Hyperloop technology will redefine the future of transport forever – and it’s not as far away as you may think
Back in 2013, Elon Musk first thought coined the term ‘Hyperloop’. Musk’s dream for the elusive fifth mode of transport is now closer than ever to becoming a reality. A Hyperloop is a sealed tube with low air pressure, which a pod travels through.
The Hyperloop technology will bridge the gap between rail and aviation transport networks – striving for sustainability without sacrificing speed or safety.
The Hyperloop carrier will move at the speed of an aircraft, with the capacity to move as many people as a 30-lane highway.
How does the Hyperloop work?
The Hyperloop is basically a huge tube, almost completely devoid of air. The lack of air allows high speeds with minimal energy consumption. Also, each pod uses magnetic levitation technology, with electromagnetic propulsion.
“This decade could end with hundreds of millions of people riding hyperloop. For people who think this technology is many years away, I rode on one. It’s right now,” said co-founder of Virgin Hyperloop, Josh Giegel.
Virgin Hyperloop is already rolling out the technology in many places around the world. Giegel says we can expect the technology to become available in America, India, Europe and the Middle East somewhere between 2025-27.
Could Hyperloop be the climate-friendly transport of the future?
The aviation industry is currently exempt from fuel taxation charges in the EU. However, the European Commission has found this exemption “is not coherent with the present climate challenges and policies”.
The minimum tax rate would come into effect in 2023, increasing gradually over a 10-year period. Reuters reports that the draft document didn’t specify the final tax rate.
“This decade could end with hundreds of millions of people riding hyperloop. For people who think this technology is many years away, I rode on one. It’s right now” says Giegel.
Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.
There have been over 130,000 layoffs across the technology sector in the last five months
The technology sector was billed as the most exciting industry to work in.
Big offices, big dreams, big money were all part of the parcel for many companies attracting staff.
As many organisations caught onto the momentum of the pandemic, the same energy has not been particularly met on the other side.
Thousands of workers have since been laid off as the good times stopped rolling.
In fact, the technology sector’s layoffs are the highest since the dotcom bubble burst 22 years ago.
The BT Group is one of the latest companies cutting staff.
Fifty-five thousand have lost their jobs as part of a corporate restructure.
CEO Philip Jansen will freeze his £1.1 million salary until he retires, according to reports from Sky News.
The ground is also shifting as artificial intelligence takes hold and the economy worsens.
BT Group said it is laying off 11,000 staff because of the increased capacity for artificial intelligence in the workplace.
At the same time, companies like Apple and Goldman Sachs are among those restricting or banning the use of tools like ChatGPT amid privacy or data concerns.