More than a decade has passed since Elon Musk introduced his groundbreaking whitepaper proposing a futuristic subterranean transportation system, known as the Hyperloop. This system, using magnetic fields, promised to whisk passengers between New York and Washington, DC in just 30 minutes. Despite the initial excitement, the Hyperloop concept remains far from becoming a reality.
Over the years, Musk launched and later discontinued Hyperloop Pod competitions, while Richard Branson briefly ventured into the project before quickly stepping away. As a result, what once seemed like an imminent transportation revolution now feels like an unfulfilled dream to many early enthusiasts of the concept.
However, despite these setbacks, the dream of making the Hyperloop a reality persists.
Progress Continues: Hardt Hyperloop’s Breakthrough
Just last week, Hardt Hyperloop, a company based in the Netherlands, announced a significant milestone in their development efforts. The company successfully used magnetic levitation to elevate a Hyperloop pod, allowing it to glide almost 300 feet (approximately 91 meters) at a speed of 18 miles per hour (around 29 kilometers per hour). While this current speed would result in a 12-hour journey between New York and Washington, Hardt has plans to quadruple this speed by the end of the year.
Hardt Hyperloop’s work is not in isolation. The company is a crucial player in the European Hyperloop Center (EHC), a project heavily supported by public funding from entities such as the European Commission, the Dutch government, the Province of Groningen, and various private enterprises.
The European Hyperloop Center: A Hub for Innovation
The European Hyperloop Center, located in the Netherlands, is a significant part of the global effort to turn the Hyperloop dream into reality. The EHC is home to a 1,377-foot-long (420 meters) test track, which completed its pipe installation in November 2023. The facility officially opened in March 2024 for its first round of testing.
One of the key features of this test track is the lane-switch technology, referred to as "The Split" by the EHC team. This innovation allows Hyperloop technology to move beyond simple point-to-point connections. Sasha Lamme, managing director at EHC, explained, “Without a lane-switch, Hyperloop would only allow for one-to-one point connections. The Split works with zero moving components in the infrastructure.” This design makes the Hyperloop scalable, allowing for more complex transportation networks.
Building the Split posed significant engineering challenges, such as maintaining structural integrity within the vacuum environment of the Hyperloop tube. However, overcoming these hurdles is essential for ensuring the future scalability of the system.
Beyond the test track itself, the EHC hosts prototype Hyperloop infrastructure, including a nearly 100-foot (30 meters) long pipe and a mockup vehicle. This infrastructure allows engineers to experiment with new ways to build Hyperloop systems safely and affordably. Additionally, virtual reality (VR) technology is employed to simulate user experiences, giving a glimpse of what Hyperloop travel might feel like before the system is even operational.
Lamme also highlighted that the EHC’s ambitions go beyond just testing: “The EHC is set to demonstrate all essential Hyperloop technologies, including electric propulsion systems, magnetic levitation technologies, improved communication, control and command systems, and vacuum technologies.” The center serves as a hub for ongoing research and development, fostering collaboration and accelerating the realization of Hyperloop technology.
Swisspod: Building the World’s Longest Hyperloop Track
Elsewhere in Europe, Swisspod is pushing the envelope with plans to build the “world’s longest Hyperloop track.” With a diameter of 131 feet (40 meters), the company is taking a unique approach by designing a circular test track rather than the traditional straight-line configuration. This innovative design allows Swisspod to simulate an “infinite” Hyperloop experience, eliminating the limitations posed by track length.
Swisspod’s CEO, Denis Tudor, explained the reasoning behind this approach: “Our circular design forms a closed loop, allowing us to continuously test and improve without the inherent length limitations of traditional tracks.” This creative design reduces costs and speeds up development by allowing repeated testing on a single track.
Instead of using conventional linear synchronous motors (LSM) like most MagLev trains, Swisspod opted for linear induction motor (LIM) technology for their propulsion system. Tudor described how this system works: “In our setup, the primary component, housed onboard the capsule and powered by batteries, generates a moving magnetic field. This field induces currents in the passive guideway, creating thrust to propel the capsule forward.” By reducing the need for electrification along the entire track, this technology simplifies the infrastructure and cuts costs while maintaining high efficiency.
Swisspod’s testing is taking place at a facility in Switzerland, but the company has even more ambitious plans. A larger test track is currently under construction in Colorado, USA, where the company will conduct experiments under low-pressure conditions to simulate the Hyperloop environment more accurately.
China’s Hyperloop Ambitions
While Europe makes significant strides in Hyperloop development, China is not far behind. In 2023, China announced its plans to build a Hyperloop-like train service between Shanghai and Hangzhou by 2035. Currently, the two cities are connected by high-speed rail, with a journey time of about an hour. However, China aims to cut that down to mere minutes using Hyperloop technology.
Earlier this year, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) reported that their maglev train, traveling through a low-vacuum tube on a 1.2-mile (two-kilometer) test line, reached speeds of 387 miles per hour (623 kilometers per hour). A report from the South China Morning Post also revealed that China is developing a superconducting maglev train, which could eventually reach speeds of 1,000 kilometers per hour (about 623 miles per hour), matching the top speeds of modern airplanes.
China’s centralized planning and rapid infrastructure development capabilities enable the country to undertake large-scale projects like the Hyperloop swiftly. This top-down approach allows for the quick implementation of innovative transportation technologies.
India’s Entry into the Hyperloop Race
India, too, has shown interest in developing Hyperloop technology. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), a prestigious university, set up a team called Avishkar Hyperloop in 2017 to participate in global Hyperloop competitions. This enthusiasm eventually led to the creation of TuTr Hyperloop, a startup aiming to revolutionize transportation in India.
TuTr Hyperloop is initially focusing on cargo transport, addressing critical choke points in the country’s logistics system. According to Aravind Bharadwaj, co-founder of TuTr Hyperloop, the company is collaborating with ports, mining industries, and logistics service providers to create tailored solutions for goods transportation. TuTr’s modular approach to Hyperloop technology involves developing linear propulsion, magnetic levitation, and vacuum tube systems.
Indian Railways, the country’s national train service provider, is also backing the initiative, with plans to create five inter-city Hyperloop corridors by 2047.
What’s Stopping Hyperloop in the U.S.?
While Europe, China, and India race to develop Hyperloop technology, the United States seems to be lagging behind. Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop, now rebranded as Hyperloop One, struggled to find a feasible path forward after the billionaire left the project. Other ventures, such as CMU Hyperloop, have shut down despite initial success in Musk’s pod competitions. Even Musk himself has not pursued a Hyperloop pilot project, despite sparking global interest in the concept with his 2013 whitepaper.
However, Denis Tudor of Swisspod believes that Musk’s work is already done. “His efforts popularized the Hyperloop concept and sparked a global wave of innovation,” Tudor said. “We, along with many others, are inspired by his vision and are working to bring Hyperloop technology to life.”
The Evolving Global Hyperloop Landscape
Despite the slower progress in the U.S., the global race to make Hyperloop a reality continues to gain momentum. Hardt Hyperloop’s levitation test and Swisspod’s innovative circular track design are just two examples of the persistent drive to develop this futuristic transportation technology.
Each region approaches the Hyperloop concept with unique strategies, from government-backed projects in China and Europe to private-sector collaborations and frugal innovation in India. While Musk’s original vision remains distant, the ongoing efforts suggest that some form of Hyperloop could become a reality within the next few decades.
The dream of revolutionizing long-distance travel through Hyperloop technology lives on, propelled by global collaboration and innovation.