure or kill ruins the outdoors for so many.

[gibolt]

The key is not giving the car priority. Efficient and pleasant pedestrian movement is the main goal.

[ncr100]

It would be SO MUCH QUIETER than tires on asphalt. No rubber-particulate pollution, either.

[dgb23]

Somehow I fear such large magnets might come with unwanted side effects?