Magnetic levitation applied to transport: a state of the art

Abstract

Magnetically levitated trains improve overall performance by avoiding the mechanical transmission of motion in the wheel-rail pair and, simultaneously, bring sustainability to the system.

According to recent studies, railways worldwide meet 60 % of their total energy demand with petroleum products (IEA, UIC, 2017). This is the main motivation for promoting the development of magnetic levitation and applying it to rail transport. As it is an electrified system, it makes it congruent with the use of renewable energy resources, bringing sustainability to the system (UIC, 2018b).

Marcelo Barone PhD in Engineering (UTN-UBA-CONICET), a UTN (FRH) research professor. Coordinator of the Magnetic Levitation Technologies research group.