Maglev
Maglev
Intelligent, Efficient Urban Transit
MagneMotion's M3 Maglev project uses the Company's technology, along with its expertise in electro-magnetic levitation and guidance, to provide faster, more cost effective transit in large Metropolitan areas and for short intercity applications. Since 2003, MagneMotion has been working in cooperation with the US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to test the viability of its patented technology. A full scale test system is now running indoors at MagneMotion’s Devens, MA facility. Further testing will be done on a longer outdoor track at Old Dominion University.
MagneMotion’s Maglev is unique in its use of a single permanent magnetic based structure that provides suspension, guidance and propulsion of vehicles on a guideway, eliminating a level of complexity and costs found in competing maglev technologies. From a system perspective, M3 focuses on using smaller vehicles tightly spaced rather than long trains to accommodate a large ridership. This provides greater flexibility in transporting passengers quickly to their desired destinations.
For a collection of links to details on maglev projects, maglev transportation corporations, Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), and various transportation technologies (other than the automobile), see Jerry Schneider's website at the University of Washington.
Key Features and Advantages
- Decreased capital and operational costs
- A lower noise level and a small guideway minimize environmental impact
- Excellent ride quality
- Proven technology provides low technical risk
- Efficient acceleration and deceleration for shorter trip time
- Lower stray magnetic field than LIM or rail based systems
- Uses less energy than LIM or rail based systems
- Increased number of vehicles for shorter wait time
- Anti-collision feature of the control system allowing, safe and efficient system utilization
- Vehicle design prohibits de-railing
- Lower operating costs due to less wear
- No propulsion power is required on the vehicle
- Braking does not rely on friction
- There is no need for safety-critical communication with the vehicles so it is safe to operate on shorter headways
- Vehicles are light since propulsion is on the wayside and use less energy
