The number of people who have gotten behind the wheel and driven off – possibly into oblivion – because of apathetic, distracted, or otherwise negligent driving is staggering. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), careless driving is currently responsible for killing or injuring more than 300 people every day across the country. That’s nearly one death every hour and six injuries every hour.
In light of this terrifying statistic, what would make you more likely to drive carefully or responsibly: a flashing light on the dashboard, a loud speaker, or an old-fashioned honk?
While all of these things can serve as a deterrent, consider this. The National Park Service (NPS) notes that a vehicle passing through a park at 50 miles per hour generates the same amount of noise as 10,000 automobiles or trucks lined up outside the entrance – or, as one expert puts it, “like the noise of a small town compared to that of a major city.”
Similarly, every year as the ski season nears, a small town in Colorado Springs goes through an ordeal known as the “Ski Zombie Apocalypse.” That’s because, as the season arrives, the number of people on the ski slopes begins to increase, and the apathetic, distracted, or otherwise negligent drivers on the roads below become apparent. This, in turn, puts more pressure on the already-overloaded police and emergency responders who have to deal with these situations. During one of these zombie apocalypses in 2017, one of the tragedies involved a skier who got hit by a car while trying to cross the road to get to his ski slope.
These sorts of deaths and injuries are tragic. But they’re also indicative of a problem that’s far from being solved. Which brings us to the question of how much electricity does a ski lift use?
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How Much Does A Ski Lift Use?
The electricity consumption of a ski lift – or any other type of ski attraction for that matter – varies with several factors. The first is how long the lift stays in operation. A chairlift that operates for just 10 minutes might only use as much electricity as a hot tub does for a whole night. Second, the grade of the ski slope and how fast you plan to travel determine how much power you’ll need to run the machine.
Most importantly, the type of lighting you have on the mountain determines how much electricity you’ll need to operate the lift.
In the case of a day lift such as those used at most ski resorts, the light bulbs may only illuminate the lift vehicle for a couple of hours. Then, as the day draws on and the darkness begins to encroach, the electricity that kept the lift running may be gradually drawn upon.
When you’re on a nightlife patrol as a private security guard or a police officer, one dark place can look just like any other. But when the electricity shuts off, all your work – and all the work of the people you’re protecting – goes down the drain. And that, my friends, is enough to make even the most relaxed police officer reach for his gun.
The Electrical Load
While all this may seem somewhat abstract, it’s worth taking a couple of minutes to consider the electrical load the lift will pose to the local power grid. To do this, find the equivalent continuous load rating (in watts) of the lift and multiply it by the number of people who will ride it. (If you’re using a calculator, consider the mode of operation – that is, how much power your device needs to work vs. how much power the machine itself needs to run.)
Continuing with the example above, if you have a chairlift that can carry 200 people and runs for a period of 10 minutes, the lift would generate 20 Watts of continuous load. But this number takes into account that one person may only use one arm to keep the chair in motion for the duration of their ski experience, leaving the other three arms free to operate the lights and other devices on board. In this scenario, you may need to adjust your calculations and consider each person using two arms as equivalent to one person using one arm.
In general, if you’re using a calculator, it’s best to assume that one person – other than the driver – is always working to keep the machine moving, and that no one will sit in the front passenger’s seat, especially in heavy traffic. Further, while it’s common for police officers to ride in the backseat, this is usually reserved for when the police car is parked and not in motion. (In other words, don’t expect to see cops on lifts often.)
Warm Up The Motors
Regardless of whether you have a gas- or electric-powered machine, the motors need to be warmed up before use so that they operate at their optimum efficiency.
Which brings us to our final point. While some people may believe that the more lights you have the better, the reality is that too many lights can cause more problems than they’re worth. This is especially true if you’re using them in the winter, when the temperatures are at their lowest and the ice and snow are reflecting light like a mirror.
To avoid this, you may want to consider using spotlights rather than floor or ambient lights. The former allow you to shine a beam of concentrated light on a particular area, whereas the latter illuminate a wider area and therefore may cause you to lose sight of the road ahead. This is important because even in the best-intentioned driver’s eyes, the glare from the outside lights may cause him or her to become obliviously distracted – just like the guy in the example above – putting everyone in danger. (Just remember: regardless of what kind of vehicle you’re driving, heat becomes a major issue once the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. And this is true whether you’re on a mountain or an interstate.)
Conclusion
As you can see, there are numerous factors that go into determining how much electricity a ski lift uses. While some may believe that the more lights you have the better, others may say that too many lights can cause more problems than they’re worth. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide what kind of lighting you prefer for the conditions at the resort – and whether you want to use any at all.