Bullet train technology can reach cars

   Southwest Jiaotong University , in China, is testing the application of  Maglev technology in passenger cars. This system has high energy efficiency and has become known due to its use on bullet train lines, especially in China, Japan, and South Korea.

The team of professor Deng Zigang is conducting the experiments with eight vehicles, having reached a speed of 230 kilometers per hour. In the case of the bullet train, the technology is capable of delivering speeds of up to 600 kilometers per hour.

The prototypes of cars with Maglev technology are equipped with magnets, installed at the bottom of the chassis, which allows the vehicles to float about 3.5 centimeters above a pair of conductive rails, suspending the tire frame from the ground.

Initially, the project aims to be applied in systems for collision testing. As it delivers high speeds on shorter tracks, the technology makes it possible to perform more severe crash tests  , which can contribute to raising the level of safety of new car designs.

However, due to the success of the first rehearsals, Zigang stated that he envisions the application of technology on a daily basis. An important aspect of the project is the permanence of the wheels, tires, and electric motors of the cars, which allows them to work also where there are no magnetized rails.

“Many disruptive innovations are born with a specific purpose. However, after good initial results, new applications become possible and the arrival of products with these technologies on the market becomes feasible”, explains  Arie Halpern , a specialist in disruptive technologies.

Why levitate?

One of the main advantages of Maglev technology is the possibility of completely getting rid of a physical phenomenon that results in energy loss and material depletion: friction.

First, when levitating, the tires of the vehicle are spared. Thus, the durability of the equipment that has a production chain with an impactful carbon footprint and that, at the end of its useful life becomes a dramatic environmental liability, is extended.

In addition, friction is an element that generates heat and loss of energy efficiency. That is, eliminating friction will decrease the energy consumption required to travel a certain distance.

Finally, while running on the magnetic rails, the car will remain with its electric motor turned off. Thus, the engine and several other sets of parts (suspension, ratio, steering box, etc.) will also be populated. That is, potentially, the durability of an electric vehicle with Maglev will be consistently higher.

A possible path

The arrival of Maglev technology in the passenger car market depends on two key factors: expanding the fleet of electric vehicles and building roads with magnetic rails.

In the first case, electricity is required to activate the magnets that will provide the levitation of the car. The good news is that the fleet of electric vehicles is booming in three major world markets.

Asia, Europe, and North America have adopted aggressive targets for the decarbonization of motor vehicles and, according to the   International Energy Agency   (IEA), the global fleet of electric cars will reach the mark of 300 million units by 2030, representing 60% of new vehicle sales.

On the other hand, the construction of avenues and roads with magnetized rails imposes itself as a strong infrastructure challenge.

The team at Southwest Jiaotong University did not reveal the cost of building the eight-kilometer-long runway. However, recent projects for bullet train lines may be indicative of costs.

A bullet train project between the Capital of the United States (Washington DC) and the city of Baltimore, traveling 65 kilometers, has a projected cost of up to $ 16.8 billion.

Do you believe that in the future we will have cars with Maglev technology available on the market?