Automated electric transportation system

An automated electric transportation system comprising, in combination,

• a) a self propelled electrically driven vehicle having an electric propulsion motor, for carrying objects and people therein including a driver,
• b) onboard electrical energy storage means contained within said vehicle to provide electrical energy for propelling and controlling the vehicle when electrical energy is unavailable from a fixed source,
• c) combined road wheels and rail wheels integral with said vehicle for supporting and driving the vehicle on a road and alternatively on rails,
• d) a road network providing a smooth continuous support for the vehicle when driven by said road wheels,
• e) manual control means incorporated into said vehicle permitting the driver to regulate direction and propulsion of the vehicle,
• f) a rail network disposed on a railroad bed to support and guide the vehicle riding on said rail wheels,
• g) rail power transmission and replenishing means incorporated into said rail network for supplying electrical energy to the vehicle while driven thereon and replenishing onboard storage means,
• h) automatic control and indicating means integrated into said vehicle for self directing and identifying the vehicle while driven on the rail network,
• i) extendable overhead lifting means integral with said vehicle having propulsion means therein for lifting the vehicle on and off of the rail network and for propelling the vehicle to the road network,
• j) ingress means adjacent to and above said rail and road network permitting the vehicle to enter the rail network using the overhead lifting means to lift the vehicle from a road and deposit it on the rail network, and
• k) egress means adjacent to and above said rail and road network permitting the vehicle to leave the rail network using the overhead lifting means by lifting the vehicle from the rail network and deposit it on the road network.