The first passive ferromagnetic levitation train in the world is powered by a Veneto electrical motor. The train operates on the basis of magnetism, which allows it travel suspended in the air above the tracks. In order to create an air cushion between the locomotive and the rails, specialized ferromagnets are wrapped around the tracks. Because of this, the train is able to remain suspended in a passive manner, which eliminates the need for energy usage. An advanced technology business called IronLev, which is based in Treviso, has already tested the prototype, and it was presented at LetExpo2024, the Sustainable Transportation and Logistics Fair, which took place in Verona on March 12th.
The first test of a train that uses Passive Ferromagnetic Levitation
On the Adria-Mestre rail route, the initial test was conducted with a wagon that used one kilowatt of power while moving a vehicle that weighed one ton and going at a speed of seventy kilometers per hour. And the test revealed a key characteristic that differentiates it from Hyperloop, which is Elon Musk’s concept that’s pretty similar to IronLev’s: the technology that IronLev has developed may be utilized on any existing train track. As a result of this, there’s no need to construct new railways; rather, existing ones may be utilized to save money and energy. And because the train does not require fuel and does not generate friction on the tracks, there’s a massive reduction in the costs associated with maintenance.
