January 3, 2026
Choo-choo power or a trainwreck?
Advanced Rail Energy Storage of North America
Trains as giant batteries spark math wars and ‘pumped hydro but worse’ vibes
TLDR: ARES broke ground on a 50 MW gravity-powered rail storage project in Nevada to stabilize the grid for short bursts. Commenters are split: many say it’s pumped hydro without water and question the numbers, while others note fast response and safety could make it useful in the storage arms race.
Advanced Rail Energy Storage (ARES) just broke ground in Pahrump Valley on its first GravityLine—an uphill–downhill train that stores energy using gravity. The pitch: a 50 MW “rail battery” delivering quick 15-minute grid support, 40-year life, no wear-and-tear, no scary battery fires, and lots of recycled steel. Sounds tidy. The internet? Not buying all the romance. The top vibe is pure skepticism, with one blunt chorus: “Is this just pumped hydro but… worse?” Users accuse ARES of reinventing the water wheel with rails. Others drag in history: Gravitricity popped, Fortescue’s electric train dreams got slashed, and the “train goes up, train goes down” meme is alive and clacking. Then the spreadsheets hit. One commenter did the homework, noting the site photos show just one rail set and a claimed 5 MW output, questioning how the math adds up to 50 MW. Another dunk: raising a 20‑ton container 100 meters stores only about 5.5 kWh, while a Tesla Powerwall holds 13.5 kWh in your garage—cue “I can do this at home” jokes. Still, a few practical voices say ARES could shine at fast grid balancing and no thermal runaway is a real perk. Verdict from the crowd: charming idea, divisive execution, and a whole lot of gravity pulling the comments apart.
Key Points
- •ARES uses rail-based gravity storage: electric motors move mass cars uphill to store energy; downhill deployment generates electricity.
- •Systems are claimed to have a 40-year service life with no degradation and no thermal runaway.
- •Design incorporates recycled steel rails, low-carbon reclaimable mass cars, and advanced motors/electronics for sustainability.
- •The technology is positioned to provide ancillary services and enhance grid flexibility and resilience.
- •ARES Nevada broke ground on the first GravityLine facility in Pahrump Valley, designed for 50 MW and 15 minutes of regulation services.