Chinese researchers test 2.8-ton maglev road car
Chinese researchers levitated a 2.8-ton car 35 millimeters off the ground on a highway in east China’s Jiangsu province, state-sponsored media said over the weekend.
The feat was accomplished by modifying an off-the-shelf car with a permanent magnet array and installing a corresponding conductor rail on 7.8km of road, thus achieving magnetic levitation, or “maglev” technology.
Eight cars in total were eventually tested, reaching speeds of up to 143mph (230 kph), according to the media outlets.
The researchers hail from Chengdu’s Southwest Jiaotong University and are examining how cars might be fitted with maglevs in the future as an energy-saving measure.
In July, China debuted a maglev bullet train that travels up to 373mph (600kph).
It’s recognized as the world’s fastest train, but a lack of existing track networks keeps it from being much use.
One such service does operate commercially in China – the Shanghai maglev train the goes from the airport to the city at a cruising speed of 268 mph (431 kph).
Last month, China said it had completed construction of an 800m maglev trial line, although it is only capable of reaching speeds of 50mph (80kph).
The Red Rail sees the train hover 30 feet above the ground with the track positioned above the vehicle.
See more here theregister.com
Header image: South China Morning Post
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Howdy
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Life-size scalextric, but one has to enquire why…
If you don’t know what scalextric is:
https://uk.scalextric.com/catalogue/track
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Charles Higley
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The problem is that hauling around the maglev system when not on the maglev route will cost a huge amount of energy. Just like the normal F-150 is 5000 lbs and the EV F-150 is 9000 lbs. You are hauling around two tons of batteries. Makes no sense.
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Doug Harrison
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They will have to invent a new type of battery system as there isn’t enough neodymium available to make this viable.
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