Hyperloop technology hit "a significant milestone" recently when the longest testing tunnel in Europe opened in the Netherlands. The European Hyperloop Center features a 1,400-foot tube with lane-switching capabilities, making it stand apart from other hyperloop testing facilities.
Hyperloop is an idea that goes back a couple of hundred years, but it got a boost in popularity in 2013 when Tesla CEO Elon Musk published a research paper on the topic. In it, Musk claimed that a hyperloop tube could transport people from L.A. to San Francisco in just 35 minutes — a trip that usually takes six or seven hours.
The concept behind the futuristic transportation system consists of giant tubes or tunnels with pods cruising through them at incredibly high speeds — over 700 miles per hour. Different technologies are being tested, but the general idea is to reduce friction using magnetic levitation or air skis instead of wheels and with low air pressure inside the tube.
Hyperloop technology is gaining speed because of the projected benefits over traditional planes, trains, and automobiles.
Traveling at those speeds would seriously cut down on people's commute times, and the tickets would be significantly cheaper than the price of a flight. According to Interesting Engineering, building the infrastructure is estimated to be less expensive than high-speed rail.
"It is incredibly energy-efficient, using only 10% of the energy needed for roads and aviation, and 50% less energy than rail," according to Hardt Hyperloop, the company that built and operates the facility.
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