A team of more than 30 students from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), in Spain, is planning the first prototype of the "Hyperloop UPV"; a train capable of travelling at 1,000 kilometres per hour (it is worth noting that the AVE travels at 305 km/h.), so that vegetables grown in the greenhouses of Almeria could reach Berlin within two and a half hours.
The project is based on a system of large vacuum tubes, through which capsules circulate in a similar way to those used in supermarkets to propel cash-loaded containers, but with the capacity to transport passengers and goods, such as vegetables.
The train will be tested this summer at a circuit in California (USA) in the framework of the international competition of ideas promoted by the millionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, co-founder of Paypal, Tesla Motors or SpaceX, and will be competing with projects presented by other universities and institutions.
The initial team, made up of five students from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, was selected from more than 300 universities around the world to participate in the Design Weekend, organised by SpaceX at the University of Texas, which allowed them to present their Hyperloop concept. In that stage of the competition, in which projects from 160 universities were presented, the Spanish team was awarded two prizes: the best design and the best propulsion subsystem. Now the team has expanded to more than 30 employees from different countries.
A train for Europe
The UPV team wants to lead the Hyperloop project in Europe. They know that Elon Musk's idea, announced in 2013, has given rise to other companies that have more resources. This is the case of Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. The former, created by Josh Giegel and Shervin Pishevar, has signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates for the construction of the first fully operational line of the kind in that country, which will cover the 120 km separating Dubai and Abu Dhabi in about 12 Minutes. The same startup announced that DP World, the world's third largest port operator, invested $ 50 million in its last round of funding back in October.
In order for this transport revolution to become a reality and Europe to be at the forefront of its development, "the team hopes to receive aid from the European Horizon 2020 program for projects that drive Europe's economy and sustainable technology.
This new train will facilitate the economic development of the EU, boosting intermodal transport and industrial growth with a highly efficient system, as an alternative to air and road logistics.
Source: hortoinfo.es
