There has been this constant buzz surrounding hyperloop travel recently, as developments within this exciting technology get closer to fruition. In case you haven’t heard, the hyperloop is a vacuum tube transportation system, with several exciting projects planned across the globe that utilise this ground-breaking technology.
Luckily for us, there are ongoing plans bringing Europe one step closer to accessing this fascinating way to travel, allowing you to dash between Amsterdam and Barcelona in just two hours.
The European Hyperloop Center, located in the Dutch Province of Groningen, has announced that their Hyperloop test infrastructure is officially open for testing. The state-of-the-art facility features a 420-meter hyperloop test tube for demonstrating all the essential technologies to efficiently test the system. It was designed to represent and test out real-world scenarios, including switching lanes.
The first tests are planned in the coming weeks, with hopes of providing unbeatable insight into this popular phenomenon across the travel and tech industries, as well as solidifying infrastructures across Europe.
Marinus van der Meijs, co-founder & Technology and Engineering Director at Hardt Hyperloop, commented on the upcoming tests: “The European Hyperloop Center’s facility is the perfect ground for us to validate and advance our technology. This infrastructure enables us to demonstrate… magnetic levitation, propulsion, stabilization, and even lane-switching, at speeds up to 100 km/hr”.
As well as speed, the hyperloop boasts a range of benefits that are set to revolutionise the travel industry. It’s not only set to be cheaper than high-speed rail, but it’s better for the environment, estimated to use 10x less energy compared to travelling by car or plane.
With backing from the European Union and several central governments within, multiple hyperloop companies and research institutions have teamed up for this ongoing project.
Would you travel by hyperloop? To stay up to date with the European hyperloop developments, visit HARDT’s website here.