Hyperloop

THE NEXT MOBILITY BREAKTHROUGH

Hyperloop is a new form of transportation that has the opportunity to totally redefine the passenger experience. We find out more about the system and the company focused on realizing it with Rob Miller, Chief Marketing Officer

of HyperloopTT Writer: Jack Salter

Hyperloop is happening now.

In pursuit of the first transportation breakthrough in a century, HyperloopTT was founded in 2013 and has made tangible progress towards the widespread adoption of hyperloop systems.

Capsules are the main passenger or cargo-carrying component of the hyperloop system, designed to be

aerodynamic and pressurized similar to an aircraft cabin for passenger comfort and safety.

Inside, the conditions remain controlled irrespective of the speed or external environment, and depending on the design, these capsules could carry between 20 and 50 passengers, or an equivalent amount of cargo.

The system works by propelling these pressurized

capsules through a low-pressure tube, significantly reducing air resistance or drag, a considerable limitation of high-speed travel in traditional vehicles.

“One of the main innovations of the hyperloop system is the near-vacuum environment within the tube,” explains Rob Miller, Chief Marketing Officer at HyperloopTT.

“This reduction in air resistance is what allows the capsule to achieve such high speeds while using relatively little energy. The vacuum unit is responsible for maintaining this low-pressure environment.”

The hyperloop capsules are levitated using magnetic levitation (maglev) technology. In a maglev system, magnets are used to lift the capsule off the bottom of the tube, eliminating surface friction.

In the case of the hyperloop system, the capsule is propelled forward by an electric motor, which accelerates and decelerates the capsule in the tube.

The combined effect of operating in a low-pressure environment and using magnetic levitation to eliminate friction means that the hyperloop system is designed to achieve speeds of over 600 miles per hour. That’s faster than a commercial jet airliner, and much faster than any traditional ground-based transportation system.

“Its high speed, together with the ability to depart when a capsule is full rather than on a set schedule, has the potential to revolutionize both passenger and freight transport,” acclaims Miller.

REDUCING THE COST

The hyperloop system is often considered less expensive to implement than other high-speed transportation methods due to several factors.

First, the material costs are competitive to infrastructure like traditional rail lines or highways. They can be elevated on pylons, reducing the need for costly land acquisitions and the difficulties related to ground-based obstacles. In some cases, these pylons could be equipped with solar panels to generate renewable energy for the system, further reducing costs.

In addition, the system operates in a controlled environment, which significantly reduces wear and tear on both the infrastructure and the vehicles, and therefore leads to lower maintenance costs over time.

“The hyperloop operates with greater energy efficiency than other high-speed transport options like rail or air travel due to the reduced air resistance in the vacuum environment and the lack of physical friction because of magnetic levitation, resulting in lower operational costs,” adds Miller.

“ITS HIGH SPEED, TOGETHER WITH THE ABILITY TO DEPART WHEN A CAPSULE IS FULL RATHER THAN ON A SET SCHEDULE, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO REVOLUTIONIZE BOTH PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRANSPORT”

– ROB MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, HYPERLOOPTT

“The infrastructure of the Hyperloop can also be built in a modular fashion, allowing for gradual expansion and potentially lower initial investment.”

As for the environmental aspect, HyperloopTT’s system is designed to be fully electric and could potentially be powered by renewable energy sources.

As a result, it would emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases compared to conventional transportation methods that rely on fossil fuels.

“Because the hyperloop system can transport people and goods at high speeds and with high frequency, it can potentially reduce the need for short-haul flights or truck deliveries, both of which contribute significantly to environmental pollution,” Miller notes.

THE FUTURE IS NOW BOARDING

In terms of passenger experience, HyperloopTT’s stations are designed to be user-friendly and efficient, minimizing wait times and streamlining the process of boarding and disembarking from capsules.

The goal is to enable capsules to depart as soon as they’re full, rather than operating on a strict timetable, which would further reduce wait times and improve overall efficiency.

From an architectural perspective, meanwhile, the stations would ideally blend into their local environments.

“The design takes into consideration the urban or rural landscape, local culture, and architectural styles to ensure

the stations complement rather than disrupt their surroundings,” emphasizes Miller.

Furthermore, the stations are planned to be hubs for a variety of transportation options, facilitating seamless integration with existing transport networks.

This includes public transport systems like buses, trams, and trains, as well as provisions for pedestrians, cyclists, and private vehicles.

“Such an integrated approach would make it easier for passengers to reach the Hyperloop station from different parts of a city or region, enhancing its usability and reach,” Miller explains.

“Sustainability is another critical factor in the design of hyperloop stations. This could involve the use of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient building materials and technologies, and green spaces that contribute to local biodiversity.”

HyperloopTT is part of the joint venture (JV) that recently won the bid that could lead to the construction of the world’s first commercial hyperloop system in Italy.

The Venetian Motorway Concession (CAV), Italy’s regional highway operator, issued the tender, which calls for a

hyperloop prototype between Mestre in the city of Venice and Padua, Italy.

Once completed, the project will reduce heavy traffic, decrease transport times and energy consumption, improve road safety, and enhance interconnections between transport systems and smart cities in the local area.

“The project will roll out in multiple phases beginning in 2023, starting with a feasibility and environmental study” reveals Miller.

“The system will then be expandable to fully connect the cities of Venice and Padua.”

HIGH-SPEED CARGO

Elsewhere, HyperloopTT has created another JV with Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) to develop a sustainable high-speed cargo solution using hyperloop technology for port and inland shipping container operations.

Like the passenger version of Hyperloop, the HyperPort would involve pressurized capsules moving through a lowpressure, near-vacuum tube, but these capsules would be designed to carry cargo instead of people.

The system would thus transport cargo at high speeds and dramatically reduce transit times, boosting the overall capacity and efficiency of cargo transport.

“The idea is to create a point-to-point transfer system that can move containers from ships to their respective inland destinations (like warehouses or distribution centers) at high speeds and potentially over long distances, bypassing intermediate stops or transfers and improving speed and efficiency,” outlines Miller.

“BECAUSE THE HYPERLOOP SYSTEM CAN TRANSPORT PEOPLE AND GOODS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND WITH HIGH FREQUENCY, IT CAN POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR SHORT-HAUL FLIGHTS OR TRUCK DELIVERIES”

– ROB MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, HYPERLOOPTT

In doing so, HyperPort would help reduce congestion and turnaround times in ports, which are often bottlenecks in the global supply chain.

Furthermore, by enabling faster, more efficient transportation of goods, the HyperPort could reduce the number of trucks needed for land transportation, leading to less road congestion and lower emissions.

“Congestion reduction is a key feature of the HyperPort concept, as by rapidly moving cargo over considerable distances, it could help to decongest ports and associated road networks,” Miller notes.

“The quick removal of cargo from ports makes room for incoming shipments and reduces the number of trucks needed for land transport, further lessening traffic congestion.”

Unlike conventional land and sea transportation systems such as trucking and shipping, which have limited operating hours, the HyperPort could theoretically function continuously, further enhancing its capacity.

In terms of sustainability, the HyperPort system, like the broader Hyperloop concept, aims to be powered by renewable energy sources, which would reduce the carbon footprint associated with cargo transportation.

“From an environmental perspective, the Hyperloop system’s design hinges on electrical power, with potential integration with renewable energy sources.

“This approach makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional freight transport options that depend heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in lower emissions,” Miller concludes.