China’s hyperloop completes first test runs, pushing ahead in race for ultra-fast land transport
- Pod travels at 50km/h (31mph) through vacuum tube at Chinese facility to check critical components and prepare for future experiments
- The project aims to develop superconducting maglev trains that can carry passengers at speeds of 1,000km/h or more
A Chinese research facility developing an ultra-fast hyperloop train has completed its first test runs using a full-sized passenger capsule, according to media reports.
During the test runs on January 14, the capsule reached speeds of up to 50km/h, travelling a distance of 210 metres (689 feet) each time, according to the report.
China has a new test system for maglev trains that ‘fly on the ground’
The report did not specify whether air had been pumped out of the tube during the tests. Maintaining a low pressure environment in the tube is one of the biggest challenges in developing the technology.
But the Datong facility’s maglev – or magnetic levitation – technology eliminates the friction that wears down rails, while its vacuum tube reduces air resistance.
Richard Branson, the founder of space travel company Virgin Galactic, also joined the race with a similar venture, Hyperloop One, in Los Angeles. The company conducted the world’s first test carrying passengers in pods, reaching a speed of 172km/h in 2020.
But financial trouble and technical challenges have cast a shadow over these projects. Last year, Hyperloop One reportedly laid off more than 100 employees and abandoned the idea of transporting humans.
The Boring Company reportedly dismantled its test tunnel last year to make space for a car park for SpaceX employees.
China was late to the hyperloop game, as CASIC did not break ground on the Datong facility until April of last year.
But it took less than a year for the project team to complete its first test run after the start of construction – a feat China Space News said was achieved through innovation and strong government support.
The test facility’s tube currently measures 2km in length and is expected to be extended to 60km over the next few years to achieve a top speed of 1,000km/h, according to the local government.
Could Chinese hypersonic weapons tap Wi-fi bandwidth for communication?
Some military experts believe that new technologies developed at the Datong hyperloop facility, such as electromagnetic propulsion and power management systems, could be used for defence.