Efficient and Affordable Maglev Opportunities in the United States.

Maglev has the potential to be more efficient and affordable than alternative technologies for many transportation applications. To achieve this potential we need new designs that build on what we have learned from existing maglev designs, while taking advantage of supporting technology that did not exist when most of them were created. The keys to reducing energy intensity are to use light vehicles with low aerodynamic drag, use a linear synchronous motor that is excited in short sections, and operate with a dynamic schedule that achieves a high load factor. The key to affordability is to use small, light vehicles that can operate on less expensive guideways, and require less power for propulsion. This paper provides more details on these issues, provides estimates of what is feasible with today's technology, and discusses how to choose performance parameters, such as speed and acceleration, so as to maximize the probability that maglev will become the technology of choice for a wide range of applications. It also includes an historical perspective and recommendations for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]