# Hyperloop: Elon Musk's revolutionary transportation concept **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 27, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701 "2013-07-27T22:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/101 "2013-08-14T03:10:01Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > That’s the plan, completely separate from the Hyperloop: they’re installing high-speed charging stations every 200 miles all across the country. Provided you buy a top-end Tesla, you’ll be able to stop and get a full charge in about 40 minutes, just long enough to have a leisurely lunch or dinner. And, they’re not charging for the electricity. Having to stop for 40 minutes every 200 miles on a trip would certainly make me consider something other than a Tesla to drive it. On edit: from Tesla’s web site, the calc is even worse. 1 hour of charge per 62 miles driven (on a high power charger). A bit more than 40 minutes every 200 miles. More like 3+ hours. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/102 "2013-08-14T03:32:03Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I believe he (or someone) said it would cost $6 billion to create a line from LA to SF. If it were underground it would cost much more than that, so I don’t think there is anything underground to this line. I don’t think you can build 15 miles of urban HRT subway for that kind of money. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/103 "2013-08-14T03:44:49Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I don’t think you can build 15 miles of urban HRT subway for that kind of money. Digging is a LOT more expensive than sticking a tube on pylons. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/104 "2013-08-14T07:02:49Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > [Nice blog post about how Musk is playing fast and loose with the numbers.](http://pedestrianobservations.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/loopy-ideas-are-fine-if-youre-an-entrepreneur/) > > (Short summary: He’s misrepresenting both the costs of HSR and the elevated viaducts HyperLoop would require. His proposed system would also subject passengers to extreme lateral and vertical accelerations. “It’s not transportation; it’s a barf ride.”) A casual perusal of this article shows exactly why blogs shouldn’t be trusted. The author used a bend radius of 1600 m to arrive at a 1.5g acceleration, when the proposal calls for a 3.67km radius. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/105 "2013-08-14T08:20:37Z")
> [@The\_Niply\_Elder](#): > > A casual perusal of this article shows exactly why blogs shouldn’t be trusted. The author used a bend radius of 1600 m to arrive at a 1.5g acceleration, when the proposal calls for a 3.67km radius. The author also doesn’t seem to understand that a viaduct for a several hundred ton train might be a tad more expensive per mile than one for a 15 ton capsule, or that a small diameter capsule with the passengers near the center might be able to bank/debank at a higher rate than a wide train. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/106 "2013-08-14T13:35:36Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Having to stop for 40 minutes every 200 miles on a trip would certainly make me consider something other than a Tesla to drive it. > > On edit: from Tesla’s web site, the calc is even worse. 1 hour of charge per 62 miles driven (on a high power charger). A bit more than 40 minutes every 200 miles. More like 3+ hours. Hell, that’s not much better than “drive an hour, charge an hour”. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/107 "2013-08-14T13:40:10Z")
I wouldn’t mind stopping every 2 or 3 hours, I do anyway when I drive long distances. But the charging time would have to be much faster for long journeys. OTOH, suppose you want to go from San Diego to LA and back. You drive up, put your car in the charger, then shop and eat lunch. When you are ready to home, the car is charged up and ready to carry you. So for a journey of one or maybe two stops, it could work really well. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/108 "2013-08-14T14:41:11Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Having to stop for 40 minutes every 200 miles on a trip would certainly make me consider something other than a Tesla to drive it. > > On edit: from Tesla’s web site, the calc is even worse. 1 hour of charge per 62 miles driven (on a high power charger). A bit more than 40 minutes every 200 miles. More like 3+ hours. It would be a complete non-starter for my Wife and I. Losing 40 minutes every 200 miles would really cut your distances on cross country trips. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/109 "2013-08-14T17:19:26Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > I wouldn’t mind stopping every 2 or 3 hours, I do anyway when I drive long distances. > But the charging time would have to be much faster for long journeys. > > OTOH, suppose you want to go from San Diego to LA and back. You drive up, put your car in the charger, then shop and eat lunch. > When you are ready to home, the car is charged up and ready to carry you. So for a journey of one or maybe two stops, it could work really well. I also stop, though about every 4 hours - long enough to tank up the gas and pee. If it was an enforced hour, screw that. Most people are on limited time when they vacation [or even on a business trip] and can’t lose the time during the drive. 3 days to get to Florida from Connecticut vs 4 days, no more vacation. 2 weeks off means with a 3 day each end road trip I can still spend 5 days in Florida, 4 days per trip drops it down to a weekend. I am not driving to Florida for 2 days and 3 nights. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/110 "2013-08-14T20:56:07Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > On edit: from Tesla’s web site, the calc is even worse. 1 hour of charge per 62 miles driven (on a high power charger). A bit more than 40 minutes every 200 miles. More like 3+ hours. I don’t know where you’re seeing that, unless you aren’t referring to their Supercharger stations. The Superchargers give [200 miles of range on a 30 min charge](http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger). They are, admittedly, not yet that widespread. That will change in the next several years. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/111 "2013-08-14T20:57:57Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It would be a complete non-starter for my Wife and I. Losing 40 minutes every 200 miles would really cut your distances on cross country trips. Use the hyperloop then, Sr. Speedy. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/112 "2013-08-14T21:03:39Z")
I’ve heard they put Hyperloops in Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/113 "2013-08-14T21:07:02Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Use the hyperloop then, Sr. Speedy. Wasn’t making the comparison to Hyper-loop or flight. Sometimes we need to drive and a 40 min wait for a re-charge just doesn’t cut it. That’s where cars like the Volt excel. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/114 "2013-08-14T21:12:40Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I don’t know where you’re seeing that, unless you aren’t referring to their Supercharger stations. The Superchargers give [200 miles of range on a 30 min charge](http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger). > > They are, admittedly, not yet that widespread. That will change in the next several years. [http://www.teslamotors.com/goelectric#charging](http://www.teslamotors.com/goelectric#charging) - about 1/3 way down the page - Mobile Connector - High Power - shows 62 miles of range per hour of charge. Yes, I see the supercharger further down the page shows that it recharges faster. Still - 1 hour of charge per 300 miles. And that is for the Tesla top model. Try to sell that to anyone who has taken long road trips. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/115 "2013-08-14T21:15:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Still - 1 hour of charge per 300 miles. And that is for the Tesla top model. Try to sell that to anyone who has taken long road trips. But it’s free. That would work for lots and lots of people. 300 miles and a 20 minute stop would be just fine with me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/116 "2013-08-14T21:18:44Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes, I see the supercharger further down the page shows that it recharges faster. Still - 1 hour of charge per 300 miles. And that is for the Tesla top model. Try to sell that to anyone who has taken long road trips. I’ve never been on a road trip where we didn’t spend at least 20% of the time eating, taking bathroom breaks, stretching our legs, or whatever, but I guess everyone is different. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/117 "2013-08-14T21:27:56Z")
Depends in part on where the charging stations are and what’s around them. Imagine the one in Las Vegas being on Fremont Street, for example. (But then you can’t get to Salt Lake City on one charge from Vegas. Next station would probably be where I-70 splits off and heads to Denver. And that’s some desolate country.) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/118 "2013-08-15T16:25:16Z")
Getting back to the Hyperloop, the more I think about it, the relatively low capacity of this thing will be what dooms it. Compare it to the Concorde: high-tech and very cool, but ultimately little more than a toy for rich people. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/119 "2013-08-15T16:34:42Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > I’ve never been on a road trip where we didn’t spend at least 20% of the time eating, taking bathroom breaks, stretching our legs, or whatever, but I guess everyone is different. It’s not the amount of breaks, it’s the time required for each one. We do long trips evey year, and while we probably stop every two - three hours, it’s only for a half hour, tops, usually more like 15 minutes. Food is eaten at Wendy’s, bathroom breaks are brief. If we had to stop for an hour every time, that would add 4-5 hours on a 12 hour drive, which is unacceptable. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701/120 "2013-08-15T17:08:33Z")
I think it’s different strokes for different folks. The young/college road trip is pretty much nonstop driving. A road trip with the family requires lots of stops, and extended stays at the stops. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hyperloop-elon-musks-revolutionary-transportation-concept/664701.md?page=7)