Mexican Media Brands
Is This the Future of High-Speed Mass Transit?
Hyperloop company tests passenger trials. But plenty of hurdles remain.
Share
Hyperloop travel took another step forward on Sunday with the first tests with people on board.
Virgin Hyperloop tested its version of the high-speed technology, which uses magnetic levitation and linear induction motors to transport pods inside a partial vacuum tube, at its proving grounds near Las Vegas.
Josh Giegel and Sara Luchian put their company’s hype to the test. (Image: Virgin Hyperloop)
Josh Giegel and Sara Luchian, the company's chief technology officer and director of passenger experience, respectively, traveled about one-third of a mile in six seconds at speeds as high as 107 mph. That’s about one-sixth of the stated top-speed of the system, which promises to move people between New York City and Washington, D.C., in 30 minutes.
VH, which is backed by billionaire Richard Branson, hypes the concept as “on-demand sustainable mass transportation” that will “change the way the world moves.”
Yeah, But…
Commercialization is a long way off and there are plenty of challenges ahead, including:
- Further developing the technology
- Gaining regulatory approval
- Acquiring the necessary land permits for long-distance trips
- Convincing passengers that the pods are safe to travel in
Earlier this year, VH said its best-case scenario would be to receive federal certification by 2025 and launch U.S. service in 2030. Several other companies are developing their own hyperloop systems and have conducted tests (without passengers) at sites around the world.
Time will tell whether the technology is viable. But for now, it’s okay to enjoy the ride (it appears that Giegel and Luchian did)—and the hype.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Jeeps Modified for Moab
On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.
-
Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know
What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots.
-
When Automated Production Turning is the Low-Cost Option
For the right parts, or families of parts, an automated CNC turning cell is simply the least expensive way to produce high-quality parts. Here’s why.
