So could it be a better alternative? Unsurprisingly, those involved in Hyperloop projects think it is, although they admit it will have some environmental impact, particularly during the testing phase. Virgin Hyperloop One's Kelly says the tech will be about five times more energy-efficient than short-haul flights. And while it's unlikely it will replace air travel completely -- cross-continental Hyperloops would be incredibly costly and logistically complicated -- the technology could be an alternative to short-haul budget flights.
Safety and security. Whether Hyperloop could really function as a viable alternative to air travel likely depends on how prevalent it becomes, and there are some doubts about its universal appeal. So if you are a frail old lady -- I don't think you'd be putting them in what would be a quite an extreme ride, whereas you would put them on a high speed train. Kelly, of Virgin Hyperloop One, insists the pods are safe and will be suitable for all.
We want it to be comfortable, we don't want it to be a roller coaster. The controlled environment will avoid turbulence, says Kelly. TransPod's Gendron agrees, saying the experience will be safe for most, "in the same way pretty much everybody can take the aircraft. While the tubes will need to withstand natural disasters, questions also currently remain over how people will be evacuated from a pod in the case of an emergency.
Challenges of Hyperloop. Turning Hyperloop into a reality is not without its challenges. Turning a groundbreaking concept into a reality naturally comes with some difficulties. The Hyperloop companies who spoke to CNN Travel were all keen to emphasize their confidence in their projects' viability.
Their main quibbles were potential challenges caused by red tape. Chris Dulake says that private finance will be a necessity in many instances with Hyperloop companies unable to rely on government investment alone, and that would present its own difficulties.
He says there's also confusion about whether Hyperloop would be overseen by railway authorities or aviation. When will this happen? So just how close is Hyperloop to reality? Virgin Hyperloop One built a full-size pod back in which has reached speeds of kilometers per hour on a test track in Nevada.
Richard Branson stepped down from his former role of chairman of the board in late , but his replacement, Jay Walder, is described by Kelly as a "pretty heavy hitter in the mass transportation space.
At such high speeds, these events amplify the danger, and so safety has to be paramount. No government in the world has awarded a contract or approved the building of a hyperloop system yet.
Even with public funding, any company would need to raise millions of dollars in funding, acquire the enormous tracks of land, and certify that the hyperloop can be operated safely.
Which is all to say, the hyperloop is still very far off. The ability to maintain a vacuum in the tube, especially one hundreds of miles long, is another enormous challenge. Every time a pod arrives at a station, it has to decelerate and stop.
Then the airlock will have to close, pressurize, and open again. Then the pod has to clear the airlock before the next pod arrives. The speed at which this occurs will determine the distance between pods. Turning will also be extremely difficult. A hyperloop would need approximately six miles to execute a degree turn at mph, a Virgin Hyperloop engineer once told the New York Times. Another potential hurdle is headways. The longer the headway, the less capacity these pods will have, which may determine how useful a mass transit system the hyperloop can be.
Luchian said she was excited, if a little nervous. She said it was important the experience of riding in the hyperloop feel comfortable and familiar, like riding in a train, other normal people would reject it as a feasible and safe mode of transportation. She noted that neither Giegel nor herself received special training beforehand or wore protective clothing like astronauts.
For Giegel, this test was the culmination of years of labor. It takes place almost six years after he quit his job as a systems propulsion lead at Virgin Galactic to start a hyperloop company in his garage. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
And hyperloop travel could even transform the morning commute, potentially allowing workers to travel comfortably to worksites hundreds of miles away from their homes.
Either way, the routes would have to be picked carefully both to avoid existing infrastructure like roads and buildings and to make sure the routes take no sharp turns that could subject passengers to unpleasant jolts.
As for the pods, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies envisions foot-long models fitted with virtual windows — video screens that would recreate the scenery outside — and capable of seating 40 passengers. Virgin Hyperloop One, meanwhile, has already built prototype pods fitted with leather seats and armrest-mounted entertainment screens. The pods would accelerate and decelerate gradually, moving from one station to the next without stopping.
The pods themselves would carry their own air supply. In short, hyperloop trips promise to be quiet and smooth — and very fast. Ultimately, hyperloop developers aim to develop systems that will move pods along at speeds of up to miles per hour. So far, the fastest any prototype pod has traveled is miles per hour.
Virgin Hyperloop One hopes to begin testing full-sized hyperloop systems in and then to build hyperloops in the United Arab Emirates and India, among other countries.
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