Levitating car rail, the future of high-speed transportation

Motionize is the company creating an electro-magnetic system allowing cars to follow a levitation track at extremely high speeds. Convenient, safe and efficient, this innovation could transform the way we travel...

Innovation overview

Company name: Motionize

Innovation name: Levitation car rail

Company motto: Less of the transportation, more of the destination. 

Innovation summary: Motionize is the fictive company developing the “levitation car rail”, an electro-magnetic system that allows cars to follow a levitation rail for hundreds of kilometers. This rails would make the biggest cities of a country commute together, and customers could enjoy the convenience of their car, while going 300km/h without having to drive. Combined with the safety of this innovation compared to a normal driving experience, this levitation car rail defintitely sounds like the fastest, safest and most convenient way to travel, both for professional and personal purposes.

Innovation functioning and features

1- How would it all work? 

This innovation will follow the same scientific and technologic principles used in sustentation trains. Sustentation trains, when put on a wide rail in between 2 low walls, forming a U-shape, are able to levitate and reach a very high speed thanks to the use of electro-magnetic magnets inside the train, and magnetic coils placed on each side of the track walls. Here, the objective will be to do the same.

The track will be wide enough for all kinds of cars that customers already own, and will contain the same magnetic coils. To replicate the train’s set-up to each car, a solution could be developed where the magnets are placed robotically below the car when it enters the track, which would allow the car to have propulsion and levitation, as trains do.

When on the track, the car will stop at a specific spot marked on the ground, where a small hole would open under the ground, to let a magnets system to be placed under the car by a robotic machine. These magnets would be placed right below ground, queuing on a rolling treadmill. The magnets used to go from Paris to Biarritz will be reused to go from Biarritz to Paris, and again and again, they will be useful 100% of the time (if the track is full in terms of customers of course). The car, once a green light is shown, meaning that the device  is correctly set up, will accelerate until the magic happens, and the car starts to levitate. Same process when arriving close to destination, when slowing down. The car will stop on the mark, the magnet device will be removed and go back below ground, allowing the car to exit the track on the side. The treadmill below ground will transport these magnets towards the “departure mark” to be reused again. 

With this solution, cars could go to extremely high speeds without their engine on, saving a lot of time and fossil energy used, especially when scaling up this innovation, being used by more and more users.

2- How would the ecosystem work? (construction, hop-in / hop-off, tracks created…) 

This project, let’s say to be developed in one country such as France, would ideally covers several of the main routes taken in the country by car drivers. It could be from Paris to the South-West of France like Biarritz, and towards the North to Lille, as well as one going to Lyon. These would be the 3 pilot tracks. They would allow cars to be powered to a speed of 350 km/h, which makes on average the trip to these destinations around 4 times faster than by car normally. 

Cars would have to queue on a line before entering the track. They would just pass a quick security check and payment or subscription scan step before rolling on the track. The technical process mentioned above will then take place, until the car stops. Ideally, it would be great, as trains do, to have a couple of stops on the way, allowing users to enter or exit the track at different places than only Paris or Biarritz, such as Tours, La Rochelle, and Bordeaux for example. The same system as explained above would be used. 

3- How would be your user experience?

The customer would follow the signs on their way until they find the entrance to the queuing lane. They will follow the other cars and once at security, they will from their window select on the screen on the left where they want to drop-off, and pay an entrance fee. If they are members, they can scan their QR code on the app or show their membership card. The system will bring the customer and guide them towards the exit they selected earlier. When exiting, customers will pay the final total amount at the exit security barrier. If they changed their mind or have an emergency, customers can call CS or use the app to modify the exit they would like to select. A booking system on the app can be put in place to allow less queuing and easier planning for users.

4- How would it be financially and commercially relevant? 

This innovation idea could be financially sustainable thanks to a variety of aspects. First of all, each person entering is paying an entrance fee, which would be overall a small relatively small amount of money compared to the full price, but it ensures a first payment and guarantee for the company. When exiting at the end of their trip, customers will pay the final full price according to the length of their trip: Paris - Tours will be cheaper than Paris - Bayonne. When departing, customers select on a screen the destination desired. Thus, if they decide to change their mind and select another exit, especially a further one, they will pay a “exit change fee” due to the change in expected devices available at each entrance and extra adaptation required. Finally, for the most active customers, different membership offers will be available, with reduced prices in case of many trips: 99€/month for 4 monthly trips of desired length, 179€/month for 8 monthly trips of desired length, and a premium version of 349€/month for 20 monthly trips. This membership also allows users to have a specific queue prioritizing them to both enter and exit the road, as well as advanced access to the app, allowing them to view in advance the amount of users on the road, the estimated queuing time and detailed data of their trips. Finally, specific B2B offers exist with professional sports team, transportation brands, delivery services and more who could all benefit from such an innovation, and would be willing to pay a high price to save long time spent and scale-up their activities. 

Let's take a step back

Pros and cons

• Extra time efficient 

• High speed for personal use 

• Convenience and privacy of your own car

• No need to drive 

• Practical for holiday trips where car is needed 

• Practical for high driving workers 

• Practical for delivery and transportation companies 

• Useful mobile application online

• Membership offers for active users

• Close to 100% safety

• Very high development costs

• Expensive service 

• Potential queuing time 

• High technical building constraints 

Expansion opportunities

A way to expand this innovation in case of a successful launch, would be to allow bigger vehicles such as vans or busses to operate on these tracks. As they are allowing more passengers, adding them would open the door to so many more people to discover this innovation and benefit from this fast pace transportation. Transporting more passengers would make the solution even more environment-friendly. Finally, the price per person of a bus trip would be much lower than a car trip, and would make this solution more accessible. 

What is the main strength of this innovation?

• Vehicle autonomy & time-efficiency
• Scientific progress
• Higher safety
• Impacting a wide range of people

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