Magnetic Levitation Trains: Technology, Costs, and Future

Introduction

Today, innovations in transportation technologies have significantly improved the energy efficiency, CO2 emission rates, and safety of aircraft, railroads, the trucking industry, and automobiles. Although these innovations have provided some improvements compared to the past, there remains a pressing need to identify ways to improve these technologies even further — to reduce carbon emissions, improve performance, and increase safety. In 1984, the first commercial magnetic levitation train was introduced to the public. Maglev is a system of transportation that levitates and propels a train using electricity as its source of power. Compared to other modes of transportation such as automobiles, conventional trains, and airplanes, this technology, by itself, produces nearly zero CO2 emissions during operation and can move at incredible speed. All of this raises an important question: Is this technology logically feasible, and can it serve as a replacement for the current transportation system? To answer these questions, this paper reviews the relevant literature to determine the cost of production, emissions during operation, safety, energy use, potential for improvement, and how magnetic levitation compares to existing and potential alternatives. A summary of the research and key findings is presented in the conclusion.

A recent and prominent example of how magnetic levitation can be applied to transportation is the maglev train. Magnetic levitation is made possible through the use of superconductors, which can attain virtually zero electrical resistance (Ndahi, 2003). According to Ndahi, "It is possible to generate large amounts of electrical energy, which in turn is used to generate a magnetic field large enough to repel the magnets attached to the underside of a train car. This repulsion and other controlled variables allow the train to float or levitate and be propelled forward at speeds of between 200–300 mph" (Ndahi, 2003, p. 17). The speeds attainable by maglev trains are more than twice as fast as Amtrak's current top performer, the Acela high-speed train (Baard, 2006). A more straightforward definition of maglev technology is provided by Cavendish, who reports that maglev "trains are propelled forward by attractive or repulsive forces induced by electromagnets mounted in the trains and the track" (2003, p. 1254). Some countries, such as Germany, have used electromagnets rather than superconducting magnets for their maglev train systems (Maglev trains, 2010).

How Maglev Technology Works

The superconducting or electromagnetic magnets used in maglev train systems are typically mounted beneath the train as well as in the raised tracks and guideways that frame the train (Baard, 2006). As Baard explains, "The guideways can be either on the ground or built above existing highways to minimize environmental impact. A proposed California maglev network will cover 275 miles and move 500,000 riders rapidly between cities and to major airports, according to organizers" (2006, p. 26). This configuration helps to make maglev trains safe even at the higher speeds they travel. As Toto reports, "The bottom of the train wraps around the guideways, making derailments highly unlikely. The electromagnetic pulses propel the trains in one direction at a time, which would preclude having two trains hit head-on, and rear-end collisions are unlikely because all the trains would travel at the same rate as the magnetic pulse" (p. 1).

Nevertheless, the high speeds involved mean that there is always the potential for disaster, a reality made abundantly clear in 2006. According to a report in the Birmingham Post, "A high-speed magnetic levitation train travelling at 125 mph crashed in north-western Germany, killing at least 15 people in the first fatal wreck involving the high-tech system. Officials recovered 15 bodies from the scene of the crash of the experimental train, which struck a maintenance cart while running on an elevated track. Ten more people were injured. The fate of six others was unclear" (At least 15 die as maglev crashes, 2006, p. 8). The report noted, however, that the cause of the crash was human error rather than defective maglev technology (At least 15 die as maglev crashes, 2006).

It is also worth noting that maglev technology is not a recent invention. As Toto observes, "Specialists say using electromagnetic energy in such a fashion dates, in crude form, to the 1950s" (2002, p. 1). In fact, rocket scientist Robert Goddard proposed transportation systems using magnetic levitation technologies as early as 1926 (Cleveland & Morris, 2006).

One country that has embraced maglev technology in a major way is China (Zande, 2010). Stroh (2003) reports that in January 2002, China launched the first commercial magnetic levitation rail system in the world, in Shanghai. According to Stroh, "China's new 450-passenger maglev train sprints 19 miles between Shanghai's financial district and its international airport. Reaching 270 mph — albeit for mere seconds before it begins to brake — the train cuts travel time from 30 minutes to less than 8. Ticket price: $6" (2003, p. 42). Currently, the Chinese railroad industry carries fully 25% of the entire world's railway workload, making the need for high-speed trains essential (Banutu-Gomez, 2007). According to Banutu-Gomez, "An example of China's commitment to rail transportation, in 2002 they completed China's first maglev speed rail system. The maglev system uses magnetic levitation to lift the train above the track, allowing the train to be propelled down the track at extremely high speeds with virtually no friction" (2007, p. 82). Based on their initial success with maglev, China has announced plans to construct another maglev train system connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou, with the potential for an extension to Beijing in the future (Baard, 2006).

The German and Japanese maglev systems have also contributed significantly to the development of the technology. The German system, known as Transrapid, uses conventional electromagnets and operates on a principle of magnetic attraction, while the Japanese system relies on superconducting coils. According to Post, "The Japanese system used superconducting coils to produce the magnetic fields (as two American scientists first proposed in the late 1960s). But because such coils must be kept very cool, costly cryogenic equipment is required on the train cars" (2000, p. 114). The German approach avoids this requirement but introduces its own challenges: "The German maglev uses conventional electromagnets rather than superconducting ones, but the system is inherently unstable because it is based on magnetic attraction rather than repulsion. In both systems, a malfunction could lead to a sudden loss of levitation while the train is moving. Minimizing that hazard means increased cost and complexity" (Post, 2000, p. 114).

A significant advantage of maglev technology is that the internal combustion engines used by conventional trains are not required (Ndahi, 2003). By eliminating conventional engines, maglev trains enjoy decreased maintenance and spare-part replacement costs (Ndahi, 2003). Researchers at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have been investigating maglev technologies for train systems and have developed a different approach that may help reduce operating costs even further. According to Pohl, the Brookhaven scientists "propose to forget about connecting strings of cars together to make trains. What they are talking about is single cars, carrying no more than a dozen or so passengers each. The cars are extremely lightweight compared with the usual railroad behemoth" (1999, p. 31).

Global Adoption and Commercial Development

Moreover, maglev train transportation can be delivered for approximately one-third of the cost of air transportation (Maglev trains, 2010), and these super-high-speed trains will effectively compete against air travel for shorter distances (Baard, 2006). Nickerson reports that "the development of maglev technology would be good for the environment, because these systems would emit smaller quantities of air pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulates, per passenger mile than more conventional forms of transportation" (1999, p. 177). Because fully 50% of all airline flights involve travel of less than 500 miles, maglev train technologies can provide a viable alternative to air travel for these shorter distances while also serving existing hub-and-spoke airline networks (Nickerson, 1999). As Macdonald notes, "Proponents claim that maglev can compete with airplanes for short and midrange routes, connecting cities downtown to downtown" (2002, p. 23). Baard adds that "the first planned maglev in California will take passengers from Union Station in Los Angeles to Ontario International Airport, east of the city, a distance of 56 miles. The trip, which will include four stops, is expected to take only 29 minutes" (2006, p. 27).

In sum, proponents of maglev train service cite the following major points in support of these technologies:

1. It can relieve highway and airport congestion, especially in and around major metropolitan areas, and provide a safety valve for shorter-distance air travel at clogged airports.

2. It can relieve air pollution caused by excessive highway utilization and address issues of climate change.

Conclusion

The research showed that magnetic levitation technologies have been envisioned for almost a century and were proposed early on by American researchers. Despite this initial head-start, other countries — such as Japan, China, and Germany — have launched their own maglev train projects and have experienced commercial success as a result. By sharp contrast, maglev initiatives continue to languish in the United States, where interest tends to wax and wane as the political climate changes. In reality, maglev train technologies do carry a number of downsides, including the high degree of complexity involved, the potential for catastrophic outcomes at the high speeds involved, and the enormous amounts of land and rights-of-way required for rail corridors. Despite these challenges, researchers continue to refine the underlying technologies used for maglev transportation systems, and several authorities indicate that a number of other industries stand to benefit from maglev principles in the future.