EcoMaglev: A Hybrid PM-Assisted Active-Gap Magnetic Levitation System with Regenerative Energy Recovery — A Model-Based Feasibility Study

EcoMaglev: A Hybrid PM-Assisted Active-Gap Magnetic Levitation System with Regenerative Energy Recovery — A Model-Based Feasibility Study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article EcoMaglev: A Hybrid PM-Assisted Active-Gap Magnetic Levitation System with Regenerative Energy Recovery — A Model-Based Feasibility Study Youssef Ayman Essam, Mohamed Saaed Mohamed, Karim Wael Abdelkarim This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9555153/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Magnetic levitation transport can reduce mechanical wheel-rail contact, wear, vibration, and maintenance overhead, but levitation alone does not guarantee ecological performance. Energy demand shifts to electromagnetic control, propulsion-chain losses, aerodynamic drag, thermal management, and grid interaction. This paper presents EcoMaglev - a hybrid permanent-magnet-assisted, active-gap magnetic levitation demonstrator architecture with regenerative braking energy recovery - and evaluates its performance through analytical modeling, a simulation-supported dynamic response model, Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis, and corridor-level environmental screening. The architecture couples permanent magnets for base lift with active electromagnetic coils for disturbance rejection, a closed-loop controller fed by Hall-effect and time-of-flight gap sensors, segmented linear coils for propulsion and braking, and protected power electronics that route recovered energy to a supercapacitor bank. The paper addresses common weaknesses in prototype-scale maglev proposals by separating EMS, EDS, and hybrid PM-EMS definitions; distinguishing circuit-level conversion efficiency from system-level usable recovery; and normalizing energy claims with reproducible units. Analytical results show that a 0.30 kg demonstrator moving at 2.0 m/s contains 0.60 J of kinetic energy per braking event. At a central model-based circuit efficiency of 0.74, approximately 0.44 J can be stored, corresponding to a measurable supercapacitor voltage rise of about 0.35 V. Magnetic force sizing shows that pure electromagnetic support is thermally demanding at a 10 mm gap, supporting a hybrid design in which permanent magnets supply most static lift while active coils reject disturbances. Corridor-level screening shows that full-scale environmental performance is dominated by tunnel share, load factor, and electricity carbon intensity rather than levitation technology alone. Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Energy Engineering magnetic levitation maglev hybrid PM-EMS active-gap control regenerative braking supercapacitor electromagnetic suspension model-based feasibility study Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis railway energy storage sustainable transport corridor energy screening life-cycle screening mechatronics transportation engineering Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files EcoMaglevUltimateSupplementaryFiles.zip Supplementary calculation tables, Monte Carlo samples, and reproducibility files Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9555153","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":631143082,"identity":"a9586945-d719-40c9-bdf7-f0d42a8f5a41","order_by":0,"name":"Youssef Ayman 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