Hyperloop Industrial Roadmap and pilots

New guided ultra-high speed transport systems based on magnetic levitation and with “capsules” movement inside a vacuum tube are currently emerging. To analyse the feasibility of this type of transport, not only the technical issues must be resolved, but also those related to the economic viability, system operations, safety and acceptance of this new type of transport. Current economic analysis for this type of systems have not been based on a full scale demonstration, that is key to deliver an operational concept and thereof a realistic evaluation of the feasibility of operational business models, as well as paths for testing, certification, deployment, and full market adoption. Additionally, the implementation of the innovative solutions and the estimation of the real capacity of such transport mode rely on the safety requirements/analysis of the system as well as investigation on the future applicable traffic control systems and sensoring techniques.

The Project stemming from this topic shall address all the following work streams and is expected to provide:

Work-stream 1: Industrial Roadmap, including business case, in parallel to the regulatory framework run by the European Commission.

The activities to be performed under this work stream are expected to deliver an Industrial roadmap, reflecting relevant parties such as developers, engineering and design&build companies and operators, covering all the steps and milestones needed to the increase of technological readiness level up to TRL 9. It should address in addition also all industrialisation steps, including system/subsystems qualifications and validations steps, for the commercial implementation of such technology at scale.

The roadmap should be accompanied by an analysis on the main risks and challenges to deploy hyperloop solution onto the market, resulting on a proposed mitigation plans to be incorporated in the industrial roadmap. It shall be supported by a social-economic Business Case analysis, that would include feasibility studies and use cases.

Applicants to the topic will be required to engage with the Joint Undertaking and the European Commission to take into account the regulatory framework requirements and constraints into the roadmap, including taking stock of ongoing works in standardisation bodies.

Work-stream 2: Pave the way to proof of concept

This workstream is expected to pave the way to deliver a full-scale demonstration at TRL6 of the hyperloop technology, covering all elements associated to the possible implementation of the solution during the present decade, such as elements related to investment and operational costs, materials, traffic, capacity, demand, etc.

The project shall contribute to deliver the expected outcomes and the work of the project should foresee among others and not exclusively:

Under work-stream 1, to:

• • Identify the state of art of concerning the technological development for all components of the hyperloop concept;
  • Determine operational requirements and deriving technological specification;
  • Determine the R&I steps needed to increase the technological readiness as well as the industrialisation steps needed to increase the commercialisation readiness;
  • Perform a clear analysis of the acceptance, willingness to pay and technology; parameters for the introduction of an ultra-high speed guided transport mode system, derive business cases and define of possible operating models, taking into account a step-by-step expansion of a European system;
  • Establish a way of identification of infrastructural planning opportunities of new lines/corridors with fast track-bound transport systems (cargo/passenger) and assessment of their socio-economic impacts;
  • considering accessibility aspects as well as integration needs with external technical systems;
  • Identify regulatory framework requirements and constraints;
  • Identify of possible European routes, develop business models and CBA methodology for cross-border transportation.

Under Work-stream 2 to:

• Building upon the progress achieved by the consortium submitting the proposal, develop a hyperloop demonstrator to support the proof of concept. It is expected that the demonstrator would address convergence between different solutions currently explored, covering elements related to infrastructure, vehicle, energy, pressure, connectivity, traffic management and capacity, etc.

Gender dimension

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.