# Pull-back toy car's mechanism can replace electric city cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349 "2024-03-25T18:29:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/1 "2024-03-25T18:29:02Z")
When you stop at a light, you simply drive your pull-back Prius backwards for 10 feet. When the light turns green you take your foot off the brake and shoot forward for a block or two. Repeat. Every kid who has played with one intuitively knows it can revolutionize the city stop and go driving experience. Only a small amount of energy is required to drive the car backwards to cock it. This will, of course, require some adjustment to the stop/go procedure but once we get used to it, it’s all good! So when one car stops at the light, you have to wait for several more cars to stop right behind you. Then everyone backs up at once. At the green light each car waits for the one in front of it to start moving before releasing your brake.By properly adjusting the power of the pull-back motor it should prevent any accidents. There will be a learning curve. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/2 "2024-03-25T18:32:10Z")
I must tell you my good sir, that in this board we obey the laws of thermodynamics! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/3 "2024-03-25T18:38:26Z")
If they would just make all the destinations downhill, we could all ride in full sized Hot Wheels. That would save even more energy. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/4 "2024-03-25T18:45:51Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Then everyone backs up at once. Oh you silly, silly dreamer… ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/5 "2024-03-25T18:47:12Z")
Or we could do full-sized zip-pull cars. It would just take cooperation from the person behind you at the light, to pull your cord for you when the light turns green so you shoot ahead. Then the person behind them pulls their cord, and so on. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/b1/be/dab1be771e31e204586a39d63b827867.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/da/b1/be/dab1be771e31e204586a39d63b827867.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/6 "2024-03-25T18:54:21Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I must tell you my good sir, that in this board we obey the laws of thermodynamics! What did we do before the law of gravity was passed? How close was the vote; how many were against it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/7 "2024-03-25T18:56:30Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Frodo](#): > > > > I must tell you my good sir, that in this board we obey the laws of thermodynamics! > > What did we do before the law of gravity was passed? How close was the vote; **how many were against it?** - I can tell you this, it was an uphill battle. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/8 "2024-03-25T18:57:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It would just take cooperation from the person behind you at the light, to pull your cord for you when the light turns green so you shoot ahead. Then the person behind them pulls their cord, and so on. Just wait for one of those pull-back cars to get behind you and hook up to them. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/9 "2024-03-25T19:03:38Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > If they would just make all the destinations downhill, we could all ride in full sized Hot Wheels. Just make the rear wheels larger than the front, and we’ll be going downhill all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/10 "2024-03-25T19:20:24Z")
It was no light matter I assure you. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/11 "2024-03-25T19:41:40Z")
But if you don’t stop at red lights, what then? Some places, good places I tell you, don’t even have red lights. Ever wondered why that is so, heh? Thought so. exits at the back to the left, still grumbling ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/12 "2024-03-25T20:25:19Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > But if you don’t stop at red lights, what then But, but, you have to. I said there would be a learning curve. Or the cars could be hybrid pull-back/electric for longer trips. This is primarily a city solution. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/13 "2024-03-25T20:38:02Z")
Shouts from the distance, waving his arms: WHO ARE _YOU_ TO TELL ME **I** AM DOING THIS WRONG?!?! ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/14 "2024-03-25T20:44:36Z")
This needs to go in the [half bakery](https://www.halfbakery.com/) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/15 "2024-03-25T20:44:59Z")
When a line of cars is stopped at a light, it’s only necessary for the rearmost car to pull back and wind it up. When it moves forward, it will hit the line of cars in front of it and get them all moving. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/16 "2024-03-25T22:23:41Z")
Pedal cars are the future! No pollution, cheap to run, obey speed limits … and keep the driver fit. 😍 ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/17 "2024-03-25T22:33:18Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Pedal cars are the future! Or have the bottom of the car be open, and the driver and passengers can run their feet on the ground to propel the car, Flintstones-style. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/18 "2024-03-26T14:57:09Z")
Oh, forget the cars. Just shoot people to their destinations with people cannons. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/19 "2024-03-27T17:25:12Z")
Wait, you need to back up 10 feet? Hell, no! You need an electromagnet on the grill so the car ahead of you will pull you through to the next light. Better yet, use your regenerative braking so that car is helping you recharge your battery. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349/20 "2024-03-27T17:28:42Z")
At this point you might as well just hook up a tow rope. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-back-toy-cars-mechanism-can-replace-electric-city-cars/999349.md?page=2)