Full-scale Hyperloop test track to launch next year in California

[Shawn Knight]

The first full-scale Hyperloop test track could be ready for trial runs as early as next year and it won't be in Texas. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Elon Musk over the years, it’s that once he sets his mind to something, he wastes little time making it happen.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT for short) has acquired rights to 7,500 acres of land in California’s Quay Valley (a planned community) in order to build a five-mile test track. Construction of the project will be funded from money the company expects to take in through a public offering during the third quarter of this year.

HTT CEO Dirk Ahlborn doesn’t like to call the project a test track. As Wired notes, this really isn’t a proof of concept or a scale model; it will apparently be open to the public at some point in which potential riders will be able to buy a ticket and go for a spin.

To reiterate, this is just a five-mile stretch of tube – far from the 400-mile version that Musk eventually wants to build to connect northern and southern California in just half an hour. As such, the shortened version won’t come close to the promised 800 mph speeds of the final Hyperloop as you need about 100 miles of track to reach such speeds.

Top speed runs won’t be a key metric with the first iteration. Instead, the HTT team wants to tweak practical elements of the setup such as boarding procedures and pod design.

Either way, it’s exciting to see the Hyperloop project move one step closer to reality and with any luck, it could seriously change the way we look at long-distance travel.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/59873-full-scale-hyperloop-test-track-launch-next-year.html

 

[VitalyT]

Who's first to get sucked in?

I never thought I could be so literal about the new technology

Wormhole a-la Musk

 

[Uncle Al]

When I was in Europe several years ago I fell in love with the extensive use of trains to get from point to point. The one big uphill climb for such a thing in the US again will be finding a way to break Americans love affair with the automobile. I dearly love my car and being able to drive when I want, but to be able to take such a train to different cities, on vacation, etc. would be great. Several of the long distance train companies tried the concept of loading your car on board and taking it with you, but the cost was prohibitive for most and few want to be bothered with the expense or inconvenience of rental cars in far away destinations.

It's going to have to be something really eye catching; perhaps through great landscapes otherwise unacceptable or perhaps something "way out" like a direct link from NYC to Havana Cuba, under the sea. I'm all in favor of it, but we're going to need some really out of the box thinkers to make it too attractive to ignore and for the long run.

 

[VitalyT]

... a direct link from NYC to Havana Cuba, under the sea.

I believe a direct link from Earth to Mars will happen sooner.

 

[stewi0001]

I wonder if HTT tried talking to Disney to use these as a replacement for the monorails in Walt Disney World.

 

[wiyosaya]

Who's first to get sucked in?

I never thought I could be so literal about the new technology

Wormhole a-la Musk

If you are referring to the fact that this requires a vacuum in the tube, quite literal indeed.

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

When I was in Europe several years ago I fell in love with the extensive use of trains to get from point to point. The one big uphill climb for such a thing in the US again will be finding a way to break Americans love affair with the automobile. I dearly love my car and being able to drive when I want, but to be able to take such a train to different cities, on vacation, etc. would be great. Several of the long distance train companies tried the concept of loading your car on board and taking it with you, but the cost was prohibitive for most and few want to be bothered with the expense or inconvenience of rental cars in far away destinations.

It's going to have to be something really eye catching; perhaps through great landscapes otherwise unacceptable or perhaps something "way out" like a direct link from NYC to Havana Cuba, under the sea. I'm all in favor of it, but we're going to need some really out of the box thinkers to make it too attractive to ignore and for the long run.

I doubt Americans are any different from other countries, the difference is in the incentives. In America, we have cheap gas and lots of space (free parking) and things are far apart. In Japan things are close together, cars (includes parking) and gas are much more expensive.
In America a car is cheap and easy, in other countries the train is cheap and easy. Look at Canada as a comparison to America. They LOVE their trucks in Canada just as much as anyone in the US.

Until a transportation system is more attractive than driving, Americans will keep driving. This is why adding lanes to the freeways doesn't cut down on traffic... more lanes = easier commute = more drivers.

The hyperloop may provide that because it's so much faster. here's to hoping, the milwaukee --> chicago route looks like a great place for one.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Is there a chance the track could bend?

 

[Kibaruk]

I think you are all missing the point of short distance transportation, people want something they can just hop on, move to destination and then go down, with all the comodities, safety and in the fastest way possible.

Can you acchieve that by going to the station and waiting for a train, then hoping down the station and getting to your work/fun/whatever destination? Yes you can, as long as it's really close by or the hassle of driving/parking to that spot is much more than the hassle of moving over certain short-ish distances before you actually get to your destination. Can you do it comfortably? Well yes, as long as you are traveling light and in good-ish weather.

Can you do all of the above in a car? Yes you can, and it ussualy is much more simple.

 

[Jad Chaar]

If this idea gains ground it is going to be amazing and revolutionary.

 

[cliffordcooley]

If this idea gains ground it is going to be amazing and revolutionary.

Yeah its gonna be great! Rent a fully charged Tesla and turn it back in every time you want to use the Hyperloop. When you get to your destination, pickup your new fully charged wheels.

 

[drjekelmrhyde]

If they sell HSR as regional stadium to stadium it will bring more people on board.
/Not talking about one local sport places like Green Bay, but places like Chicago to St. Louis

 

[captaincranky]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I simply never get enough of Elon Musk's plastic mock ups:

They just want me to reach deep into my pocket and write him a check.