Las Vegas: In its first public concept demonstration, Hyperloop One Inc. conducted the first open-air test of the propulsion system that will one day — if it all goes to plan — power a radical transit system. Executives hope the Hyperloop system will by 2020 transport passengers at the speed of 760 miles an hour (1,223 kmph) between major American cities.
This week’s test, on Wednesday, near Las Vegas saw a 10-foot sled being fired down a track for about two seconds. But within that short duration, the sled reached speeds of 116 miles an hour only to be stopped by a sandtrap. According to reports, Hyperloop has not figured out how to put brakes on the thing.
According to the Wall Stree Journal, the Hyperloop idea is facing considerable scepticism - especially around cost. Elon Musk of Tesla, who is pushing for the tech, has said that a San Francisco-to-Los Angeles hyperloop would cost $6 billion. But experts say it will cost much more.
“Hyperloop has the potential to solve many of today’s most complex long-distance transport issues,” said Gregory Hodkinson, Arup Group chairman, also in a statement. “If railways helped enable the first industrial revolution, Hyperloop has the potential to do the same for the information economy, overcoming distances and creating connections between people, places, ideas and opportunities.”
