Hyperloop Test Track Is Being Built

Back in 2013 billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk gave his vision for the future of transport. He called it “Hyperloop.” The system involves crash-proof capsules that run at very high speeds on a dedicated track and rely only on solar energy. The aim was to enable people traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles to cover the entire distance in just half an hour. The concept has very much remained a concept since then due to the various issues involved, with cost being the big one, but now Musk himself is doing something about it.

When Musk initially unveiled Hyperloop a 57-page long document was released which showed how the system would work. Musk also said at the time that he wouldn’t be building it. While there’s no indication that he’s going all out on this project he does seem to be getting ready to at least test it out in the real world.

Just now Elon Musk tweeted that he will be building a Hyperloop test track which will be open to companies and student teams who want to try out their pods. The location? “Most likely in Texas,” he says. Fun fact: Texas is also playing host to the new launch site for SpaceX, another one of Musk’s companies.

Musk also tweeted another idea shortly after, he’s thinking of conducting an annual student Hyperloop pod racer competition, “like Formula SAE.”

That said, a commercial launch may be a long way down the road, so its better not to get your hopes up right now.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Transportation
Tags: elon musk, Hyperloop