China has moved maglev technology from the train tracks to the open road. Researchers from Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu have successfully tested modified consumer vehicles that "float" using magnetic levitation on a specialized highway in Jiangsu Province. The 2026 trials mark a major leap in high-speed road travel, with test vehicles reaching speeds of 230 km/h (approx. 143 mph) while hovering 35 millimeters above a conductor-lined road. By removing the friction of tires on asphalt,

China has successfully tested magnetic-levitation (maglev) cars that hover 35 millimeters above specially designed roads, eliminating physical contact and friction. During trials, the vehicles reached speeds of 230 km/h, signaling a potential revolution in how highways and long-distance road travel may work in the future. • The system uses electromagnetic suspension to lift vehicles slightly above the road surface, removing tire friction entirely. • With no direct contact, energy loss is drastic