Virgin Hyperloop has shown the first glimpse of its vision for a future transportation system that could be used to get passengers from city to city quickly.
The company is looking to create an alternative transportation network by using magnetic levitation (maglev) to transport passengers and cargo at speeds over 1,000km/h (600mph). This would be achieved through tubes containing near-vacuum conditions that would allow electromagnetic vehicles to travel at high speeds with minimal drag.
Maglev is a system of train transportation that uses two sets of magnets: one set to repel and push the train up off the track, and another set to move the elevated train ahead, taking advantage of the lack of friction. Along certain “medium-range” routes (usually 320 to 640 km [200 to 400 mi]), maglev can compete favourably with high-speed rail and airplanes.
Virgin Hyperloop has released a video illustrating its plans for passenger pods.
Rather than connecting to form a train, the pods will travel in convoy. They’re able to leave and join static tracks individually- just as cars on a motorway.
The company hopes that small groups of passengers could travel at speeds 10 times faster than normal rail services.
It says that due to the absence of moving parts, its hyperloop will be faster and also make no contribution to climate change.
Virgin Hyperloop said the battery-powered pods will have “zero direct emissions, It will set the standard for 21st century travel by connecting cities within minutes”.
“Our system can propel passenger or cargo pods at speeds of over 1000 km/h. That is 3x faster than high-speed rail and more than 10x faster than traditional rail”.
Virgin Hyperloop completed its first crewed test-track journey last year, reaching speeds of 170km/h.
The test took place at the 500 metres of Virgin Hyperloop’s DevLoop track in Las Vegas, where they had previously run over 400 unoccupied tests.
Hyperloop TT, another startup attempting to make a commercial reality of the hyperloop concept, wants to help cut down on congestion and pollution by using this technology for moving shipping containers. According to their plan HyperPort will be able drastically reduce delays in shipment times as well as lower costs related with transporting freight via trucks or trains.
The hyperloop concept was included in the US Infrastructure bill recently passed by the Senate, opening up possibilities for Federal government funding.
Virgin’s Hyperloop said it is the only company to have tested hyperloop technology at scale.
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group said: “For the past few years, the Virgin Hyperloop team has been working on turning its ground-breaking technology into reality”.
“This spirit of innovation will in fact change the way people everywhere live, work, and travel in the years to come”.
