Elon Musk unveiled his plans for the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system that could deliver passengers to their destination at speeds up to 800 miles per hour. Musk's estimates the project will cost around $6 billion for a people-only version, and around $10 billion for a version where people could bring along their cars.
Musk envisioned the system as a 'fifth mode' of transportation: an alternative to boats, aircraft, automobiles, and trains. Musk stated that it "could revolutionize travel".
A hyperloop employs an elevated tube through which capsules move. The tube is partially evacuated to reduce friction. The capsule rides on a cushion of air forced through multiple openings at the capsule's bottom, further reducing friction. The capsules would be propelled by linear induction motors placed at intervals along the route.
According to the initial "Alpha" design released on August 12, 2013, a hyperloop would enable travel from the Los Angeles region to the San Francisco Bay Area in 35 minutes, meaning that passengers would traverse the proposed 354 miles (570 km) route at an average speed of just under 598 mph (962 km/h), and a top speed of 760 mph (1,220 km/h). The suggested route runs from the northern San Fernando Valley to the Hayward/Castro Valley area, paralleling the Interstate 5 corridor for most of its length.
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