Four Benefits Composites Bring to Hyperloop Pods

The modern subway and rail system are poised to get a very futuristic upgrade thanks to the world’s first composite hyperloop pod. Indeed, composite materials are bringing many benefits to the first passenger pod manufactured by Hyperloop Transportation Technology (Hyperloop TT).

Benefits of using composites in hyperloop pods

Composite materials have become a vital part of getting the world’s first hyperloop pod ready for passengers. Indeed, composites have allowed Hyperloop TT to manufacture the first operational hyperloop pod, which was unveiled in early October of 2018.

Hyperloops are futuristic transportation systems that are being designed to transport passengers and cargo through tubes. These tubes will use electrical magnetic levitation (maglev) propulsion to move composite passenger and cargo pods between destinations. The tubes would also be enclosed and depressurized to reduce air resistance on the pod and allow the hyperloop systems to use less energy to operate.

Composite materials were critical to the creation of the new Quintero One pod developed by Hyperloop TT. The pod is 32 meters (105 ft) long, weighs 5,000 kg (10,000 lbs) and is constructed using 7,200 square meters (1.8 acres) of carbon fiber composites. By using composite carbon fiber materials, Hyperloop TT was able to create a passenger pod that is almost twice as long as the subway cars currently operated by New York City. Even though the Quintero One pod is longer than a New York City subway car, it’s only about one-third the weight of a subway car.

In addition to the weight savings offered by composite materials, there are several other benefits that composites are bringing to hyperloop pods. Some of these benefits include:

• Reducing the amount of energy required to move and operate the pod
• Allowing the 72 sensors included in the pod to be embedded in the pod’s structure
• Helping to increase the safety of these pods due to high strength and sensor-embedding ability

With all of these benefits, it’s clear that composites are, and will continue to be, one of the key factors in the development and future operations of hyperloop technology and infrastructure.

Composites One is the number one composite materials distributor in North America

If your business is helping to design and build composite components for hyperloop systems, then having all of your composite material supplies readily available to you is vital to the success of your business.

Composites One is here to help you find all of the supplies that you need for your composite manufacturing business. We offer thousands of composites products from more than 600 suppliers to ensure that you have exactly the materials you require. In addition, we have 41 locations across the United States and Canada, which means that you’ll have a source of composite materials close to your business.

For more information about the composite materials and other services our team can offer you, contact us at Composites One now.