Comment Re:just put a motor on the elevator itself (Score 1) 248
This will work, but will use more power because current elevators are counterweighted so power is used to raise the live load(cargo or passengers).
In effect a vertical cog railway. They could also make it move laterally, as the moving lights on Star Trek anticipated this idea.
A few companies are working on this old concept, which has not gained much traction due to the larger needed numbers of empty passages for cars to traverse. The nature of the idea allows multiple cars on the same track and the laterals would allow passing via temporary use as a car siding.
Taller structure are going to require longer shafts as well as sky lobbys, and stronger cable will mitigate this need in part - the number of people in taller structures will still require sky lobbys in most cases.
Regenerative descent and battery packs beside the rails are also worthwhile. Moving batteries up and down might be too costly in power? but regeneration will help in this