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Virgin Hyperloop conducted its first test drive on Sunday with passengers aboard the high-speed transportation system, the company said.
The test with Josh Giegel, co-founder and chief technology officer, and Sarah Luchian, director of passenger experience, as passengers, took place at the Virgin Hyperloop test site in Las Vegas. The company has previously performed more than 400 unoccupied tests at the site.
“I can’t tell you how often I’m asked ‘is the hyperloop safe?’ ”Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop, said in the announcement. “With today’s passenger testing, we have successfully answered this question, demonstrating that not only can Virgin Hyperloop safely put a person in a pod in a vacuum environment, but the company has a thoughtful approach to security that has been validated by an independent third party. Party.”
The first trial with passengers comes about a month after West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) announced plans for a new Virgin Hyperloop certification center in the state. Work on the new development is expected to begin in 2021.
Hyperloop Transportation aims to reduce ground travel across the country by moving people and goods through a vacuum at speeds of up to 670 mph. During Sunday’s test drive, the pod hit a top speed of around 107 mph, according to a Virgin Hyperloop spokesperson.
The length of the 500-meter test track limited the speed of the test, the spokesperson noted, adding that the company expects to achieve faster speeds at the Hyperloop certification center.
Passengers on the test drive rode in a custom-built pod with the safety and comfort of the occupants in mind, the company said. The production of the vehicle will become larger and will be able to accommodate up to 28 passengers, as opposed to the two-seater in which the test passengers drove.
–Updated at 10:49 am
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