Japan set to introduce magnetic levitation trains by 2025
Remember the hoverboards from Back to the Future? Alright, this is just like that, except totally different. You see, both the hoverboards and these magnetic levitation (maglev) trains use magnetism to lift a few inches off the ground, or track, removing that nasty stumbling block of efficiency: friction. The results of this levitation are reduced power consumption from the drivetrain and faster speeds. Japan already has an efficient public transportation system with many high speed trains in operation, so it is certainly not shocking that they would be the first to bring maglev trains to the masses. According to this article, China currently has a small track using a maglev, but Japan will most likely be the first to use them in large numbers, traveling large distances.
[Source: Yahoo News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ronilateral-registrations 9:11PM (4/27/2007)
Wikipedia has a good overview article about maglev train tech. The Japan Rail system uses "electrodynamic" levitation, which requires the train be moving before it "lifts off". This is more energy efficient than the German TransRapide system, but you wind up with enormous magnetic fields inside the Japanese trains, not so with the German trains. Watch out with your pacemakers and credit cards!
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mag-alla 5:05AM (5/09/2007)
je suis en cour de preparation d'une these de magistére intitulé conception et realisation du principe de la levitation magnetique"train à levitation magnetique"
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