[hn_throwaway_99]

I admit in the past I've been skeptical about the use of gravity batteries when they involved things like towers and stacking large weights as their energy density is relatively quite low, but this seems like it makes a ton of sense. That is:

1. The shaft is already dug, so no need to build a tower.

2. As the article points out, many/most of these sites are already well-connected to the grid.

3. Also as pointed out in the article, this could be a boon to depressed areas and help broaden economic value generation.

Am I missing something?

[WalterBright]

A gravity battery doesn't need a well or a tower. The slope of a hill will do. More or less put railroad tracks up the slope, and have the "car" winched up and down. Just like the ratcheting trolleys that go up and down hills.

[stubish]

There was recently an article here about an electric truck that never needs charging. It drives up a hill, collects a load of rock from the mine there, and by the time it has driven back down with the heavy load, regenerative breaking has recharged the battery.

[WalterBright]

While that makes perfect sense, I have read journalists claiming that Teslas were 110% efficient because of regenerative braking.

[stubish]

A pile of rocks on a hill is a renewable energy source if you are prepared to wait a few billion years for plate tectonics to recharge it.

[bnegreve]

Soon we will be hearing of the global flattening.

[ryukoposting]

Would you happen to have a link?

[roelschroeven]

"This massive 45-ton electric dump truck never uses more energy than it generates on its own — here's how that works"

https://www.businessinsider.com/edumper-121-ton-electric-dum...

(You can find more articles if you search for "eDumper")

[checker]

| Just like the ratcheting trolleys that go up and down hills.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular