A new concept of using linear induction motors (LIMs) to lift, constrain, accelerate, and decelerate a large-scale flywheel is proposed, and some of the advantages are investigated. Calculations for a magnetically levitated energy storage system (MLES) are performed that compare a single large-scale MLES with a current state-of-the-art flywheel energy storage system to show the relative differences and advantages of such a system. The system that is used for comparison is a typical Beacon Power flywheel energy system. This is currently one of the state-of-the-art flywheel energy storage systems, and so it can be used to provide a basic data set to compare to an MLES system. Some preliminary conclusions are that using electromagnetic forces produced by LIMs placed around the perimeter of a large flywheel would be an effective way to reduce or even eliminate the angular stress in the flywheel, thereby increasing the upper limit at which a flywheel can spin. Flywheels that use LIMs in this way can be made of very large size and rotate at very high speeds, and thus store significant amounts of energy. The calculations presented here cover a large design space. The paper deals with a concept only. As such, it is not yet apparent whether real systems can be made to operate effectively over the entire calculation domain, but even with this limitation it is shown that there will likely be substantial improvements in the amount of energy that can be stored by flywheel energy storage systems that use this concept.