Actually, they have done several tests of the Transrapid system where they abruptly shut off the power at high speed. The train(s) has rubber skids or wheels (I get confused between the German one and the Japanese one) that bring it safely to a stop.
I'm not sure about the energy efficiency of the Transrapid, but the Japanese maglev testbed uses superconducting magnets, and is very efficient. Only trouble is keeping the superconductors cool. I think the ones the Japanese use need to be around the temp of liquid CO2, which escapes me at the moment. The Transrapid, however, uses normal magnets.
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Actually, they have done several tests of the Transrapid system where they abruptly shut off the power at high speed. The train(s) has rubber skids or wheels (I get confused between the German one and the Japanese one) that bring it safely to a stop.
I'm not sure about the energy efficiency of the Transrapid, but the Japanese maglev testbed uses superconducting magnets, and is very efficient. Only trouble is keeping the superconductors cool. I think the ones the Japanese use need to be around the temp of liquid CO2, which escapes me at the moment. The Transrapid, however, uses normal magnets.