Hyperloop Technologies

Not to be confused with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.
Hyperloop Technologies
Industry High-speed transport
Key people
 Rob Lloyd (CEO)
Shervin Pishevar (Chairman, Co-founder)
Brogan Bambrogan (CTO, Co-founder)
Website www.hyperlooptech.com

Hyperloop Technologies is a United States company formed to explore Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept.

The company is currently building a short (1.9 mi (3 km)) test track in the Nevada desert to test lightweight prototype Hyperloop pods.

Its publicly stated long-term goal is to deliver a fully operational Hyperloop system by 2020.[1]

Concept

A Hyperloop is a high speed, intercity transportation system which uses passenger and cargo capsules inside a reduced-pressure tube system that would reach a top speed of 800 miles per hour (1,300 km/h) with a yearly capacity of 15 million passengers. Musk envisioned it as an alternative to the California High-Speed Rail project.[2]

History

In early 2015, Hyperloop Technologies announced plans to build a freight-oriented Hyperloop to cover the 228 miles (367 km) between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.[3][4]

In December 2015, the company announced plans to begin testing on an open-air track in Nevada in January 2016, intending to reach speeds of 700 mph (1,100 km/h) by the end of that year. The test track is approximately 0.62 mi (1 km). The initial testing will explore the ability of the company's linear electric motor to accelerate the test vehicle to 335 mph (539 km/h). Thereafter the company plans to construct a full-scale 1.9 mi (3 km) test track where levitated pods will pass through low-friction tubes.[1]

By January 2016, HT had procured 50 acres (20 ha) of land and fabricated tube sections in order to build a test track in the Nevada desert. Construction of the test track will be underway in 2016.[5]

Funding

Following a solicitation for a seed investment round led by SherpaVentures,[6] the company raised US$37 million in funding to support initial operations and the build of the 1.9 mi (3 km) test track in Nevada.[5] In late 2015, they were actively raising US$80 million for the next round of expansion.[7]

Ultimately, the proposed track from Los Angeles to San Francisco is estimated to cost nearer to US$8 billion.[5] Initial engineering and design will cost around US$8.5 million. The test track should be able to be built and operated with US$80 million. According to a cost analysis team, a two-way passenger tube will cost US$45.3 million per mile.[8]

Team

The CEO of Hyperloop Technologies is Rob Lloyd, former Cisco President of Sales and Development.[7] Former SpaceX engineer and Hyperloop Technologies cofounder Brogan Bambrogan,[7] the previous CEO, became CTO upon Lloyd's arrival.

The board of directors was composed of HTI founder[7] Shervin Pishevar, David O. Sacks, Jim Messina, Peter Diamandis and Joe Lonsdale,[9] adding Emily White by November 2015.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Lavars, Nick (December 8, 2015). "Hyperloop Technologies to start testing high-speed transport system next month". Gizmag. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hyperloop alpha" (PDF). SpaceX. August 12, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Hyperloop Is Real: Meet The Startups Selling Supersonic Travel". Forbes. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ Singleton, Micah (February 11, 2015). "Hyperloop Technologies is trying to make Elon Musk's dream a reality". The Verge. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Kelly, Spencer (January 21, 2016). "Is Hyperloop the future of high-speed travel?". BBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  6. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid; Cutler, Kim-Mai (September 16, 2015). "Hyperloop Technologies Is Raising $80M, Names Ex-Cisco Pres Rob Lloyd CEO, Emily White As Advisor". TechCrunch. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Chee, Alexander (November 30, 2015). "The Race to Create Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Heats Up". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Hyperloop Is Real: Meet The Startups Selling Supersonic Travel". Forbes. 2016-02-11. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  9. ↑ "Hyperloop". hyperlooptech.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.

External links

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