China has solved the problem that killed Musk's Hyperloop venture
What's the story
China has come a long way in the hyperloop game, a concept that has fascinated scientists and engineers for almost 200 years.
Back in 2013, Elon Musk revived interest in this mode of transport with his vision of a Hyperloop system that could travel at speeds as high as 1,000km/h.
However, despite Musk's successes in other areas, the Hyperloop concept faced significant challenges that hindered its initial development.
Technological hurdles
Challenges and obstacles
Musk's Hyperloop concept faced a number of major challenges.
These included a pressure differential 200 times greater than that of airplane cabins, concrete that was prone to leaks, magnetic resistance issues, and the need for precise engineering of rails and bridges.
These challenges significantly hindered the initial development of the project, which some viewed as a setback for Western technology, though the concept remains under exploration by other entities.
Chinese innovation
China's maglev hyperloop test line: A breakthrough
Unlike the problems plaguing Musk's Hyperloop, China has already cracked the code.
Back in 2024, the country unveiled a 2km long maglev hyperloop test line in Shanxi province's Yanggao county.
The audacious project was first detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published last month in Railway Standard Design, a Chinese journal.
Information
Game-changer for transportation
China's maglev hyperloop is touted as a game-changer for transportation. The system works by using magnetic levitation (maglev) technology to push pods at high speeds through low-pressure tubes. This way, air resistance is reduced significantly and you can travel faster than traditional trains or cars.