Hyperloop, for smarter, faster, greener and better transportation starting with freight

Project Information

Hyperloop for sustainable freight transport

Grant agreement ID: 190155287

DOI

10.3030/190155287

Project closed

EC signature date 17 June 2022

Start date 1 January 2022

End date 31 March 2024

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 679 375,00

EU contribution

€ 2 500 000,00

Coordinated by

HARDT BV
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Hyperloop for sustainable freight transport (Hyperloop, for smarter, faster, greener and better transportation starting with freight)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Demand for transport will grow by 250% by 2050, while current modalities are already responsible for 23% of greenhouse gas emissions, and €50T needs to be invested into transport infrastructure worldwide.

With hyperloop, we travel over Europe as if it is one sustainable metropolis and create a single European market which is connected within several hours. Vehicles travel through a network of low-pressure tubes. Every trip is direct from any origin to any destination in the network without intermediate stops. The low-pressure environment minimizes aerodynamic drag, resulting in minimal energy usage. The infrastructure has a minimal spatial footprint by placing the tube on columns or underground, making it easy to implement for low implementation costs. The operating and maintenance costs are low due to driverless operation, low energy usage and frictionless magnetic suspension and propulsion. This results in a lower total cost of ownership than road, rail, and aviation, while offering higher service.

Hardt Hyperloop is the European hyperloop technology provider supported by an investment from the European Commission. Hardt has demonstrated their full-scale hyperloop technology at low speeds and is now constructing the European Hyperloop Center, an open test and demonstration facility for hyperloop technology capable of demonstrating high-speed network operations, to define the open interoperable hyperloop standard.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Hardt has developed various test-setups and prototypes to test and demonstrate various hyperloop sub-systems. These include magnetic levitation rigs, infrastructure prototypes and the most recent addition a setup to test our newly developed motor. From these test-rigs and prototypes we learn valuable lessons about the performance of our system which we use to optimize and improve our hyperloop design.

Currently (1st of January 2023) we are in the middle of realizing the European Hyperloop Center. A test facility in which we can test a fully integrated hyperloops system. As of this date construction of the test-track has started and we are already learning about what can be improved on the manufacturing process of the infrastructure. Later this year the manufacturing and assembly of the vehicle will start which will no doubt also teach us a lot.

When the EHC is finished it will be the first hyperloop test facility in the world with a fully functional lane-switch. A functionality that is crucial for the realization of a European Hyperloop Network. We expect the facility to be a source of information for the years to come providing us information about the efficiency, comfort, reliability and safety of the hyperloop system. Furthermore, it will stay relevant as new vehicles can be tested over time at the EHC.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Hyperloop offers utterly transformative spatial planning possibilities. It increases the radius for commuting within an hour from approximately 50 km to about 250 km, effectively increasing the area from which business can attract talent without requiring moving residence by 25 times. In doing so it allows cities to grow towards satellite areas, alleviating housing scarcity and soaring housing prices. As people shift to public transport through hyperloop, it decreases dependence on cars and decreases urban congestion, unlocking tremendous quality of life benefits.

A modal shift from aviation could free up to 70% of airport capacity on major congested airports and/or diverts passengers to other underutilized airports at the same time it takes to go from one gate to another, massively reducing investment need in airport infrastructure and freeing up valuable real estate. Hyperloop also massively increases logistics efficiency, where warehousing can be centralized and reducing warehouse sprawl. Hyperloop is attractive for both passengers and shippers, and - as it does not have the negative external effects that other modalities have - is also the solution that faces the least societal resistance in its implementation. Hyperloop is the future-proof transportation that Policy makers need for a sustainable and hyperconnected planet.

Hyperloop for cargo offers lower transport costs, shorter travel times, higher reliability, more flexibility and more secure shipments with lower energy usage than trucking and aviation for medium- to long-distance travel. As the hyperloop tube is relatively small and easy to integrate into the environment compared to other modalities, it can get close to and even connect directly with shipper's facilities, multi-modal hubs, and city logistics hubs. Due to the transport high capacity the transport is on-demand and due to the relatively small transport units continuous-flow operation is possible. This increases flexibility for shipments, and reduces the time and space needed for consolidation. Due to the isolated tube environment, the shipments are always secured and guaranteed to arrive at their destination intact and in time.

To achieve the above and ensure success it will be essential to acquire governmental support to realize a commercial pilot between 5 and 15 kilometers in Europe. Government support will unlock private funding to complete the hyperloop development.

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