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Hyperloop One
Hyperloop One
Hyperloop One
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Hyperloop One, known as Virgin Hyperloop until November 2022, was an American transportation technology company that worked to commercialize high-speed travel utilizing the Hyperloop concept which was a variant of the vacuum train. The company was established on June 1, 2014, and reorganized and renamed on October 12, 2017.[2]

Key Information

Hyperloop systems were intended to move cargo and passengers at airline speeds but at a fraction of the cost. They were designed to run suspended by magnetic systems in a partially-evacuated tube.[3] The original Hyperloop concept proposed to use a linear electric motor to accelerate and decelerate an air bearing levitated pod through a low-pressure tube. The vehicle was to glide silently at speeds up to 760 mph (1,220 km/h) with very low turbulence.[4] The system was proposed to be entirely autonomous, quiet, direct-to-destination, and on-demand. It would have been built on elevated structures or in tunnels, free of at-grade crossings and requiring less right of way than high-speed rail or highways.[5]

Virgin Hyperloop made substantive technical changes to Elon Musk's initial proposal and chose not to pursue the Los Angeles–San Francisco notional route that Musk envisioned in his 2013 alpha-design white paper. It demonstrated a form of propulsion technology on May 11, 2016, at its test site in North Las Vegas.[6] It completed a 500 m (1,600 ft) Development Loop (DevLoop)[7] and on May 12, 2017, held its first full-scale test. The test combined Hyperloop components including vacuum, propulsion, levitation, sled, control systems, tube, and structures.[8]

On November 8, 2020, after more than 400 uncrewed tests, the firm conducted the first human trial at a speed of 172 km/h (107 mph) at its test site in Las Vegas, Nevada.[9][10] However, in February 2022, the company abandoned plans for human rated travel and instead focused on freight, laying off more than 100 employees amounting to half its total workforce.[11][12] In November of that year the company decided to rebrand, reverting to the name, Hyperloop One.[13]

It was announced on December 21, 2023 that the company would cease operations on December 31, 2023, due to a number of factors including financial challenges, high interest rates, initial backing and support,[14][15] as well as to its failure to secure any contracts for building a working hyperloop system; it began selling its assets and laying off remaining employees.[16] According to The Verge, all of its intellectual property would shift to its majority stakeholder, major Dubai port operator DP World.[17]

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]
Hyperloop Technologies logo (2014–2016)
Hyperloop One logo (2016–2017)
Virgin Hyperloop One logo (2017–2020)

The idea of trains in vacuum has been elaborated many times in history of science and science-fiction.[18] The concept of Hyperloop transportation was first introduced by Robert H. Goddard in 1904.[19][20]

The recent plans for a version of vacuum train called Hyperloop emerged from a conversation between Elon Musk and Iranian-American Silicon Valley investor Shervin Pishevar when they were flying together to Cuba on a humanitarian mission in January 2012. Pishevar asked Musk to elaborate on his hyperloop idea, which the industrialist had been mulling over for some time. Pishevar suggested using it for cargo, an idea Musk hadn't considered, but he did say he was considering open-sourcing the concept because he was too busy running SpaceX and Tesla. Pishevar pushed Musk to publish his ideas about the hyperloop, so that Pishevar could study them.[21]

On August 12, 2013, Musk released the Hyperloop Alpha white paper,[22] generating widespread attention and enthusiasm[citation needed]. In the months that followed Pishevar incorporated Hyperloop Technologies, which would later be renamed Hyperloop One, and recruited the first board members, including David O. Sacks, Jim Messina, and Joe Lonsdale. Pishevar also recruited a cofounder, former SpaceX engineer Brogan Bambrogan. The firm set up shop in Bambrogan's garage in Los Angeles in November 2014. By January 2015, the firm had raised $9 million in venture capital from Pishevar's Sherpa Capital and investors such as Formation 8 and Zhen Fund, and was able to move into its current campus in the Los Angeles Arts District. Forbes magazine put the firm on its February 2015 cover, landing the startup many fresh recruits and much new investor interest. In June 2015, Pishevar recruited former Cisco president Rob Lloyd as an investor and, eventually, the company's CEO.[23][24]

Funding and growth

[edit]

Between June 2015 and December 2015, the company continued to hire engineers and expand its downtown campus (now up to 75,000 square feet). In December 2015, Hyperloop Tech announced it would hold an open-air propulsion test at a new Test and Safety Site in Nevada. At the time, the company disclosed it had raised $37 million in financing to date and was completing a Series B round of $80m,[25] which they closed on in May 2016.[26] In October 2016, the firm announced that it had raised another $50 million, led by an investment from 8VC and DP World.[27]

The propulsion open-air test or POAT, was successfully held in North Las Vegas on May 11, 2016. The POAT sled accelerated to 134 mph (216 km/h) in 2.3 seconds, representing a crucial proof of concept.[28] At the time, the renamed Hyperloop One announced it had secured partnerships with global engineering and design firms such as AECOM, SYSTRA, Arup, Deutsche Bahn, General Electric, and Bjarke Ingels.[26]

On November 10, 2016, Hyperloop One released its first system designs in collaboration with the Bjarke Ingels Group.[29]

On October 12, 2017, Hyperloop One and the Virgin Group announced that it developed a strategic investment partnership, resulting in Richard Branson joining the board of directors. The global strategic partnership will focus on passenger and mixed-use cargo service in addition to the creation of a new passenger division.[30] Hyperloop One had raised $295 million on December 18, 2017,[31] and subsequently was renamed Virgin Hyperloop One, and Branson became the chairman of the board of directors.[2] As of May 2019, the company had raised $400 million.[32]

In June 2020, the firm rebranded to Virgin Hyperloop, changing their logo and launching a new website.[33]

In October 2020, West Virginia governor Jim Justice announced that Virgin Hyperloop would be constructing a certification facility on land in Tucker and Grant Counties.[34][35] About 800 acres owned by Western Pocahontas near Mount Storm was donated to the West Virginia University Foundation, and cooperation was expected from WVU, Marshall University, and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.[34][36]

Focus on freight and layoffs

[edit]

In February 2022, the Financial Times reported that the company laid off more than 100 employees, with the move allowing it to focus on cargo transport instead of passenger travel.[37][38] In December 2022, a second round of layoffs was reported, focused on the firm's downtown Los Angeles staff and Las Vegas operational team.[39][40]

While Hyperloop One focuses on freight, competitors continue to focus on a mix of freight and passenger travel.[41][42]

The change in focus put construction of the West Virginia facility in question,[36] until the company admitted in March 2023 that it had been cancelled.[43]

Test pods

[edit]

XP-1

[edit]

After Hyperloop One began the construction of 500-metre (1,600 ft) DevLoop in October 2016, the company successfully conducted the first full-system test using the levitating chassis without passenger pod on May 12, 2017. On July 12, 2017, the company revealed images of its first generation pod prototype to be used at the DevLoop test site in Nevada to test aerodynamics.[44] The system-wide test integrated Hyperloop components including vacuum, propulsion, levitation, sled, control systems, tube, and structures.[8][45] The company designed and built its first generation full-scale test pod name XP-1 (short for experimental pod one) to be used in the full-scale pod tests.[46][47]

XP-1 has the length of 8.7 metres (29 ft), the width of 2.4 metres (7.9 ft), and the height of 2.4 metres (7.9 ft). The pod's motor was evolved from 500 motors that were built and tested in order to operate with resiliency in near-vacuum environment.[48] The pod was successfully tested for the first time on July 29, 2017, with the 300 metres (980 ft) of acceleration to reach the recorded speeds of 310 kilometres per hour (190 mph). The pod achieved 3,151 horsepower during the test inside the depressurized tube with conditions similar to the atmosphere at 200,000 feet (61 km) above sea level.[46]

  • Experimental pod one (XP-1)
  • Front view
    Front view
  • Side view
    Side view
  • Rear view
    Rear view
  • Seams of carbon fiber shell
    Seams of carbon fiber shell
  • Profile at a side rail
    Profile at a side rail
  • Profile at the center rail
    Profile at the center rail
  • Levitating chassis at the bottom inside the shell
    Levitating chassis at the bottom inside the shell

On August 2, 2017, Hyperloop One successfully tested its XP-1 passenger pod, reaching speeds of up to 192 mph (309 km/h). It traveled for just over 980 ft (300 m) before the brakes kicked in and it rolled to a stop.[48] The XP-1 speed record was broken in August 2017 by WARR Hyperloop during the second Hyperloop Pod Competition with the top speeds of 324 kilometres per hour (201 mph);[49] however, the pods in the competition were too small to carry passengers.[50]

XP-1 set the world's speed record again during the test[clarification needed] in December 2017, reaching 387 kilometres per hour (240 mph). With that test, the company also demonstrated its airlock technology that allowed the pod to be transferred into the depressurized tube.[51] With this system, XP-1 pod can be put in an airlock which takes a few minutes to depressurize before entering the already depressurized tube. Otherwise, the pod would need to enter the tube and wait for the 4-hour depressurization of the entire test tube.[52] In 2018, WARR Hyperloop broke XP-1 record again in the third Hyperloop Pod Competition, on a longer[quantify] track.[50]

In the summer of 2019, the company took XP-1 on a roadshow to Ohio, Texas, Kansas, New York, Missouri, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C.[53][54]

XP-2

[edit]
  • Experimental pod two (XP-2) also known as 'Pegasus'
  • Rear view
    Rear view
  • Side view
    Side view
  • Side view
    Side view
  • Interior view
    Interior view
  • Estimated travel time
    Estimated travel time

For the company's passenger testing, they created a new vehicle, dubbed "experimental pod 2", or XP-2. The vehicle was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Kilo Design.[55]

On November 8, 2020, after more than 400 uncrewed tests, the firm conducted the first human trial with Josh Giegel, its co-founder and CTO, and Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, as the first passengers at a speed of 172 km/h (107 mph) at its DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, Nevada.[9][10] The test was conducted in a near-vacuum environment of 100 Pascals.[56]

In March 2021, Virgin Hyperloop announced that the vehicle would be on display at the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building in late 2021.[57][needs update]

Following successful passenger testing, Virgin Hyperloop unveiled its commercial vehicle design in January 2021.[58] Designed in collaboration with Seattle-based design firm Teague, each vehicle is planned to seat about 28 passengers but can transport thousands of passengers per hour in convoys.[59]

Funding

[edit]

Hyperloop One had raised over $485 million as of May 2019.[60] Its investors include Sherpa Capital, Formation 8, 137 Ventures,[61] DP World,[62] Khosla Ventures,[61] Caspian Venture Capital, Fast Digital,[61] Western Technology Investment,[61] Zhen Fund, GE Ventures,[61] and SNCF.[61]

Management

[edit]

As of July 2018, the board of directors included Richard Branson (chairman), Justin Fishner-Wolfson, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Rob Lloyd, Josh Giegel, Bill Shor, Yuvraj Narayan, Anatoly Braverman, and Emily White as a strategic adviser.[63] Former board members include Peter Diamandis, Jim Messina, who as of July 2018[63] serves as strategic adviser, former Morgan Stanley executive Jim Rosenthal, Joe Lonsdale, the co-founder Shervin Pishevar,[64] who took a leave of absence from Hyperloop One in December 2017 after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct,[65][66][67][68] and Ziyavudin Magomedov, a Russian billionaire who was arrested on embezzlement charges in 2018.[69]

On November 8, 2018, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem succeeded Richard Branson as chairman.[70]

In February 2021, co-founder Josh Giegel was named CEO,[71] before being replaced by CFO Raja Narayanan in October 2021. The firm announced an intent to accelerate scheduled fielding of production systems from the early 2030s to the mid-2020s, and that the planned initial project would transport freight between the cities of Dubai and Abu-Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.[72]

Planned cooperation

[edit]

In June 2016 the company announced a memorandum of understanding with the Summa Group and the Russian government to construct a hyperloop in Moscow and has since completed feasibility studies in Moscow and in the Far East.[73]

In August 2016, the firm announced a deal with the world's third largest ports operator, DP World, to develop a cargo offloader system at Jebel Ali in Dubai.[74] On November 8, 2016, the firm announced it had signed a deal with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to conduct feasibility studies on potential passenger and cargo hyperloop routes in the United Arab Emirates.[29]

By April 2017, the firm had feasibility studies underway in the United Arab Emirates, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Moscow, and the UK.[75] On September 1, 2017, the firm signed a letter of intent with Estonia to cooperate on the Helsinki–Tallinn Tunnel.[76]

In February 2018, the Virgin Group signed an "intent agreement" with the Government of Maharashtra state of India to build a hyperloop transportation system between Mumbai and Pune.[77] In August 2019, the government deemed hyperloop a public infrastructure project and approved the Virgin Hyperloop-DP World Consortium as the Original Project Proponent (OPP), recognizing hyperloop technology alongside other more traditional forms of mass transit. The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, K. VijayRaghavan, set up a Consultative Group on Future of Transportation (CGFT) to explore the regulatory path for hyperloop.[78]

On July 19, 2018, an Ohio regional planning commission was investigating using hyperloop between airports and potentially between Chicago, Columbus, and Pittsburgh;[79] in May 2020 the commission released the results of their Midwest Connect feasibility study, which found that the route would create $300 billion in overall economic benefits and reduce CO2 emission by 2.4 million tons.[80]

In July 2018, Texas officials announced that the state will explore hyperloop technology for a route connecting Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo.[81] In June 2019, the firm announced an ongoing collaboration with the Sam Fox School of Washington University in St. Louis to explore proposals for the Missouri Hyperloop.[82][83] In October 2019, Missouri became the first US state to conduct a hyperloop feasibility study,[84] exploring a route between Kansas City and St. Louis.

In December 2019, the State Government of Punjab, India, signed an MoU with the firm to explore a route connecting the Amritsar-Ludhiana-Chandigarh corridor.[85]

In February 2020, the firm signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia to conduct a pre-feasibility study.[86] In September 2020, Virgin Hyperloop signed a partnership agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed corridor from BLR Airport.[87]

Hyperloop One Global Challenge

[edit]

In 2016, the firm launched its Hyperloop One Global Challenge to find the locations for, develop, and construct the world's first hyperloop networks.[88] In January 2017, the firm announced the 35 semifinalist routes (spread over 17 countries)[89] and held a series of events showcasing the semifinalists, Vision for India in February,[90] Vision for America in April[91] and Vision for Europe in June.[92] On September 14, 2017, Hyperloop One announced the 10 winners;[93] they were to be invited to work closely with the firm on viability studies to try to bring their respective loops from proposal to reality.[94]

The ten winning routes that were selected are:[95]

# Country Route
1  United States Chicago to Columbus to Pittsburgh
2 Dallas to Laredo to Houston
3 Cheyenne to Denver to Pueblo
4 Miami to Orlando
5  Canada Toronto to Ottawa to Montreal
6  Mexico Mexico City to Guadalajara
7  United Kingdom Edinburgh to London
8 Glasgow to Liverpool
9  India Bengaluru (Bangalore) to Chennai
10 Mumbai to Pune

Lawsuits

[edit]

In July 2016, the CTO and co-founder Brogan BamBrogan left the company,[96] later filing a lawsuit with three other former employees alleging breach of fiduciary duty and misuse of corporate resources.[97] On July 19, 2016, Hyperloop One filed a counterclaim against the four former employees, alleging they staged a failed coup of the company, in the process breaching agreements around fiduciary duty, non-competes, proprietary information, and non-disparagement, as well as intentional interference with contractual relations.[98] On November 18, 2016, both parties agreed to settle the lawsuit. Terms were confidential and not disclosed.[99] BamBrogan and other former Hyperloop One and SpaceX employees went on to found Arrivo, another Hyperloop company (defunct in 2018).[100]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Hyperloop One

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Hyperloop One was an American transportation technology company founded in 2014 in , , by , Brogan BamBrogan, and Josh Giegel, with the goal of commercializing the —a proposed high-speed transit system that propels passenger or freight pods through low-pressure tubes at speeds up to 760 mph (1,220 km/h) using and linear induction motors. The company, initially named Hyperloop Technologies, rebranded to in 2015 and partnered with the in 2017, adopting the name Virgin Hyperloop until reverting to in November 2022. It raised over $450 million in funding from investors including , enabling the construction of a 500-meter DevLoop in the desert. Key milestones included the first full-scale system test in May 2017, where a reached 70 mph (113 km/h) in a with 2 Gs of , and a subsequent test in August 2017 achieving nearly 200 mph (322 km/h) on a short track. The company's most notable achievement came in November 2020, when it conducted the world's first human passenger test on the DevLoop, with co-founder Giegel and chief operations officer Sara Luchian riding in the XP-2 pod for 6 seconds at 107 mph (172 km/h) and 2 Gs of , demonstrating safety and feasibility for crewed travel. Despite these advancements and proposed routes in regions like , the , and , Hyperloop One struggled with high development costs, regulatory hurdles, and competition from established rail systems, ultimately failing to secure any commercial contracts. In 2023, the company announced its shutdown, laying off its remaining approximately 70 employees, selling assets including the and , and ceasing all operations by the end of the month, marking the end of its efforts to revolutionize ground transportation. As of 2025, Hyperloop One remains out of business, with its technology influencing ongoing research by other entities but no active projects under its name.

History

Founding and origins

Hyperloop One traces its origins to Elon Musk's 2013 , "Hyperloop Alpha," which outlined a visionary transportation system utilizing pods traveling through low-pressure tubes to achieve speeds approaching 760 miles per hour (1,220 km/h), minimizing air resistance and enabling near-supersonic travel between major cities like and . The document, released on August 12, 2013, emphasized innovative propulsion via linear induction motors and , sparking global interest in realizing the concept as an open-source challenge rather than a venture by Musk's companies. Inspired by this proposal, was founded in late 2014 in , , initially under the name Hyperloop Technologies. The company was co-established by venture capitalist and engineer Brogan BamBrogan, with Josh Giegel, a former engineer, joining shortly thereafter in November 2014 and later recognized as a co-founder. From its inception, the startup prioritized conceptual validation through feasibility studies and computer simulations exploring pod dynamics, including propulsion systems based on linear induction motors for acceleration and for frictionless travel within partially evacuated tubes. In its formative phase through 2015, Hyperloop Technologies developed initial small-scale prototypes to test core components like and mechanisms, while aggressively recruiting talent from aerospace firms such as and transportation experts to build a multidisciplinary team. This early emphasis on simulations and prototype iteration laid the groundwork for advancing Musk's theoretical framework into practical challenges, focusing on , , and without physical track infrastructure at the outset.

Growth and rebranding

In 2016, rebranded to to reflect its ambition to be the leading developer of systems, coinciding with a significant funding round and the launch of its international expansion efforts. On May 10, 2016, the company announced the Global Challenge, an open call inviting teams worldwide—including engineers, governments, and urban planners—to submit route proposals for networks, aiming to identify viable corridors for high-speed transportation. This initiative marked 's shift toward global outreach, with over 2,600 submissions evaluating potential routes across continents to accelerate commercial viability. The company's growth accelerated in 2017 through a strategic partnership with Richard Branson's , which invested an undisclosed amount and positioned Branson on the . This collaboration led to a as Virgin Hyperloop One later that year, emphasizing joint ambitions for revolutionary transport systems. To support development, Virgin Hyperloop One established the DevLoop in the desert in 2017, featuring an initial 500-meter-long, 3.3-meter-diameter tube designed for full-scale pod testing under vacuum conditions. These steps underscored the company's early commercial focus, including feasibility studies for routes like Los Angeles to , estimated at under 35 minutes for the 350-mile journey, and Dubai to , projected at 12 minutes for the 90-mile corridor.

Strategic shifts and downsizing

In February 2022, Virgin Hyperloop announced a major strategic pivot, shifting its focus exclusively from passenger transportation to systems for applications. This decision was driven by the significant regulatory and challenges associated with certifying passenger travel in environments, which posed substantial barriers to compared to freight operations. The move aimed to leverage the technology's potential for high-speed goods movement, such as palletized between ports and warehouses, while avoiding the complexities of human-rated systems. This strategic realignment triggered immediate operational downsizing, with the company laying off 111 employees—nearly half its workforce of approximately 222—in the same month, primarily affecting teams dedicated to pod design and certification. Additional rounds of layoffs followed throughout 2022, including 19 positions eliminated from its headquarters in December and six more at its , reducing the overall headcount from over 200 at the start of the year to under 50 by year-end amid ongoing financial constraints. In November 2022, the withdrew its branding and involvement, citing the fundamental change in business direction toward freight as incompatible with its original passenger-oriented vision, prompting the company to revert to its pre-2017 name, Hyperloop One. These shifts occurred against a backdrop of internal challenges, including delays in test milestones—such as the 2020 passenger trial achieving only 107 mph far short of the targeted 600 mph—and escalating costs for developing and maintaining infrastructure, which strained resources and highlighted the difficulties in scaling the technology. The company had earlier pursued ambitious passenger-focused proposals, but these evolving pressures marked a clear contraction from its growth phase.

Bankruptcy and dissolution

By mid-2023, Hyperloop One faced mounting financial pressures after raising over $450 million in since its but failing to secure any commercial contracts or generate revenue from its proposed projects. On December 21, 2023, the company announced it would cease all operations effective December 31, 2023, initiating a process equivalent to through asset rather than a formal filing. As part of the wind-down, Hyperloop One laid off its remaining employees by year's end and shut down all facilities, including its test track in , which was placed up for sale along with other machinery and equipment. Following closure, the company's was transferred to investor , while other assets were sold off to settle obligations, marking the end of 's operations.

Technology and development

Core technology overview

's system design centers on a network of sealed engineered to maintain a near-vacuum environment, with reduced to approximately 100 Pa to drastically minimize aerodynamic drag and enable high-speed travel with reduced . This low-pressure condition, equivalent to at around 50 km (164,000 feet) altitude, allows pods to achieve speeds up to 1,000 km/h while mitigating the and heat buildup associated with conventional . The , constructed from durable materials like , are elevated or placed in dedicated rights-of-way to ensure structural integrity and isolation from external elements. Propulsion in the Hyperloop One system relies on linear synchronous motors (LSMs), which provide precise, efficient acceleration by generating a traveling along the tube to propel the pods forward without mechanical contact. Complementing this, passive —using permanent magnets on the pod and conductive materials in the track—suspends the pod above the guideway, eliminating friction and enabling smooth, stable motion at high velocities through . These technologies draw inspiration from Elon Musk's 2013 , which outlined foundational equations for achieving such speeds and energy efficiency in a environment. The pods themselves are autonomous, pressurized capsules designed to carry 28 to 40 passengers or equivalent cargo, maintaining a comfortable internal atmosphere with onboard life support systems including air circulation, temperature control, and oxygen supply to protect occupants during transit. Safety is integrated through features such as emergency airlocks for rapid evacuation in case of tube depressurization, redundant power supplies to ensure operational continuity, and AI-driven routing algorithms that optimize pod scheduling to prevent collisions and maintain safe separation distances.

Test facilities and pods

Hyperloop One's primary test facility was the DevLoop, a full-scale 500-meter-long test track with a 3.3-meter diameter tube, constructed in the Nevada desert near Las Vegas and operational from 2017. This infrastructure enabled testing of pod levitation, propulsion, and low-pressure environments simulating hyperloop conditions, with the track used for velocity trials through 2020. The company's first full-scale pod prototype, the XP-1, was developed in 2017 as an 8.7-meter-long aluminum chassis structure encased in a carbon fiber shell, measuring 2.4 meters wide and 2.7 meters tall. Designed for initial and propulsion tests, the XP-1 utilized and an powered by onboard batteries to achieve autonomous movement within the DevLoop. The XP-2 pod, introduced as an upgraded passenger-capable prototype around 2019 and tested in the 500-meter DevLoop, featured passive using permanent magnets arranged in Halbach arrays for efficient, frictionless suspension. This design supported full-scale and alignment, with the pod weighing approximately two tons and accommodating two passengers during trials. Both pods integrated advanced sensors and control systems to maintain precise pod-tube alignment, ensuring stability during high-speed operations through real-time monitoring of position and orientation.

Key testing milestones

Hyperloop One achieved a significant early on , (announced in ), with its first full-scale systems test at the DevLoop facility in , where the XP-1 pod successfully demonstrated by coasting above the track for 5.3 seconds while reaching nearly 2Gs of . This test validated the integration of key components, including the motor, suspension, and system, in a low-pressure tube environment. Building on this, in August 2017, the XP-1 pod underwent further testing, accelerating over 300 meters and transitioning to full at speeds up to 192 mph (309 km/h), marking a crucial step toward high-speed operations without contact. In December 2017, during Phase 3 testing at the DevLoop, Hyperloop One set an internal of nearly 240 mph (387 km/h) in a near-vacuum tube, confirming the system's ability to maintain stability and under reduced air pressure conditions. This achievement highlighted the potential for sustained high velocities in a controlled low-pressure setting, paving the way for more advanced trials. A landmark in human safety came on November 8, 2020, when Virgin Hyperloop (formerly Hyperloop One) conducted the world's first passenger-carrying test using the XP-2 pod. Two company employees traveled 500 meters through the DevLoop at 107 mph (172 km/h) for 6 seconds, enduring up to 2Gs of in a pressurized cabin designed for comfort. This trial, following over 400 uncrewed runs, demonstrated the feasibility of safe human transport in the system and incorporated biometric monitoring to ensure passenger well-being. By 2022, as the company shifted strategic focus toward freight applications under the Virgin Hyperloop banner, it emphasized modular pod designs for efficiency, though specific full-scale demonstrations remained conceptual amid ongoing viability studies. This pivot underscored 's potential for high-volume, low-emission goods movement, with simulations highlighting rapid loading and unloading in sealed tubes to minimize disruptions.

Business aspects

Funding and investment

Hyperloop One raised approximately $472 million in across 13 rounds between and 2023. The company's financing efforts began shortly after its founding in , with early seed and Series A rounds supporting initial , followed by larger Series B and subsequent s that enabled expansion of testing . Key investors included , which led a significant $50 million investment in 2016 to emphasize freight applications of the technology. In 2017, the acquired an equity stake, which also prompted a to Virgin Hyperloop One to reflect the . Other notable backers encompassed venture firms such as and 137 Ventures, as well as strategic players like France's railway company, which participated in multiple rounds to advance feasibility studies. The company's valuation peaked at over $700 million following an $85 million Series B-1 round in , amid growing interest in its progress. It was valued at $423 million in its April 2020 Series D round. Funds were primarily allocated to constructing and operating test facilities, such as the full-scale DevLoop track in , and advancing on pod and systems. Despite substantial capital inflows, Hyperloop One generated no commercial revenue prior to its closure in 2023.

Leadership and management

Hyperloop One was co-founded in 2014 by , a venture capitalist, and Josh Giegel, an engineer with prior experience at , who served as the company's chief technology officer and engineering lead. Brogan BamBrogan was also an initial co-founder but departed early amid internal disputes. The company's first dedicated CEO was Rob Lloyd, a former Cisco executive, who joined in 2015 and led efforts to shift focus toward commercialization and securing partnerships until his departure in October 2018. He was succeeded by Jay Walder, a transportation veteran who previously headed the New York and Hong Kong's , serving as CEO from November 2018 until February 2021. Giegel then briefly assumed the CEO role from February to October 2021, emphasizing technical advancements before stepping down. The board of directors gained prominence with Richard Branson's appointment as chairman in December 2017, following Virgin Group's investment, though he stepped down in October 2018 citing the need for more hands-on leadership. , chairman of , replaced him as chairman in November 2018, bringing logistics expertise amid DP World's major investment and strategic involvement. Hyperloop One's internal culture prioritized rapid prototyping and innovation in its early years, fostering an engineering-driven environment. However, it faced criticism for high employee turnover after 2020, exacerbated by leadership transitions, strategic pivots, and internal conflicts that contributed to instability.

Partnerships and proposed routes

Hyperloop One established key partnerships to advance its technology through feasibility studies and route development. In 2016, the company signed a (MOU) with , the Dubai-based port operator, to explore applications for at global ports, beginning with a focus on Jebel Ali Port in . The agreement aimed to assess the technical and economic viability of using Hyperloop to move containers from docked ships to inland depots, potentially reducing congestion and improving efficiency through designs like submerged floating tubes. In 2018, Virgin Hyperloop One (as the company was then known) secured a deal with the , , to develop the country's first system. This partnership targeted a route connecting , , and , slashing travel time from approximately three hours by car or train to 25 minutes while also enabling cargo transport between the Port of Mumbai and Pune. The initiative projected socio-economic benefits of up to $55 billion over 30 years, supporting 150 million annual passenger trips. Among proposed routes, the Dubai-Abu Dhabi corridor emerged as a flagship project in 2016, in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and . Spanning 159 kilometers, the system was designed to transport passengers between the cities in 12 minutes, compared to the existing two-hour drive, with initial funding from totaling $50 million. In the United States, a 2020 coordinated with Virgin Hyperloop One examined a Midwest corridor from to (extending to and Columbus), initially focused on passengers but later emphasizing freight potential. This route promised to reduce Chicago-Cleveland travel to under 30 minutes at speeds up to 500 mph, while shifting toward cargo to address logistics needs. To identify viable routes globally, Hyperloop One launched the in , over 2,600 submissions from individuals, universities, and governments. The initiative narrowed these to 35 semifinalists and ultimately selected 10 finalists for detailed studies, including routes in the (such as Chicago-Cleveland), (Mumbai-Pune), the , , and . These proposals covered more than 2,800 miles and connected 35 cities, fostering collaborations for route-specific feasibility assessments. Feasibility reports from these partnerships highlighted economic impacts, with construction costs estimated at $30-40 million per mile for routes like the Midwest corridor. The 2020 Midwest study, for instance, projected $300 billion in regional economic benefits over 25 years, including significant job creation through construction and operations, alongside reduced emissions and enhanced connectivity. Similarly, the Pennsylvania extension analysis estimated $63-75 billion in capital costs for a 440-mile segment, underscoring potential for high-impact infrastructure development. Following the company's closure in December 2023, its intellectual property, test track, and other assets were transferred to DP World.

Challenges and legacy

Hyperloop One faced significant legal challenges early in its history, most notably a high-profile filed in July 2016 by co-founder and former Brogan BamBrogan, along with three other ex-employees, against the company, co-founder , and other executives. The suit alleged , financial mismanagement, —including the discovery of a on BamBrogan's desk purportedly left by Pishevar's brother—and wrongful termination, claiming these issues undermined employee equity and company governance. Hyperloop One responded with a countersuit, accusing the plaintiffs of plotting a corporate coup, attempting to steal including patents on pod designs, and planning a rival venture called "Hyperloop Two." The dispute, which highlighted internal divisions over control and resources, was settled confidentially in November 2016, with both sides agreeing to drop all claims. In late 2017, additional controversies emerged surrounding Shervin Pishevar, who by then served as co-executive chairman. Multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including harassment, assault, and one allegation of rape, spanning incidents from 2008 to 2017; Pishevar denied all claims and took a leave of absence from Hyperloop One and his venture firm Sherpa Capital. These allegations, reported amid the broader #MeToo movement in Silicon Valley, drew public scrutiny to the company's leadership but did not result in formal legal action against Hyperloop One itself. Pishevar later resigned from his roles in early 2018. In April 2018, Virgin Hyperloop One board member and investor was arrested in on charges unrelated to the company; he denied the allegations and resigned from the board in June 2018. The company also encountered criticisms for overstating the near-term feasibility of technology, with skeptics arguing that ambitious timelines and cost projections lacked substantiation, fueling doubts about commercial viability. This led to increased regulatory attention, including a 2021 U.S. desk review that mapped existing standards to systems, highlighting gaps in safety, environmental, and operational regulations. Such scrutiny underscored broader concerns over unproven claims in emerging transport technologies. Employee relations strained further during workforce reductions, particularly the February 2022 layoffs affecting 111 staff—nearly half the company—as it pivoted from passenger to applications, a shift described as unexpected by those affected. While no major lawsuits arose from these cuts, they contributed to perceptions of instability amid ongoing funding challenges.

Impact on industry

Hyperloop One's pioneering work, particularly its achievement of the world's first passenger-carrying hyperloop test in November 2020, where two individuals traveled at 107 mph (172 km/h) in a levitating pod within a low-pressure tube, provided critical validation of core vacuum transport principles such as magnetic levitation and reduced air resistance. This milestone demonstrated the feasibility of safe human transport in such systems, influencing regulatory discussions on high-speed vacuum technologies in the European Union and the United States, where efforts to develop safety frameworks for hyperloop deployment gained momentum. The company's closure in December 2023, following its inability to secure commercial contracts despite raising over $450 million in funding, underscored significant financial and technical risks in development, leading to heightened investor caution across the sector. This contributed to broader skepticism regarding ambitious timelines, with industry projections now extending viable deployments beyond 2030 due to persistent challenges in scaling infrastructure and achieving economic viability. Despite these setbacks, Hyperloop One's tests and operational insights have indirectly spurred global advancements, as seen in ongoing efforts like China's state-backed CASIC T-Flight program, which achieved a speed record of 387 mph (623 km/h) in 2024 and plans further phases by 2025, building on the broader concept popularized through early demonstrations. Competitors such as Europe's Hardt Hyperloop and have continued development, leveraging shared industry knowledge from initial validations to refine pod and track technologies.

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