China has achieved a new short-distance acceleration record with an experimental maglev vehicle reaching 800 kmph in just 5.3 seconds. The test was conducted at Donghu Laboratory in Hubei province.
The 1.1-tonne experimental vehicle travelled along a 1-kilometre test track. It uses magnetic levitation to eliminate conventional friction between the vehicle and track.
Coils installed along the track generate magnetic fields that propel the vehicle forward. Researchers said the latest test was the third acceleration record broken by the vehicle within six months.
The vehicle previously reached 650 kmph in seven seconds in June 2025. Later tests recorded speeds of 700 kmph and 798 kmph.
Researchers also tested its braking capabilities after reaching extreme speeds. The vehicle was brought to a controlled stop over 200 metres.
The experimental platform is not designed for passenger transport. Instead, researchers are studying high-speed propulsion and energy delivery technologies.
Potential applications could include rocketry, aerospace, fighter aircraft, and vacuum-tube transportation systems.
Commercial maglev trains currently operate at much lower speeds. China and Japan have commercial services reaching around 320 kmph.
