The capsule is expected to be fully optimised and ready for passengers next year
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Aldar, has unveiled its first full-scale passenger capsule in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain.
The capsule, “Quintero One” is constructed almost completely out of HyperloopTT’s Vibranium, a specially made dual-layer smart composite material, a statement said.
It was built at the Southern Spain aerospace facilities of HyperloopTT’s partner Airtificial, a new company formed by the merger of composites company Carbures and engineering company Inypsa.
The design for the capsule was created in collaboration with transport design consultancy PriestmanGoode, the statement added.
The capsule measures 105 feet in length, with the inner cabin stretching across 50 feet. It weighs five tonnes and includes 82 carbon fiber panels, 72 sensors, 75,000 rivets and 7,200 square metres of fiber.
“Today we have unveiled a new type of transportation vessel built with an industry high percentage of composite, which makes the Hyperloop capsule perhaps the safest transportation vehicle in the world,” said Airtificial co-founder and chairman, Rafael Contreras.
The capsule will be delivered to HyperloopTT’s research and development center in Toulouse, France for additional assembly and integration into the system, before it is used on one of the first commercial tracks.
“In 2019, this capsule will be fully optimised and ready for passengers,” said Bibop Gresta, chairman and co-founder of HyperloopTT.
“Since we have taken major steps in solving government regulations with our safety certification guidelines and insurance frameworks, we are now closer than ever to bringing Hyperloop to the world.”
HyperloopTT is collaborating with reinsurance company Munich Re, certification and inspection company TÜV SÜD, governments and partners, to create the first regulatory guidelines and the necessary legal framework for Hyperloop systems around the world.
“In just five years we have solved and improved upon all of the technology needed for Hyperloop with our new levitation system, vacuum pumps, batteries, and smart composites,” said Dirk Ahlborn HyperloopTT co-founder and CEO.
“This capsule will be a part of one of the most efficient transportation systems ever made.”
In April, HyperloopTT signed a deal with Abu Dhabi developer Aldar for what was claimed to be the world’s first commercial hyperloop system at a development on the Dubai/Abu Dhabi border.
The announcement did not appear to directly mention a link between the two airports but HyperloopTT said the planned 10km system could eventually connect Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, Dubai and Riyadh.
However, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) later denied the validity of plans for hyperloop system connecting the city’s Al Maktoum International Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport.