RE: Steemstem Community: Respond to this with your opinions on the subject
Hmm, I see. That is rudimentary but its still a decent reference point.
I wonder if they have a technique or a bit of technology that can maintain the vacuum over a longer period of time without there having to be an extra energy expenditure. In theory, if this technology were to exist then because the vacuum effectively eliminates the drag for the hyperloop then over a longer period of time, the hyperloop becomes more efficient on energy then a normal maglev train would. I assume that since Musk is trying to actively build this thing then he probably has some of these problems sorted out; otherwise it would end up just being a giant novelty rather then a practical mode of transportation.
Energy expenditure aside, the problem I always saw with the hyperloop was that the tunnel needs to be built to withstand a huge amount of pressure over a extremely large surface area.
That and most models of the hyperloop require complete depressurization before people can get in or out of the capsul/car that they transport you in. I also have problems with some specific designs like one design was to have the pressure inside the tube down to near 0 atm but its mode of propulsion was to use a giant fan basically to use the remaining air pressure... Like it just wouldn't work, the fan would provide no force with nothing (to almost nothing) to push off of.