• Source:JND

China has set a new world record in high-speed rail technological innovation after a successful test run of a superconducting electric maglev, which reached a top speed of 700 kilometres per hour in just two seconds. This record-breaking test run was made by a team of scientists from the National University of Defense Technology, recording the fastest acceleration in a maglev train ever recorded in the world.

This test was performed on a track that is 400 meters long, on a one-tonne vehicle that accelerated very fast towards the set speed record and was halted successfully. According to researchers, this makes it the fastest superconducting electric maglev train ever tested anywhere in the world.

Frictionless Technology Behind Record

It uses high-intensity superconductor magnets to suspend itself above the track so that it moves without touching the track. his makes its acceleration extreme in a very short distance because of the little amount of energy lost due to friction. Footage from the test operation shows the train streaking through like a silver blur that is impossible to track with the naked eye, while a trail of mist is seen in its wake.

Specialists who took part in the project revealed that the electromagnetic acceleration system used in the experiment has so much power that, theoretically, it could be used for rocket launches. The same technology may be used in air transport too, so that flights become even smoother, faster, and less fuel-hungry.

Implications For Future Transport

It is believed that this technology may significantly slash interCity travel times to mere minutes instead of hours. The successful execution of this project also provides some insight into what the future holds for transport technology, for example, hyperloop propulsion technology, where vehicles travel in vacuum-sealed cabins at incredible speeds.

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According to reports, this system resolves several key technical issues, such as ultra-high speed electromagnetic propulsion, Precision Suspension & Guidance, Transient High-Power Energy Storage, Superconducting Magnets at High Speed, etc.

According to Professor Li Jie of the National University of Defence Technology, the successful test is expected to accelerate the development of China’s ultra-high-speed transport systems for maglev trains. He added that the technology has been under development for more than a decade at the university’s team.

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Earlier this year in January, the same track was tested with the train reaching a speed of 648 kmph, meaning the current outcome is a great improvement. Almost three decades ago, the university designed the first manned bogie maglev train in China, making the country among the foremost in the world in maglev development. This latest success reinforces China’s position at the cutting edge of next-generation high-speed transportation, providing further opportunities in rail, space, and future mobility applications


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