Abu Dhabi – Dubai in 12 minutes.
Hamburg – Berlin in 16 minutes.
Brussels – Barcelona in 30 minutes.
These are just some of the planned routes that could become a reality with the Hyperloop.
As phenomenal as these travel times sound, they also raise so many questions. What is the hyperloop anyway? How does it work? And how likely is it that it will actually come? Is the Hyperloop nothing but hype or a serious innovation that will enable faster, environmentally friendly travel in the future?
1. What? What is the hyperloop anyway?
The Hyperloop is a land-based means of transport for people and goods that moves along fixed routes – so far so very similar to Trains. The high-speed system, which is currently still in development, does not require any rails, but runs in large vacuum tubes. It is being researched and tinkered with at different locations and as part of various projects around the world. The Hyperloop should drive in the fastest sections of the route at almost the speed of sound.
A speed of up to 1,200 kilometers per hour should be achieved. (Image: Shutterstock / Vitamin444)
2. How? How does the hyperloop work?
That sounds like wow. But how does it work? The technology behind the Hyperloop is similar to that of the pneumatic tube. The Hyperloop will run in tubes that are partially vacuumed, i.e. almost empty of air. Capsules move in these tubes, in which there is space for passengers or goods. An electrically generated magnetic field drives the capsules, accelerates them and slows them down again to hold them.
The capsules should be up to 1,200 kilometers per hour and thus almost reach the speed of sound. These high speeds are possible because there is virtually no air resistance due to the vacuum. Friction losses are also to be eliminated, namely by means of a compressor on the front part of the capsules, which sucks in the remaining air in the tube and pumps it under the device. So the capsules float like on an air cushion.
3. Why? What advantages does the Hyperloop offer?
One point is of course obvious: Traveling with the Hyperloop would be extremely fast and the time saved would be enormous. Compared to air travel, this type of transportation would not only be faster, but also significantly more environmentally friendly. Because the energy that is required to drive the capsules should be generated by solar cells that are mounted on the outside of the Hyperloop tubes.
Similar to trains, additional units, i.e. additional capsules, could also be attached to the Hyperloop in order to be able to transport more people or goods.
Due to the floating function of the capsules, in addition to friction, the wear and tear on wheels, tires, rails or axles would also be eliminated, which we know so far from train or car traffic – which would mean lower costs and less effort for maintenance and repairs.
How could it be otherwise: Entrepreneur and Telsa boss Elon Musk also has a hand in the Hyperloop. He presented the concept of the Hyperloop in a white paper in August 2013 and launched a competition in which over 120 teams from all over the world took part and developed ideas for implementation.
Musk did not devise the functionality of the hyperloop. As early as 1799, the British mechanic George Medhurst had his idea of the “atmospheric railway” patented, in which trains are moved by means of air pressure via a piston. Medhurst developed the idea years later by pumping the air inside the tunnels so that trains could move through the tubes without much drag. However, he could not realize these plans.
Since Musk returned the idea to the There are startups all over the world who are researching the further development and implementation of the Hyperloop, including, for example, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies in the United States, Hardt Hyperloop in the Netherlands and Virgin Hyperloop One, also in the United States.
Doesn’t mean a German startup, no Hyperloop Germany plans? By no means! Under the title Vision for Europe Hyperloop One published nine concepts for possible Hyperloop routes in Europe in 2017. The longest of these is a circular route through Germany, which is intended to connect the cities of Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Hamburg with each other. The total distance of 1,991 kilometers should be covered in 142 minutes.
5. When? And when will the hyperloop finally come?
Well, that’s the big question. As of now, all of these plans are still very theoretical. The first test tracks are gradually being built, but so far on a very small and comparatively slow scale. In Las Vegas, for example, after 400 unmanned attempts, a first test drive with real passengers took place on November 8, 2020, but only over a distance of 500 meters at a maximum speed of 172 kilometers per hour.
Until the Hyperloop is ready for use over longer distances, we will probably wait a few years, in Germany probably even decades have to.
Impulses for the future of mobility: The Hypermotion Dubai and Frankfurt
What is already there earlier (and already in this late summer and autumn) is further input on the subject of “To future of mobility ”. If you are interested in the Hyperloop and the general transformation of mobility and logistics, you should definitely stop by Hypermotion Frankfurt (14-16 September 2021) and Hypermotion Dubai (02-04 November 2021). They offer a rich virtual trade fair program with high-quality interaction and cover all topics relating to the future of the transport, logistics and mobility sector.
Be there when top-class speakers from all over the world present and discuss new mobility ideas such as the Hyperloop. In addition to innovative pitches, you can expect exciting keynotes and inspiring sessions with executives, political actors, experts from the fields of environmental protection and mobility and many more.
All information about Hypermotion Dubai
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