How Elon Musk's Hyperloop Transit System Works (Infographic)

Infographic: How Elon Musk's Hyperloop transit system works. — Hyperloop speeds capsules containing up to 28 passengers each through low-pressure tubes at just under the speed of sound. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

Elon Musk’s Hyperloop concept involves sleek passenger capsules flying within a tube on a cushion of air. Solar panels along the entire length of the tube provide more power than needed to run the system. Capsules travel just under the speed of sound, at 760 mph (1,220 km/h). Passengers could travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 35 minutes.

Streamlined capsules carrying 28 passengers each would depart from the station every few minutes. Passengers ride in pairs, with luggage stored at the front or rear of the capsule. The system is designed to keep accelerations on the passengers below 0.5 g (one-half the acceleration of Earth’s gravity).

Article continues below

TOPICS

Karl has been Purch's infographics specialist across all editorial properties since 2010. Before joining Purch, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web. He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University.