At the Fifth Shanghai International Industry Fair, a stunning new technique for magnetic levitation, designed by an old professor, has challenged Siemens as an example of innovation in the sector.

The blueprint was initiated last year when researchers in magnetic levitation disputed Japan's and Germany's techniques. Thereon a retired professor, Wei Lehan, from Shanghai Teachers University, began a brand new project on magnetic levitation. As a doyen of the Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology in magnetic levitation, he achieved two things: saving costs and studying environmental effects.

According to experts, in Germany, the maglev train achieves magnetic levitation by electrifying its windings and rails and applying reciprocity of the same nature. In Japan, experts use superconductors and electrified windings; their magnetic levitation is due to suction. Wei Lehan's key technique is finding the critical point of creating balance between reciprocity and suction by skillful permutation and combination.

No energy is needed for the maglev train. It maintains magnetic levitation whether the train is on or not. Calculations show that the cost for the new magnetic levitation technique is one tenth to one twentieth of other ones, with a suspending force triple that of others.

But whether excellent new techniques for magnetic levitation come into reality is not yet known. Talk of investing in the development of a magnetic levitation line has shown large amounts of money are needed. Some 10 million yuan (US$1.2million) would be necessary for building a magnetic levitation experimental line of 1 km length, not covering the cost of adjustments or testing in the earliest phases. It is an astronomical sum of money to Professor Wei Lehan.

An unanswerable question: Will it be hard to make Wei Lehan's invention a useful vehicle that can benefit the public? Perhaps it has a long way to go, with enough money supporting it, even if the model of Wei Lehan's magnetic levitation has been presented and runs swiftly and brightly at the fair.

(China.org.cn by Wang Ruyue, November 14, 2003)