An Italian company has successfully conducted the inaugural test of magnetic levitation (Maglev) transport on an existing railway track.
IronLev, headquartered in Treviso, Northern Italy, unveiled a video demonstration of the test at the LetExpo2024 trade fair in the Veneto region on Tuesday.
The video showcases a one-ton prototype achieving a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) along a two-kilometer stretch of railway in the Venice hinterland. Maglev technology establishes a cushion of air that physically separates the vehicle from the track, resulting in reduced friction, noise, and vibrations.
This innovative approach has the potential to significantly cut down costs and energy consumption in the transportation industry, addressing the ongoing quest for more efficient systems. The absence of friction not only enhances the overall performance of the vehicle but also leads to substantial reductions in energy usage and maintenance expenses for both the vehicle and the infrastructure.
IronLev test run (screenshot from the official video).
While countries like Japan and Germany aspire to establish maglev networks, the challenges lie in the high costs and the incompatibility of such systems with existing track infrastructure.
Massimo Bergamasco, the director of the Institute of Mechanical Intelligence at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, remarked that the test conducted by IronLev is the first and only instance of applying magnetic levitation to an existing railway track without the need for modification or integration of additional elements.
Traditionally, Maglev technologies necessitate a specially designed infrastructure to generate a magnetic field interacting with onboard elements, facilitating load suspension. Typically, this infrastructure comprises coils made of conducting material, incurring high costs compared to traditional railway tracks.
Adriano Girotto, Chairman of IronLev, explained, that their vehicle can levitate on an existing track. He emphasized the user-friendly nature of this technology, stating, “You can imagine that this makes it an easily usable technology.”
IronLev’s future plans include developing an additional motorized trolley within a couple of years to test a vehicle capable of carrying loads up to 20 tonnes at speeds of up to 200 km/h. Concurrently, the company has already started implementing its technology in practical applications, utilizing it for the movement of heavy windows, elevators, and transporting loads within industrial settings.
Written by Alius Noreika