By
Svetlana Soroka
April 18th, 2024
Before now, Virgin Hyperloop had conducted more than 400 non-human tests at the Nevada site.
The Virgin Hyperloop recently completed its first human ride test in its super-high-speed transportation system. The company conducted the human passenger test at its test track in Nevada on the 8th of November.
According to BBC News, Virgin Hyperloop’s first passenger ride involved two top executives at the company. The participants were Virgin Hyperloop director of customer experience Sara Luchian and the chief technology officer Josh Giegel. Instead of flight suits, the BBC stated that the executives wore Jeans and fleeces.
Virgin Hyperloop Completes First Human Ride
The executives traveled 107 miles per hour, which equals 172 km per hour, in 15 seconds. The female participant, Luchian, was pleased with the experience. She told BBC that the journey was smooth, and the experience was “exhilarating both psychologically and physically.” She also noted that neither she nor Giegel felt sick after the ride.
In a Reuters report, the chairman of Virgin Hyperloop Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem commented on the company’s achievement in conducting the world’s first passenger ride on its ultra-fast levitating pod system. He said:
“I had the true pleasure of seeing history made before my very eyes.”
Before now, Virgin Hyperloop had conducted more than 400 non-human tests at the Nevada site. Upon the successful launch of the hyperloop system, passengers and cargos will travel through vacuum tubes at 600 miles per hour or even faster.
The Reuters report added more details on the ultra-fast transportation speed with the hyperloop system. The report said passengers would be able to travel from New York to Washington within 30 minutes in a hyperloop system. The high speed is about two times faster than a commercial jet flight, Reuters added.
Furthermore, Reuters revealed that the company is planning to secure its safety certification by 2025 and begin commercial operations by 2030.
Key Competitors in the Hyperloop Technology Market
Apart from Virgin Hyperloop, other companies are working on developing an ultra-speed transportation technology. An example is TransPod in Canada and Spain’s Zeleros.
Canadian TransPod has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Alberta as it begins a feasibility study. The agreement will allow TransPod to find an appropriate space for its test track. Also, the MoU permits private investments in the project. In addition, the company would begin a feasibility study on the linking line between Calgary and Edmonton with plans to commence Hyperloop construction by 2025.
Zeleros would be using a different method for its high-speed transportation system. According to a CNN report, the Spanish company is proposing to develop a train that can travel at 1,000 kilometers in an hour.
Research by Data Bridge Market highlighted other significant competitors in the Hyperloop technology market. They include Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), Dinclix GroundWorks Private Limited, Hardt B.V, AECOM, Hyper Chariot LLC, and SpaceX.