Urban Transport

HyperloopTT wheels out its first full-scale passenger pod

HyperloopTT wheels out its first full-scale passenger pod
Following its presentation in Spain, the capsule will now be moved to the HyperloopTT’s research and development center in Toulouse
Following its presentation in Spain, the capsule will now be moved to the HyperloopTT’s research and development center in Toulouse
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Exactly five years after its founding, startup HyperloopTT is keen to show off the progress that it has made and has today revealed its very first full-scale passenger pod
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Exactly five years after its founding, startup HyperloopTT is keen to show off the progress that it has made and has today revealed its very first full-scale passenger pod
HyperloopTT revealed its first passenger pod in Spain
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HyperloopTT revealed its first passenger pod in Spain
The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT has been dubbed Quintero One
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The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT has been dubbed Quintero One
The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT is made largely from a composite material developed in-house called Vibranium, a nod to the fictional metal of the same name that features in Marvel Comics
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The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT is made largely from a composite material developed in-house called Vibranium, a nod to the fictional metal of the same name that features in Marvel Comics
Following its presentation in Spain, the capsule will now be moved to the HyperloopTT’s research and development center in Toulouse
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Following its presentation in Spain, the capsule will now be moved to the HyperloopTT’s research and development center in Toulouse
Exactly five years after its founding, startup HyperloopTT is keen to show off the progress that it has made and has today revealed its very first full-scale passenger pod
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Exactly five years after its founding, startup HyperloopTT is keen to show off the progress that it has made and has today revealed its very first full-scale passenger pod
View gallery - 6 images

Exactly five years after its founding, startup HyperloopTT is keen to show off the progress it has made by revealing its very first full-scale passenger pod. The sleek and futuristic capsule was presented at a ceremony in Spain celebrating the company's anniversary, and will apparently be ready to roll in a commercial sense sometime in 2019.

The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT has been dubbed Quintero One and is made largely from a composite material developed in-house called Vibranium, a nod to the fictional super-metal of the same name that features in Marvel Comics. It measures 32 m (105 ft) long on the outside with an interior cabin length of 15 m (50 ft), and has a total weight of 5 tons (11,000 lb).

"The creation of this capsule represents over a year long journey of the best expertise in design, engineering, and the development of cutting edge materials," said Dirk Ahlborn HyperloopTT co-founder and CEO. "In just five years we have solved and improved upon all of the technology needed for Hyperloop with our new levitation system, vacuum pumps, batteries, and smart composites. This capsule will be a part of one of the most efficient transportation systems ever made."

The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT is made largely from a composite material developed in-house called Vibranium, a nod to the fictional metal of the same name that features in Marvel Comics
The first passenger pod from HyperloopTT is made largely from a composite material developed in-house called Vibranium, a nod to the fictional metal of the same name that features in Marvel Comics

Following its presentation in Spain, the capsule will now be moved to the HyperloopTT's research and development center in Toulouse, France, where it is setting up its first test track. According to the company, Quintero One will start accepting rides next year.

"In 2019, this capsule will be fully optimized and ready for passengers," said Bibop Gresta, chairman and co-founder of HyperloopTT. "Since we have taken major steps in solving government regulations with our safety certification guidelines and insurance frameworks, we are now closer than ever to bringing Hyperloop to the world."

From the outside looking in, that timeline looks wildly optimistic. Where HyperloopTT has revealed a full-size pod and bits and pieces of a test track, rival Virgin Hyperloop One has shown off several prototypes and reached speeds of around 390 km/h (240 mph) on its own test track near Las Vegas last December.

Given the target speeds of a fully developed Hyperloop system are around 760 mph (1,223 km/h), there is obviously a lot of work to do to close the gap. Is it possible that HyperloopTT has made this kind of progress behind closed doors and that its first public demonstration of a functioning system will be one that moves at the speed of sound? Now that would be the kind of material befitting a Marvel Comic.

Source: HyperloopTT

View gallery - 6 images
9 comments
9 comments
ChairmanLMAO
who the heck are these guys? wheres elon?
Gizmowiz
Sonic busters they will become known as.
paul314
Wasn't the original hyperloop vehicle supposed to suck air in at the front to avoid drag? this thing doesn't look as if it does that.
Derek Howe
Paul, that was the original idea. But it has since transformed into a maglev train within a tube, and having 99.9% of the air pumped out, making it very efficient since it doesn't have to plow through the air.
zr2s10
There is no way I will ever set foot in one of these. Think airplane depressurization is bad? Imagine being in a space shuttle and the door opening. This is what you'll be dealing with here. Any rapid depressurization of the cabin won't just make you pass out, it will likely kill you. Think original "Total Recall", but way less dramatic. Of course it won't matter because maintaining a vacuum in a giant tube that is 100s of miles long will be the greatest hurdle they have. This thing will end up being an enclosed bullet train.
TomWatson
WOW! This thing is built to freakin' fly .... look at that nose ... look at your nose .... see my thumb?
PAV
If there is no atmosphere to contend with, then why the sloped aerodynamic nose?
Riaanh
Might be the old fart in me, but I am always suspicious if there is no pictures of the inside, no sign of mechanical components or at least an open door.......looks like a mockup to me.
Gargamoth
The Hyperloop would be a great install. On Americas east coast. For NY natives living in southern states, being able to commute (given a fair monthly fare) could live in Florida and go to as far as Maine if we wanted. Buy NY Pizza, Maine Lobster and return to our southern warmth by the palm trees. C'mon Elon make it happen.