Record set in high-speed maglev tech

China has set a global record by accelerating a ton-scale test vehicle to 700 kilometers per hour in just two seconds, marking the fastest performance of a superconducting electrodynamic suspension system to date and signaling a major advancement in ultra-high-speed transportation research.

During the test on a 400-meter track, a research team from the National University of Defense Technology brought the vehicle to a safe stop, demonstrating precise control of electromagnetic forces during both acceleration and braking.

Maglev technology uses electromagnetic forces to levitate vehicles without physical contact, eliminating friction and enabling high-speed, low-noise and low-emission operation. It is widely regarded as a frontier area in the development of next-generation sustainable transportation systems.

Unlike conventional maglev systems that require continuous electrical power to maintain suspension, superconducting electrodynamic suspension systems exploit the unique properties of superconductors to achieve stable levitation without active control. However, the technology still faces major challenges, including the limited lifespan and stability of superconducting materials, system reliability and high costs.

Li Jie, chief designer of the research team and a professor at the university, said the achievement has placed China among the world's leading players in ultra-high-speed maglev technology and has provided a new option for the future development of vacuum-tube maglev transportation in the country.

"Our team has achieved substantial breakthroughs in the overall system design and key technical challenges, including ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electrodynamic suspension guidance, transient high-power energy storage inverters and high-field superconducting magnets," Li said.

He added that the technologies could have applications beyond rail transportation, including aerospace, by offering new approaches to provide stronger initial acceleration for rocket launches. These systems could help reduce fuel consumption and support heavy-lift missions.

The team has been engaged in maglev research since 1980 and designed China's first manned monorail maglev train in 1995, making the country the third in the world to master the technology. Its advances have supported the operation of four medium — and low-speed maglev routes, including the Beijing S1 subway line and Hunan's Changsha maglev express. In terms of operational scale, speed and carrying capacity, these systems surpass international counterparts.

To meet national strategic needs in this cutting-edge sector, the team began research on superconducting electrodynamic suspension systems 10 years ago. It has since achieved major theoretical and technological breakthroughs, reaching a top speed of 648 km/h on the trial line in January before breaking the record again in the latest test.