Transport

Longest Hyperloop vacuum journey completed in European test facility

A new scale model Hyperloop test facility in Europe has achieved a record for longest vacuum capsule journey
Swisspod
A new scale model Hyperloop test facility in Europe has achieved a record for longest vacuum capsule journey
Swisspod

In what feels like news straight out of 2016, a Hyperloop testing facility in Europe has completed the longest-ever vacuum capsule journey. The milestone could bring this oft-forgotten promise of high-speed transport one step closer to reality.

Originally pitched by Elon Musk in a 2013 white paper, the Hyperloop concept involves train-like vehicles traveling at high speeds through vacuum-sealed tubes, coasting along via magnetic levitation. With no weather, traffic or air resistance to contend with, the pods are projected to reach top speeds of 1,200 km/h (746 mph).

News around Hyperloop seems to have slowed down in recent years, but it hasn’t stalled completely. An EPFL facility in Switzerland has been testing Hyperloop tech through what’s called the LIMITLESS project – in one of the most awkward acronyms in recent memory, which apparently stands for “Linear Induction Motor Drive for Traction and Levitation in Sustainable Hyperloop Systems.” But we guess LIMDTLSHS is less catchy.

Anyway, this project is a 1:12 scale model of a Hyperloop, with a tube diameter of 40 cm (15.7 in) and a track circumference of 125.6 m (412 ft). A total of 82 tests have now been conducted on the LIMITLESS project, at just 50 millibars of pressure. Of those, on the longest test the pod traveled 11.8 km (7.3 miles) and at its fastest it reached a top speed of 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph).

That makes it the longest distance traveled by a vacuum capsule so far, and if scaled up would be the equivalent of 141.6 km (88 miles). The top speed when scaled up would be 488.2 km/h (303.4 mph) – pretty fast, but not the fastest a Hyperloop has traveled. Just a couple months ago, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) clocked 623 km/h (387 mph) in a short test run.

While there’s still plenty of work left to do, the LIMITLESS tests show that Hyperloop still has a shot at speeding up long-distance travel.

Source: EPFL

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5 comments
martinwinlow
I wish someone can explain why current Hyperloop designs rely on fantastically expensive magnetic levitation rather than the super-easy and uncomplicated air-cushion that Musk envisaged...
BarronScout
The maglev envisioned is passive induction - the forward motion causes the effect that levitates the pod, vs active which requires more power and hardware to lift the pod off the track from a stop. I don't know which company was doing this, or if all of them were. Draw back is below about 30-60 mph the pods ride on wheels (until induced levitation takes over)

I would assume the hardware for passive maglev is much less $$$ than active maglev. Also I don't know how this compares to air cushion in a vacuum
Rick O
Musk is right about a lot of stuff, but the fact that he isn't working on this himself (or rather, his people) shows that he doesn't take it seriously. If it was ever going to feasible or turn a profit, he would chase after it.
The cost of building an evacuating a tube will never be as energy or cost efficient as maglev trains with super low drag. Japan has every environmental hazard that the US does, save desert, and their bullet trains succeed while sitting on an earthquake fault. Shelter the track with solar panels to protect them from the elements and power the train, and move on. Hyperloop is a farce. Any investment in it is a waste of time and money.
Dave
Giving Elon credit for the hyperloop is an absolute joke, it was thought of 100 years ago.
Elon literally only pushed it to make sure public transport is not used and give his company money.
Who ever wrote this article clearly did zero research
Aermaco
Spot on Rick the hyper loop logic only fits if it’s underground with short distance below heavy infrastructure above. The tube cost kills and wide range long distance logic.