Hyperloop is a new mode of transportation that moves freight and people quickly, safely, ondemand and direct from origin to destination. Passengers or cargo are loaded into the Hyperloop vehicle, or pod, and accelerate gradually via electric propulsion through a lowpressure tube. The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag. Hyperloop systems will be built on columns or tunneled below ground to avoid dangerous grade crossings. It’s fully autonomous and enclosed, eliminating pilot error and weather hazards. It’s safe and clean, with no direct carbon emissions.
What is Hyperloop One?
Hyperloop One is a privately-held company out to reinvent transportation to eliminate the barriers of time and distance and unlock vast economic opportunities. Its mission is to have three systems inservice by 2021 that validate its ability to design, finance and build a safe, revolutionary transportation technology that scales.
Why do we need a Hyperloop?
A growing global economy requires faster, cheaper, safer and more efficient transportation modes. Roads, airports and ports are congested. We haven’t had a new mode of transport in 100 years and we’re due for one, especially one that is 100% electric, quiet, and has a smaller footprint than other modes. Hyperloop is additive to all existing forms of transportation and will integrate seamlessly into the existing transport ecosystem.
How much will the Hyperloop cost to build and operate?
Capital and operating costs will range widely based on route and application (passenger, cargo) but third parties have concluded that the capital cost per mile of a Hyperloop system is 60% that of high-speed rail and would be less expensive to operate. The Hyperloop One FS Links study for a 500-kilometer route connecting Helsinki and Stockholm showed a capital cost of 38 million euros per km, which is on the higher side of what the company think other systems would cost yet still quite competitive with high-speed rail and that route includes a 3 billion-euro tunnel under the North Sea that would be the world’s longest.
How is Hyperloop different from high-speed trains?
There are 4 key differences. It’s faster, as in two to three times faster than the fastest high-speed rail. It’s on-demand. Trains follow a schedule. Hyperloop leaves when you’re ready to go, with departures as frequent as every 20 seconds. It’s environmentally friendly, with a smaller civil engineering footprint, more efficient energy consumption and no direct emissions or noise. It’s less expensive and different technology: High-speed rail and maglev trains require power along the entire track. As a result, the track costs more to build and more to operate. Hyperloop One achieves better performance for less cost.
