Question

Magnetic levitation is a pretty cool concept. Based on what you’ve learned, can you explain why we all don’t have cars hovering over magnetized roads by now?

Answer 1

For hover cars to be a reality our roads would be made of superconductors. Inorder to get the cars moving, all we have to do is blow them, and they will start to move. If so it would have solved the problem of energy crisis, since much of the fuel goes into overcoming the friction of the road.

On the other hand such vehicles require an enormous infrastructure investment. A grid must be built over the roads to provide the magnetic force.

These MagLev vehicles will remain just a few inches above the ground; they wouldn't zip around high in the sky. Also the vechile must be tethered to the road network, which defeats the entire purpose of sci-fi-style flying cars.

To make such vehicles costs would be beyond astronomical, and, while they're not in the cold fusion realm of near-impossibility, high-temperature superconductors donl not seem likely to emerge anytime soon.