Due to the absence of physical contact between the track and the vehicle, maglev trains experience no rolling resistance, leaving only air resistance and electromagnetic drag, potentially improving power efficiency.
At low speeds the levitation power can be significant, but at high speeds, the total time spent levitating to travel each mile is greatly reduced, giving reduced energy use per mile.
In some maglev systems, the drive mechanism lies in the guideway, so it doesn’t have to be carried in the vehicle. This is a radical departure from traditional transport systems of every other type. In addition, with maglev trains, propulsion power only needs to be provided for short stretches as the vehicle passes through an active propulsion section. Thus, the primary energy needs of the maglev trains are significantly reduced, compared to wheel/rail systems at the same speed