Energy and economic implications of magnetically-levitated vehicles
Maglev systems, if implemented as ''spokes'' around the nation's major hub airports, have the potential to significantly reduce air traffic congestion. Maglev systems could improve the capacity of existing airports, obviating the need to build major new airports at a time when there is widespread public opposition to both airport expansion and new construction. Because of maglev's high speed (250-300 mph), the maglev has a logical market niche of trips between 100 and 600 miles. These short distance flights are the most energy intensive for the airlines; consequently, maglevs provide the opportunity to save 10 to 15% of the energy used by the scheduled airlines, through substitution of more efficient transport and reduced delays. Integrated into airline service, rather than competing with airlines, the economics of maglev systems is substantially enhanced. Indeed, a substantial portion of a national maglev system (3000 miles) around several major hub airports could be built over the next twenty years with a portion of the costs that the Federal Aviation Administration calculates are incurred by the airlines and the passengers---nearly $5 billion in 1986. Further, maglevs are the most promising large-scale application for the new class of high temperature superconductors, because of the relatively low threshold design requirements of the magnets compared to other potential applications. In addition, the new superconductors will improve maglev system reliability and may reduce capital and operating costs by as much as 10%. 2 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6528755
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880932-5; ON: DE89005876
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International renewable energy conference, Honolulu, HI, USA, 18 Sep 1988; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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