Is Hyperloop the Future of Travel?
Conceptual drawings of passengers traveling in hyperloop capsules. (Drawings provided by Elon Musk)
Imagine traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles in about 35 minutes. And you're not in the air.
That's the concept behind the hyperloop, described as being a cross between the Concord, an air gun, and an air hockey table. It's the brainchild of billionaire Elon Musk, founder of PayPal and developer of the Tesla electric car.
"It's two tubes running down (highway) I-5 in California," said Tim De Chant, senior digital editor at the PBS science program, Nova. Up to 28 passengers sit in the capsules which go through the large steel tubes. Think vacuum tubes which are used at the drive-through banks or carrying inter-office papers. Except the hyperloop carries people. Musk is estimating the system between San Francisco and Los Angeles will cost an estimated $6 billion.
However, Musk has said he has no plans to build the system, but wanted to reveal his design concept in the hopes that others might take it on.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!