Hyperloop One has continued to make history with the successful completion of its second phase of testing, bringing the revolutionary transportation method a little closer to being able to move passengers and cargo at great speeds within a pod.
On July 29, 2017, Hyperloop One completed phase 2, after its pod traveled nearly the full distance of the 500-metre DevLoop track in the Nevada desert and achieved record test speeds in a tube depressurized down to the equivalent of air at 200,000 feet above sea level.
The Hyperloop One XP-1, the company’s first-generation pod, accelerated for 300 meters and glided above the track using magnetic levitation before braking and coming to a gradual stop.
Electric propulsion allows the pod to accelerate gradually through a low-pressure tube before it lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag.
All components of the system were successfully tested, including the highly efficient electric motor, advanced controls and power electronics, custom magnetic levitation and guidance, pod suspension and vacuum system.
Hyperloop One is currently the only company in the world that has built an operational Hyperloop system.
Shervin Pishevar, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Hyperloop One, said: “This is the beginning and the dawn of a new era of transportation.
“We’ve reached historic speeds of 310 kilometres an hour, and we’re excited to finally show the world the XP-1 going into the Hyperloop One tube. When you hear the sound of the Hyperloop One, you hear the sound of the future.”
Phase 2 vs. Phase 1
Achieved 2.7x faster speed (192 mph vs. 69 mph)
Went 4.5x farther distance (1,433 feet vs. 315 feet)
10x longer propulsion segment (300m vs. 30m)
3.5x more power to the pod (3,151hp vs. 891hp)
Hyperloop One CEO Rob Lloyd commented: “We’ve proven that our technology works, and we’re now ready to enter into discussions with partners, customers and governments around the world about the full commercialization of our Hyperloop technology.
“We’re excited about the prospects and the reception we’ve received from governments around the world to help solve their mass transportation and infrastructure challenges.”
Josh Giegel, President of Engineering and Co-founder of Hyperloop One, added: “Our team of engineers continues to make history at DevLoop. Only a handful of teams would have attempted something so audacious while far less could have achieved it.
“Through tireless preparation, dedication and hard work, we successfully completed Phase 1, proving that Hyperloop One technology works and that Hyperloop is real. Phase 2 was far more difficult as we built upon everything we learned from our initial test and accomplished faster speeds at a farther distance. We’re now one step closer to deploying Hyperloop around the world.”
