In an update that might seem plucked straight from the transportation ambitions of 2016, a European Hyperloop testing facility has just reached a major milestone in high-speed travel research. The European team behind the LIMITLESS project in Switzerland recently completed the longest vacuum capsule journey on record, breathing new life into Elon Musk’s ambitious 2013 Hyperloop concept.
The Hyperloop concept, introduced by Elon Musk over a decade ago, envisions passenger pods hurtling through low-pressure tubes at speeds up to 1,200 km/h (746 mph). By leveraging magnetic levitation and vacuum-sealed tubes, Hyperloop technology aims to eliminate resistance from weather, traffic, and air drag. Despite its initial hype, however, the Hyperloop initiative has seen progress slow considerably in recent years. Yet, developments from the LIMITLESS project show that Musk’s vision is still on track, although at a reduced speed for now.
The LIMITLESS project is part of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and involves a scaled-down, 1:12 model Hyperloop setup. Its tube measures 40 cm (15.7 in) in diameter, and the track stretches around a 125.6 m (412 ft) circumference. Since launching, the team has conducted 82 tests at a reduced pressure of 50 millibars. Notably, their longest journey covered 11.8 km (7.3 miles) and achieved a top speed of 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph). While modest in velocity compared to the concept’s proposed potential, the distance covered marks a record for vacuum capsules, surpassing previous tests worldwide.
Scaled up, the LIMITLESS project’s results would translate to a Hyperloop pod traveling roughly 141.6 km (88 miles) at a speed of 488.2 km/h (303.4 mph). While this falls short of the Hyperloop’s ultimate goal of 1,200 km/h, it’s still a remarkable feat. The LIMITLESS achievement highlights the durability and stability of magnetic levitation in a vacuum over long distances. Recently, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) hit a record speed of 623 km/h (387 mph) in a short Hyperloop test run, indicating that the technology’s speed potential is far from capped.
Though Hyperloop may still be years away from large-scale implementation, the successful tests in Europe hint that Hyperloop technology could ultimately bring high-speed, vacuum-sealed travel closer to the mainstream.
Source: EPFL
