Hyperloop pod travels 192mph in maiden journey
Hyperloop pod travels 192mph in maiden journey
Cara McGoogan
Charlotte Krol, 2 AUGUST 2017 • 3:52PM
The ultra-fast Hyperloop is one step closer to becoming a
reality after its pod travelled 192 miles per hour in its maiden journey.
Hyperloop One said its prototype for the high-speed
transport system, which could travel from London to Edinburgh in 50 minutes,
reached the speed on a 500-metre-long test track in the Nevada desert.
The test marks the first time Hyperloop One has propelled
one of its carriages along the tube, as well as the fastest journey for the
technology. The company completed its first trial in May, which involved a
smaller trolley reaching a top speed of 70 miles per hour.
It is a significant step in the development of the
Hyperloop, a transport system first conceived by Elon Musk in 2015 that
involves levitating pods travelling through a vacuum at 750 miles per hour.
"This is the beginning, and the dawn of a new era of
transportation," said Shervin Pishevar, co-founder of Hyperloop One.
"We've reached historic speeds of 192 miles per hour and we're excited to
finally show the world the XP-1 going into the Hyperloop One tube."
Prototypes for the futuristic mode of transport are being
developed by a host of rival companies and research institutions. Hyperloop One
is the first to test a working model of its magnetic levitating pods.
Hyperloop One said the first generation of its levitating
pod, which was unveiled last month, accelerated for 300 metres, reaching 192
miles per hour before coming to a halt. The XP-1 pod is 8.7 metres long, 2.4
metres wide and 2.7 metres tall.
Although Hyperloop One more than doubled its previous
record with the run, it fell short of the 250 miles per hour target it had set.
The trip brings the Hyperloop close to the 200 miles per hour of Japan's bullet
train, but is still 50 miles per hour slower than the planned HS2.
"We're excited about the prospects and the reception
we've received from governments around the world to help solve their mass
transportation and infrastructure challenges," said Rob Lloyd, chief
executive of Hyperloop One.
He added the company plans to discuss the technology with
partners, customers and governments following the success of the trial. It is
now looking to commercialise the transport system, which is still being
developed.
Hyperloop One said earlier this year that it will be some
time before it becomes a reality because of the complexity of the
technology. Before it can accelerate to
750 miles per hour it will need to extend the 500 metre test track, built this
year, as well as fine-tune the system.
The next phase of tests will focus on solving practical
problems such as creating an air lock, rather than increasing speed, it said.
The California-based transport innovation firm has
proposed nine Hyperloop routes in Europe, including three in the UK: London to
Edinburgh, Cardiff to Glasgow, and Glasgow to Liverpool.
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