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SpaceX’s New Hyperloop Competition Has Only One Criterion: ‘Maximum Speed’

Don't forget the brakes.
Hyperloop One’s testing facility in Nevada. Image: Jason Koebler

Late last month, a team of university students from Germany took first place at the second SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition with a prototype pod that managed to hit speeds of just over 200 miles per hour. Impressive, but this falls far short of Elon Musk's original vision for Hyperloop transport pods, which he hopes can achieve speeds of over 700 miles per hour.

The revised competition rules for the 2018 Hyperloop Pod competition released today reflect the importance that Musk is placing on ratcheting up the maximum speed of prototype pods. According to the new rules, the 2018 competition "will be judged solely on one criteria: maximum speed with successful deceleration."

This is sure to make the 2018 competition quite the spectacle, judging on the improvements made between the first Hyperloop competition hosted last January and the most recent competition in August. The WARR Hyperloop team from Germany walked away with first prize both times after they managed to improve their Hyperloop pod from a maximum speed of 58 miles per hour in January to 201 miles per hour in August.