The Hyperloop project Elon musk has moved from a dead point

When Elon Musk announced his plans to create a new type of high-speed public transport, the whole world reacted with great enthusiasm and began to expect the realization of this idea. This is not surprising, because the innovative invention, called the Hyperloop, due to its unique design with the use of vacuum tunnels has promised in the future in just 30 minutes to deliver people from Los Angeles to San Francisco. If such a project really can be implemented, it could change the whole infrastructure of public transport, at least in the United States.

People began to wait. But after more than a year since the announcement of this innovative project has been no progress. Musk decided to open its plans to the public, and has indicated its desire to conduct a preliminary test of the system in Texas. However, until now it was unclear whether he had begun in General to the construction of a test bed. Through the time Elon announced the Hyperloop project becomes open, and has promised that will not interfere with other interested companies, if they will undertake its implementation and will even use the name.

Fortunately, one of the companies concerned finally found and the project can be said to have moved from a dead point. In September of this year, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies announced the beginning of a new stage of work on the project, and last week said that from an engineering and financial aspect of the question of the construction of this system began new research. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies decided to use a very unusual investment model implementation: each employee participating in the development of the project will receive as compensation a share of the possible revenues from this project. To date, the participation was to attract hundreds of professionals from companies like Boeing, Tesla and SpaceX. If the system will really work, then the income from it will be divided among a larger number of employees that is not usually practiced in other corporations. Now all these staff are essentially volunteers.

Before the actual production of a working transport system Hyperloop is still very far, however, the case is seen really serious progress, at least in the question of how such a system might look like. Engineers propose to use three classes of comfort — economy, business class and cargo — and discuss the options of multiple routes to "vacuum" trains in the country. In addition, are looking for opportunities to upgrade and improve the existing design.

"In the original document the technical features of the Hyperloop is said that the air thrust is the most promising and comfortable with the financial side of the question choice. However, this can cause problems with the management", — said the Executive Director of the company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Dirk, Elmer."However, if in the framework of the system is found more acceptable solution to change the technical features will not be so difficult."

After preliminary estimates of financial costs for system construction was announced that the project cost will be something between 7 and 16 billion dollars, which in turn is higher than the initial forecasts, the Elon musk, who spoke about the amount of about $ 6 billion.

"The biggest question for me at the moment is the question of cost of this project," says Elmer. "Still, Hyperloop will cost $ 50 billion. The cost is likely to be in a convenient framework."