What was the top speed of Taipei 101’s elevators when they opened?

Taipei 101’s elevators reached a top speed of 60.6 kilometres per hour when they opened.

The high-speed elevators were manufactured by Toshiba and carried passengers from the fifth floor to the 89th-floor observation deck in roughly 37 seconds. Their acceleration and braking systems were designed to make rapid travel comfortable despite the building’s extreme height.

Taipei 101 opened in Taipei in 2004 and was then the world’s tallest building. The tower’s elevators use aerodynamic cabins, pressure-control systems, and advanced safety equipment to address the unusual demands of very rapid vertical travel.

The speed figure describes the elevator’s maximum operating speed, not the average speed over the entire journey. The ride includes acceleration, deceleration, and stops, so elapsed travel time cannot be calculated by simply dividing the building height by 60.6 kilometres per hour.