Hyperloop Technologies
Industry | High-speed transport |
---|---|
Key people |
Rob Lloyd (CEO) Shervin Pishevar (Chairman, Co-founder) Brogan Bambrogan (CTO, Co-founder) |
Website |
www |
Hyperloop Technologies is a United States company formed to explore Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept. One of its competitors is the crowdsourced Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.
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]
Ultimately, the proposed track from Los Angeles to San Francisco is estimated to cost nearer to US$8 billion.[5]
Team
The CEO of Hyperloop Technologies is Rob Lloyd, former Cisco President of Sales and Development. Former SpaceX engineer and Hyperloop Technologies cofounder Brogan Bambrogan, the previous CEO, became CTO upon Lloyd's arrival.
The board of directors is composed of Shervin Pishevar, David O. Sacks, Jim Messina, Peter Diamandis and Joe Lonsdale.[7]
See also
References
- 1 2 Lavars, Nick (December 8, 2015). "Hyperloop Technologies to start testing high-speed transport system next month". Gizmag. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Hyperloop alpha" (PDF). SpaceX. August 12, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Hyperloop Is Real: Meet The Startups Selling Supersonic Travel". Forbes. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ↑ Singleton, Micah (February 11, 2015). "Hyperloop Technologies is trying to make Elon Musk's dream a reality". The Verge. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Kelly, Spencer (January 21, 2016). "Is Hyperloop the future of high-speed travel?". BBC News. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Hyperloop". hyperlooptech.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.