If you live in California, then you have probably heard of the revolutionary Hyperloop proposed by Tesla Motors Inc. In 2013, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors and Space X, announced his goal of creating a revolutionary transportation system that would transport passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just 35 minutes. While Musk has proven himself a leader of innovation in the transportation industry with his automobiles and space shuttles, many people wonder whether his Hyperloop proposal will ever become a reality.
In 2003, Musk released a 57-page paper, which unveiled his plans to develop the mass transportation system. Called the Hyperloop, the system’s design will be similar to an above-ground bullet train. The train will be powered by solar energy and turbines and use aluminum pods to transport large quantities of people at speeds as high as 800 mph. The Hyperloop will first be used to transport passengers between LA and San Francisco and then be expanded across the country. If this revolutionary system becomes a reality, it will allow passengers to travel faster by land than by air.
According to Musk, the transportation system will take about another seven to 10 years to develop. Though the setup costs are estimated at $6-10 billion, it will cost as low as $20 for passengers to travel using the Hyperloop.
After reviewing Musk’s proposal, many physicists and train experts find major issues with the project as it stands, claiming it won’t be able to be built or operate efficiently. Also, many are criticizing Musk for releasing the project to the public before prototyping it. Unless the prototype is developed, experts can’t fully understand whether or not the system will work. Another concern with the project is that a small error could cause train to malfunction, leading to a major disaster. As well as this, many energy experts find faults with its power system. As proposed, a solar energy system will supply energy to the linear propulsion system and air pressure pumps. Energy experts claim the system will not be able to generate enough energy to provide ample power for the transportation system to function properly.
While many believe the system is too good to be true, others like Hussain al Nowais have a positive outlook on the project. Al Nowais points out that Musk is the CEO of a company that has revolutionized the electric vehicle industry. In the past, no one would have thought that Tesla would be able to create an EV that is as fast as a sports car.
So, maybe this revolutionary transportation system isn’t so farfetched after all. Only time will tell what the future holds for the world of travel.