Magnetic levitation
Also known as Maglev, Magnetic suspension, Superconducting levitation
Magnetic levitation uses magnetic forces to support an object without contact. Maglev trains and laboratory demonstrations show that it works, but stable support usually depends on a purpose-built track or supporting structure, so it is not the same as a free-floating board.
In plain language
Magnets can push or pull on each other across a gap, so an object can be held up without touching the ground. Simple magnets placed against each other tend to slip sideways or flip, so engineers use special materials, carefully shaped magnetic tracks or moving parts to keep the object steady.
Two main approaches appear in the sources reviewed here. Superconducting magnets are cooled to very low temperatures, where they carry current without resistance and can give strong support. Passive induced-current systems use permanent magnets on a vehicle that create currents in a conductive track as they move, and those currents push back. Maglev trains use magnetic support on a prepared guideway, which is why a levitating board would also depend on what it floats over.
Maglev is in public use in a few places. Shanghai's city transport guide lists its maglev train as one of the transport options. Japan's government has described the Chuo Shinkansen, a superconducting intercity line, and said in 2017 that it would open in 2027, but no later source reviewed here confirms that date. A standardised model comparison finds no system with a significant energy advantage over wheel-rail trains at 330 km/h, and its results depend on route, speed and tunnelling. Models of this kind exclude investment and maintenance, so they do not show whole-system cost.
Technical explanation
Earnshaw's theorem limits stable levitation using static arrangements of fixed magnets: an object held by magnetic forces alone cannot be stable in every direction without some other input. Simon, Heflinger and Geim (2001) show that placing diamagnetic material at suitable locations can stabilise magnet-on-magnet levitation with no energy input, so the theorem constrains a particular design rather than all magnetic suspension.
Passive induced-current levitation is a different route. Post and Ryutov (2000) describe a vehicle carrying permanent magnets in a Halbach array, interacting with a track made of closely packed shorted electrical circuits. In that concept, lift develops only above a low transition speed, and auxiliary wheels support the vehicle at rest or at stations. Superconducting designs use magnets that must be cooled. The Lexus hoverboard announcement (2015) describes superconductors cooled with liquid nitrogen working together with permanent magnets. Japan's government describes SCMAGLEV magnets cooled with liquid helium, levitating trains about 10 cm above the track, and beginning to levitate at about 160 km/h.
The performance figures in these sources come from laboratory concepts, company announcements or government descriptions. The sources reviewed here do not provide independent measurements of a rider-carrying board with a stated gap, load and duration on an open surface, so such performance should be treated as reported rather than verified.
Energy modelling asks a different question. Fritz and colleagues compare secondary energy use per seat-kilometre for selected wheel-rail trains and maglev systems. Many of their results rely on simulations. The paper cites a figure of 99 Wh per seat-km for a 500 km/h Japanese maglev on a route where tunnels make up about 80 per cent of the length, and attributes the high value mainly to driving resistance, including aerodynamic resistance in tunnels.
What the evidence says
Each statement is typed by the strength of its evidence and linked to the source that supports it.
Demonstrated Shown in a published experiment, test or shipping product.
Earnshaw's theorem usually rules out stable magnet-on-magnet levitation with no energy input, but placing diamagnetic material at special locations can stabilise such levitation.
Sources: [1] · AbstractUK government guidance lists hoverboards among powered transporters, says use is illegal in spaces set aside for pedestrians and cyclists, and permits use on private land with the landowner's permission.
Sources: [5] · Powered transporters guidanceThe Shanghai city transport guide describes the maglev train as one of the transport options for getting around the city.
Sources: [8] · IntroductionThe Fritz and colleagues energy analysis counts traction and on-board auxiliary energy, and excludes primary energy generation. It excludes investment costs, maintenance, operating personnel, insurance and marketing, and it does not analyse travel time, capacity or frequency.
Sources: [6] · Scope and exclusionsReported, unverified Stated by a company or team but not independently confirmed.
In June 2015 Lexus announced a hoverboard prototype using superconductors cooled with liquid nitrogen together with permanent magnets, and stated that it would not be on sale.
Sources: [3] · Announcement and notes to editors · medium confidenceThe Government of Japan describes SCMAGLEV magnets, cooled with liquid helium, that levitate trains about 10 cm above the track and begin to levitate at about 160 km/h.
Sources: [4] · Superconducting magnets section · medium confidenceIn a standardised model comparison, Fritz and colleagues find that no system has a significant energy advantage at 330 km/h. On a standardised 500 m² basis, long-stator maglev systems use about 10 to 15 per cent more energy than comparable wheel-rail systems at that speed.
Sources: [6] · Comparison up to 330 km/h · medium confidenceThe paper by Fritz and colleagues cites a figure of 99 Wh per seat-km, attributed to S. Abe, for a 500 km/h Japanese maglev on a Tokyo to Osaka route where tunnels make up about 80 per cent of the length. It attributes the high figure mainly to driving resistance, including aerodynamic resistance in tunnels.
Sources: [6] · Chuo Shinkansen case, 500 km/h results · medium confidenceThe abstract of Janić's paper reports that, with equivalent, equally utilised transport capacities, high-speed rail and Transrapid maglev use less energy and emit less CO2 than hyperloop, under the study's what-if operating scenarios.
Sources: [7] · Abstract · medium confidenceProposed A design or plan that has not yet been built or tested.
The Inductrack concept uses permanent magnets in a Halbach array on the vehicle and closely packed shorted electrical circuits in the track, and levitation requires the vehicle to move above a low transition speed, with auxiliary wheels needed at rest or in the station.
Sources: [2] · Abstract · medium confidenceA 2017 Government of Japan article says Japan plans to open the world's first SCMAGLEV passenger train line in 2027; this was a plan at that date and is not confirmed in the sources reviewed here.
Sources: [4] · Route and date · medium confidenceLimitations and open problems
- Stable support needs a counterpart: a magnetic track, conductive guideway or engineered structure, so the surface becomes part of the system.
- Earnshaw's theorem rules out stable levitation from simple static arrangements of fixed magnets, so stability needs extra mechanisms such as diamagnetic material or a moving system.
- Passive induced-current systems need motion above a transition speed and auxiliary wheels at rest, so they do not hover from a standstill.
- Superconducting designs need cryogenic cooling with liquid nitrogen or liquid helium, which adds preparation time, supplies and staffing.
- The Lexus prototype announcement states that the hoverboard is not for sale, and the performance figures in the sources reviewed are company or project statements that have not been independently verified here.
- UK guidance prohibits use of powered transporters, including hoverboards, in pedestrian spaces and cycle lanes, and allows use on private land only with the owner's permission.
- The sources reviewed show maglev as a city transport option in Shanghai, but none shows a long-distance high-speed maglev line in commercial service.
- Japan's government gave a 2027 opening plan for the Chuo Shinkansen in a 2017 article. No later source reviewed here confirms that date, so it should not be read as a current forecast.
- Energy comparisons are model-based. Results depend on route, speed, train size, passenger load and tunnel share. Some studies exclude investment, maintenance and staffing, so modelled energy use does not show whole-system cost or carbon.
Possible future uses
Ideas, not predictions. None of these has been demonstrated.
- Controlled hoverparks where operators prepare a magnetic track and supervise riders.
- Educational demonstrations of magnetic forces, feedback and system boundaries.
- Contactless movement of components inside controlled industrial environments, where a carrier suits the task better than a standing platform.
Timeline
- Jun 2000Post and Ryutov present the Inductrack passive levitation concept at the 16th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives in Rio de Janeiro. Sources: [2]
- Jun 2001Simon, Heflinger and Geim publish 'Diamagnetically stabilized magnet levitation' in the American Journal of Physics. Sources: [1]
- 23 Jun 2015Lexus announces a prototype hoverboard using liquid-nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets, and states that it will not be on sale. Sources: [3]
- 2017The Government of Japan describes SCMAGLEV, with magnets that levitate trains about 10 cm, and says Japan plans to open the world's first SCMAGLEV passenger line in 2027. Sources: [4]
- 2018Fritz and colleagues publish an energy comparison of selected wheel-rail trains and maglev systems, using standardised models. Sources: [6]
- 2020The TU Delft repository lists Janić's paper on direct energy use and CO2 emissions of high-speed rail, Transrapid maglev and hyperloop, with publication year 2020. Sources: [7]
- 13 Jul 2020The UK Department for Transport updates its powered transporter guidance, which covers hoverboards. Sources: [5]
- 29 Oct 2025JR Central publishes a notice concerning total construction costs for the Shinagawa to Nagoya section of the Chuo Shinkansen. Sources: [9]
Futures this could help bring about
Glossary
- Earnshaw's theorem
- A result stating that a set of fixed magnets and charges cannot be held in a stable equilibrium by static magnetic or electric forces alone.
- Diamagnetic material
- A material that weakly repels magnetic fields, which can help stabilise magnetic levitation when placed in the right position.
- Superconductor
- A material that, below a critical temperature, carries electrical current with no resistance.
- Transition speed
- The speed above which a passive induced-current levitation vehicle generates enough lift to float.
Sources
- peer reviewed paper
Diamagnetically stabilized magnet levitation
M. D. Simon, L. O. Heflinger, A. K. Geim. American Journal of Physics, Jun 2001. DOI: 10.1119/1.1375157. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - conference paper
The Inductrack Approach to Magnetic Levitation
R. F. Post, D. D. Ryutov. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (OSTI, report UCRL-JC-138593), 19 Apr 2000. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - company announcement
Lexus creates hoverboard of the future
Lexus (company newsroom), 23 Jun 2015. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - government report
SCMAGLEV: The Japanese Technology That Will Revolutionize Intercity Transport
Government of Japan (JapanGov, japan.go.jp, Spring 2017 feature), 2017. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - government report
Powered transporters
UK Department for Transport (GOV.UK), 13 Jul 2020. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - other
Energy consumption of track-based high-speed trains: maglev systems in comparison with wheel-rail systems
E. Fritz, L. Blow, J. Kluhspies et al.. Transportation Systems and Technology, vol. 4, issue 3, suppl. 1, pp. 134-155, 2018. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - peer reviewed paper
Estimation of direct energy consumption and CO2 emission by high speed rail, transrapid maglev and hyperloop passenger transport systems
M. Janić. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation (TU Delft repository record), 2020. DOI: 10.1080/15568318.2020.1789780. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - government report
Getting around Shanghai: Transport options and fares
Shanghai Municipal Government, 2 Jan 2024. Accessed 21 Oct 2026. - company announcement
Notice concerning total construction costs for the Chuo Shinkansen section between Shinagawa and Nagoya
Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), 29 Oct 2025. Accessed 21 Oct 2026.
Revision history
6 changes since this profile was created.