In a significant milestone for high-speed transportation, the LIMITLESS project team has completed the longest-ever vacuum journey in Europe’s first operational Hyperloop test facility. This record-breaking experiment, part of a collaboration between the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), the School of Business and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD), and Swisspod Technologies, marked a notable achievement in the progress toward efficient and sustainable Hyperloop systems.
The LIMITLESS project: Engineering a sustainable Hyperloop
The LIMITLESS project, officially named the “Linear Induction Motor Drive for Traction and Levitation in Sustainable Hyperloop Systems,” brings together leading researchers and engineers from EPFL, HEIG-VD, and Swisspod Technologies. This collaboration is focused on developing Hyperloop technology capable of transforming the future of transportation with high-speed and eco-friendly solutions. The consortium’s efforts led to a full-scale equivalent journey of 141.6 kilometers (11.8 kilometers in scaled-down tests) within a low-pressure environment and reached speeds of up to 488.2 kilometers per hour.
Conducted at EPFL’s Hyperloop test site, this record-breaking journey took place within a scaled-down, circular track designed to replicate a full-scale Hyperloop system. The test facility, boasting a diameter of 40 centimeters and a track circumference of 125.6 meters, provides a controlled setting where researchers can analyze every aspect of the technology’s performance.
Exploring the technology behind Hyperloop
At its core, Hyperloop technology combines an electric vehicle moving through a low-pressure tube to minimize resistance and achieve remarkable speeds. Magnetic levitation allows the pod to “float” through the tube, reducing friction and enabling high-speed travel. Originally proposed by Elon Musk in 2013, the Hyperloop has undergone various iterations and technological advancements since then, with the LIMITLESS project marking a new chapter in its development.
The LIMITLESS team focuses on sustainable infrastructure, opting for a passive track system that enhances efficiency while keeping implementation costs down. This strategic choice means that much of the engineering work centers on the Linear Induction Motor (LIM), a central component of Hyperloop propulsion. Designed to achieve optimal energy conversion efficiency, the LIM system integrates both propulsion and levitation, paving the way for improved high-speed performance. Simone Rametti’s doctoral research at EPFL’s Distributed Electrical Systems Laboratory (DESL) delves into refining LIM’s capabilities, contributing to the technical advancements tested in the LIMITLESS project.
“The LIMITLESS project provides an understanding of several fundamental aspects related to the high-speed electromagnetic propulsion of Hyperloop capsules. By leveraging this knowledge, we were able to integrate levitation and propulsion functionalities into a single motor with very high energy conversion efficiency,” explains Mario Paolone, professor at DESL.
Extensive testing and record-breaking results
As part of their research, the LIMITLESS team has conducted 82 rigorous tests, each one refining the Hyperloop’s capabilities and ensuring system reliability. The tests took place in a controlled, low-pressure environment maintained at just 50 millibars—about 1/20th the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere at sea level. These low-pressure conditions replicate the vacuum environments necessary for Hyperloop’s high-speed travel, with reduced air resistance allowing for greater speed and efficiency.
The longest test covered a distance of 11.8 kilometers within the test facility’s circular track, translating to a full-scale equivalent distance of 141.6 kilometers—roughly the length of a journey between Geneva and Bern, Switzerland, or between San Francisco and Sacramento, California. The capsule reached a top speed of 40.7 kilometers per hour in the scaled environment, which would equate to 488.2 kilometers per hour in a full-scale system. This achievement highlights both the feasibility of extended Hyperloop journeys and the technical readiness of core Hyperloop systems.
The closed-loop design of the EPFL track allows for an unprecedented range of experimentation. “Our infrastructure operates as a closed loop, so it truly is LIMITLESS, free from any inherent length limitations,” explains Cyril Dénéréaz, Swisspod’s CTO. “The way our track was designed enables us to consider everything—the capsule’s energy efficiency, the propulsion systems, and more—in ways that other Hyperloop infrastructures cannot. Our innovative approach to building the Hyperloop system provides us a vital platform for testing and refining different technologies, ensuring optimal performance and adaptability.”
Monitoring performance and future prospects
During each test, researchers analyzed vital subsystems, including propulsion, communication, power electronics, and thermal management. Data was gathered to measure energy consumption, thrust, and motor response during each phase of travel, from acceleration to coasting and braking. This comprehensive monitoring process ensures that every aspect of Hyperloop’s performance can be scrutinized and optimized before moving to larger-scale implementations.
The LIMITLESS project’s success suggests promising future tests, particularly in refining LIM-based Hyperloop propulsion and levitation. These upcoming experiments aim to push the technology closer to real-world application, both by enhancing efficiency and by confirming the system’s safety standards. Each round of testing provides essential data that may expedite the path to commercial deployment of Hyperloop, enabling cost-effective development and rapid design improvements.
Broader applications for LIMITLESS technology
The technological innovations developed in the LIMITLESS project are likely to impact more than just the Hyperloop sector. Insights from the high-speed propulsion and levitation technology could benefit multiple industries, including rail, metro systems, automotive, and aerospace. The emphasis on energy-efficient, low-cost infrastructure makes these advancements particularly relevant for urban transportation networks and environmentally conscious transit systems.
Swisspod’s vision for the future of Hyperloop
The LIMITLESS project is a step forward in Swisspod Technologies’ broader ambitions to commercialize Hyperloop technology. The company envisions Hyperloop not only as a novel mode of travel but as a transformative infrastructure that could change how people connect and commute. “This milestone brings us closer to a future where Hyperloop becomes a catalyst for societal change. Putting our years of technological innovation to the test is a critical step in pushing the development and deployment of efficient Hyperloop technologies worldwide,” says Denis Tudor, CEO of Swisspod.
Swisspod is also planning further Hyperloop experiments, including the development of a freight-based Hyperloop system in a larger test facility in the United States. This larger-scale project will focus on moving cargo, which has the potential to open up new logistical avenues for goods transportation and pave the way for future passenger travel.
Check out the video of EPFL’s Hyperloop record in action.
Source: EPFL
