Cargo Business Techwire

Friday, February 20, 2015

Hyperloop startup working on cargo transport pod

Hyperloop Technologies is a startup that has emerged from Elon Musk’s Hyperloop project. But instead of working on the super-fast public transportation project Musk described originally, the new team at the start-up will be focusing on making the pod optimal for cargo transport.

The startup has already raised close to $9 million in funding to begin work on the vacuum train-system that will revolutionize cargo transport and public transportation.

Hyperloop Technologies is made up of Musk’ close collaborators, including Uber investor Shervin Pishevar, David Sacks, Peter Diamandis, Joe Lonsdale and Brogan BamBrogan, an engineer who worked on the Falcon 1, along with other SpaceX and Silicon Valley employees.

When completed, the Hyperloop will be the world’s fastest, cleanest way of transportation. It will go as fast as a plane, but its operational costs will be less and it won’t fill the air with carbon emissions.

The vacuum tube will be placed underground, through which pods or capsules filled with people or cargo would be able to travel at nearly the speed of sound. The internal air pressure created by the vacuum will be stabilized through pumps and valves. The capsules will be placed on a magnetic river and will be propelled by linear induction motors we’ve seen in maglev trains.

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