it's this http://forum.industrial-craft.…?page=Thread&threadID=215 idea taken one step further.
It's simple. Item, that can be placed on any horizontal and vertical surface. As long as you are touching such block, you can move much faster in any direction, horizontal or vertical. So you can make both "elevators" and "cartless railroads" from it.
Also, to make it simpler, i don't think it should consume electricity. Initial material investment to do lane itself is quite enough.