Maglev Monitor
Midweek Morning MagLev Messenger (2025-05-21)
Interesting and background stories. All these less-important stories are in two semi-weekly e-mails, so each of you is not bothered by a lot of e-mails, and you can select which you want to read, and which you choose to ignore. This "MagLev Monitor" is issued Wednesday morning as this Midweek Morning MagLev Messenger (4M), and also late Saturday as the Saturday Evening Repost (SER).
This newsletter covers Superconducting MagLev, and more. It also covers competing technologies, such as EVs, hydrogen, and aviation. We won't forget the past, covering classic railways, and what lessons they can give us. And, of course, the Jigsaw Puzzles, for fun.
The current plan is for the next Saturday Evening Repost (2025-05-24) to commemorate the life of Dr. James R. Powell, Sc.D., co-inventor of Superconducting MagLev, in anticipation of the sixth anniversary of his death. The next edition of Midweek Morning MagLev Messenger (2025-05-28) is intended to be an in-depth discussion of the Northeast corridor, and how P/D MagLev should be used for it, and comparisons to its rival technologies.
Sorry that this was delayed for a few hours.
My website: http://www.LeviCar.com/
Maglev2000 website: https://www.maglev2000.net/
People replace their gas-powered cars every 12 years, while electric cars are renewed every 3 years, according to a study.
IMHO — Many "first adopters" buy electric cars. They are wealthier than most people, and want technological upgrades when they become available.
The Longest-Range Tesla Will Do 402 Miles, But These EVs Have It Beat
https://www.jalopnik.com/1857699/tesla-best-model-range-comparison/
The Longest-Range Tesla Will Do 402 Miles, But These EVs Have It Beat
Caption: “Launched in 2012, the Model S remains the longest-range Tesla vehicle despite being the oldest still in production, but other EVs will go farther.” (www.jalopnik.com)
I've Owned Tesla 2024 Model 3, Rivian R1S, and Lucid Air in LA, Here's The Truth About Build Quality, Software, and Why Tesla Is The iPhone of EVs
Brilliant, broken, and beautifully flawed. One owner's brutally honest EV comparison of a Lucid Air, Tesla Model 3, and Rivian R1S exposes their surprising strengths and weaknesses.
Musk under fire after misleading policy apparently deceived Tesla customers: 'I don't want to be associated with that anymore'
It could discourage drivers from making their next car an EV.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/tesla-lease-controversy-robotaxi-future/
Musk wants to wring more money about of his loyal customers. This reminds me of Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money.
Tesla employees ask Elon Musk to resign, confirm massive demand problem, get fired for it
IMHO — There is a Yiddish word Mensch that describes "a person of integrity and honor", according to Wikipedia. Musk is the opposite.
Some quotes from from the article:
"There’s a growing movement within Tesla employees that recognizes that Musk is currently hurting Tesla’s mission to accelerate the advent of electric transport by alienating a large part of the consumer base and politicizing Tesla’s products."
"The employees highlight how EV sales were up 10% in Q1 in the US while Tesla’s sales were down 9%."
"Unfortunately, Tesla is making it clear that injecting a dose of reality into this narrative will get you fired."
Musk ≠ Mensch
Innovative company makes breakthrough that could be game-changer in US-China trade fight: 'We always knew it was out there'
"Everybody's been worried about China's leverage, but now they've actually shown that they'll cut off critical minerals."
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/cobalt-refining-startup-xerion-advanced-battery/
Caption: “New technology could solve America's cobalt refining problem for good, reported TechCrunch. Cobalt is one of the best battery materials, but getting it has been challenging. Most reserves come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mining practices have raised human rights concerns. Even more problematic is that 72% of cobalt refining happens in China.” (www.thecooldown.com)
Cobalt is among the best battery materials.
Researchers make game-changing breakthrough that could transform future electric vehicles: 'A new milestone'
The materials and manufacturing process are designed to be scalable.
Caption: “Imagine a world where an electric vehicle charges in just 20 minutes and continues to run for years without a single issue. That future may be closer than we think, thanks to an exciting discovery out of South Korea. A team from Pohang University of Science and Technology and the Korea Institute of Energy Research has developed a new battery anode that could make EVs faster to charge and more ...” (www.thecooldown.com)
GM unveils new 'groundbreaking' EV battery tech, aims to be first to market
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/gm-new-ev-battery-tech.html
GM unveils new 'groundbreaking' EV battery tech, aims to be first to market
Caption: “The new batteries and packs utilize more-prevalent, less-expensive minerals and are lighter and more cost-effective.” (www.cnbc.com)
IMHO — As the technology advances, batteries will get better and cheaper, eliminating range anxiety and other worries that keep people from getting EVs.
Hydrogen:
'Some of the highest natural hydrogen concentrations ever seen' | Hyterra finds 96.1% H2 in samples at newly spudded well
The natural hydrogen exploration firm plans to begin drilling second well in mid-May
Caption: “Natural hydrogen exploration company Hyterra has announced that it has confirmed a 96.1% concentration of H 2 in mud gas samples collected at the surface of its newly spudded Sue Duroche-3 well in the US state of Kansas.” (www.hydrogeninsight.com)
IMHO — Hydrogen has other problems, like transporting and storing it.
This article also has links to other articles, many indicating that Hydrogen is failing as a fuel.
Scottish city’s fleet of hydrogen-powered buses has been off the road for months
Aberdeen vehicles are grounded due to maintenance of ‘ageing’ refuelling infrastructure
Power:
A German experiment proved that simple concrete spheres make fantastic batteries.
Now, California plans to submerge a 9-meter diameter sphere in the ocean and is already planning versions of 30 meters.
Caption: “Storing renewable energy sustainably and efficiently is one of the major challenges of our time. A team of German researchers is proposing a revolutionary solution: concrete spheres immersed in the ocean floor. Their potential is such that California is preparing to test a large-scale prototype. A simple, ingenious concept …” (farmingdale-observer.com)
Rival technology for MAPS. BTW — Lake Constance (Bodensee) was also the site of early Zeppelin experiments, starting at the end of the nineteenth century.
French Fusion Reactor Stuns World by Sustaining Nuclear Reaction for 22 Minutes in Breakthrough Energy Milestone
... a groundbreaking milestone in energy research by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes in the WEST Tokamak reactor ...
Miscellaneous:
There’s an easy fix for the Newark Airport disaster — and nobody’s going to like it
Let's face it — the whole NYC Metro area is oversaturated. A while ago, it was suggested to convert Stewart Field into New York's fourth major airport, and link it to Manhattan, 60 miles to the South, via a MagLev guideway. The MagLev link did not happen, but Stewart Field's interesting history is at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_International_Airport
BRITISH RAILWAYS Folkestone Foord viaduct in the late 1940s
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0e8b07a63906
Imagine that viaduct being an elevated MagLev Guideway
(For the jigsaw puzzle, you can adjust the number of pieces using the "Play as" option at the top right. There is a pause button to the right of the time indicator at the bottom center.)
I hope you like my tributes to conventional rail, especially since my overall aim is to relegate conventional rail to museums.
–– Joshua Zev Levin, Ph.D.