In Canada, Hyperloop is being spearheaded by a startup called TransPod which has signed a memorandum of understanding for a 1,000 kmph speed capability in Alberta. TransPods agreement with the Alberta government is the first its kind for Canada revealed a report by the Elecktrek. TransPod was founded in 2015. It has Canadian-French roots and is known more in the electric vehicle space. It is designing ultra-high-speed sustainable transportation. TransPod is aiming to build and design a Hyperloop that would touch speeds of 1,000 kmph. The Hyperloop track will be fossil-fuel-free and fully based on electric propulsion. It is being developed to ferry passengers and cargo between cities.
The Hyperloop project by TransPod is bringing in job opportunities to about 38,000 locals over the next 10 years and this will in return also promote Alberta's economy. Besides the boost to the economy, Alberta will also see a decrease in carbon emissions by up to 300,000 tonnes per year as reported by the Construction Index.
TransPod is expected to complete the project by 2027
The timeline to complete the project will be decided on the basis of four phases. The first phase will be the feasibility study which has started and is estimated to be completed by 2022. Overall research and development will be completed by 2024. The final phase of full inter-city construction between Edmonton and Calgary will commence in 2025.
Elon Musk has been a big proponent of Hyperloop
The Hyperloop concept has been posited by Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. It is said to be one of the fastest ways of transportation. Hyperloop is a sealed floating pod which races along in giant low-pressure tubes, both below and above ground.
TransPod is not the first company to have embarked on making Hyperloop a reality. In other parts of the world, Virgin Hyperloop has been significantly testing the technology at scale and has ongoing projects in Europe, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and India. Hyperloop One has also been making some inroads in the space.
