HOW ELEVATORS WORK
Take a look at the lift technology that provides an alternative to stairs
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
E lectric elevators, also known as lifts, have been in development since the 1800s. Serving as vertical transport for people and heavy freight, the technology typically involves a contained box, called a cab or car, connected to strong cables, an electric motor and a counterweight. As the motor turns, the cable is fed through the system, causing the car to rise and fall. The counterweight is essential for stabilising the elevator at specific level points, and both the car and counterweight utilise gravity as the elevator moves both up and down to save significant electrical energy.