IronLev Tests First Magnetic Levitation Transport On Railways

JAKARTA - The Italian company has conducted its first trial of magnetic levitational transportation (maglev) on existing railway lines. This is a technology that has the potential to reduce cost and energy use as the transportation industry seeks more efficient systems.

IronLev, a high-tech company headquartered in Italy's northern city Treviso, showcased the trial video at the LetExpo2024 trade show in the Veneto region on Tuesday, March 12.

The footage shows a prototype weighing one ton moving at a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) within a distance of two kilometers of lanes in rural areas near Venice.

We are IronLev. Our dream is to change the way people and things move. And today we have taken a step forward. The first test was conducted on the Adria-Mestre route and was presented today at LetExpo2024 with the presence of the President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia. pic.twitter.com/4oLVqbC1jd

— Ironlev (@ironlev) March 12, 2024

We are IronLev. Our dream is to change the way people and things move. And today we have taken a step forward. The first test was connected on the Adria-Mestre route and was presented today at LetExpo2024 with the prediction of the President of the Vereto Region, Luca Zaia. pic.twitter.com/4oLVqbC1jd

Maglev created an air bag that physically separates the vehicle from the rail, reducing friction, noise, and vibration.

The absence of friction allows to drastically reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs for both vehicles and infrastructure.

China has been using this technology for nearly two decades, albeit on a limited scale. Other countries, from Japan to Germany, have been looking for ways to develop a maglev network, but high costs and mismatch with existing rail infrastructure have become an obstacle.

"The trials carried out by IronLev represent the first and only case of magnetic levitation applied to existing railway lines without requiring any modification or integration of additional elements," said Massimo Bergamasco, Director of the Institute of Mechanical Intelligence at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa.

The previously tested maglev technology involves using ad-hoc infrastructure to create a magnetic field that interacts with the elements in the vehicle to bear the burden.

Such infrastructure often consists of coils made of countering materials, at high infrastructure costs when compared to traditional railway lines.

"Some of our competitors have conducted trials on certain tracks built to accommodate magnetic levitation vehicles. We have proven that our vehicles can fly over existing lanes," said Adriano Giratto, head of IronLev quoted by VOI from Reuters.

"You can imagine that this makes it an easy-to-use technology," he added.

"IronLev wants to develop additional motorcycle carts in the next few years to test vehicles weighing up to 20 tons and speed up to 200 km/hour," said Girotto.

Meanwhile, the company has started implementing its technology in practical apps, using it to move heavy windows, elevators, and to transport loads within industry settings.