Hyperloop test track in Delft

Hardt Global Mobility was founded by members of the first Delft Hyperloop team that won the global Hyperloop competition in Los Angeles last February.

Independent of the Hyperloop competition, Hardt has decided to develop the technology further. The start-up’s basic idea remains the same: to work on a high-speed form of public transport in a pod through a tube in near vacuum conditions. This would allow for speeds comparable with aircraft (1.000 km/hour) and better energy efficiency than trains.

The Delft test track may be short (30 metres), but the rest of the system will be full-sized with a diameter of 3 metres. The Los Angeles test track was much longer but had a 1:2 scale (diameter 1.8 metres).

Hardt has done a study for a connection from Amsterdam to Groningen (Zuiderzeelijn). It concluded that the building costs for the a Hyperloop track is comparable to a rail link, but that the energy efficiency is better than trains. How much better remains undisclosed. Given the study findings, contractor BAM decided to join the project, as it fits well into their strategy of creating future building portfolios.

Hardt is funded by NS and Unique innovation funds .

CEO Tim Houter is happy the collaboration with BAM enables them to build Europe’s first Hyperloop test track. He trusts the facility will allow to advance and test new technologies. But for Houter, it’s just the beginning: “It’s our aim to develop a fully functional test track of multiple kilometres within the next four years. The experiences will contribute significantly to develop real hyperloop networks.”