India Unlikely to Embrace Hyperloop Technology for High-Speed Trains

India is unlikely to adopt hyperloop technology for ultra high-speed trains in the near future as the technology is at a ‘very low level’ of maturity and may not be economically viable at the current juncture, according to NITI Aayog Member V K Saraswat. He mentioned that some foreign companies have shown interest in bringing the technology to India, but the offers received so far are not considered viable options. Hyperloop, a high-speed train running in a vacuum in a tube, was proposed by Elon Musk. However, Saraswat stated that hyperloop is currently only a study programme and is not expected to enter India’s transportation framework anytime soon. The Virgin Hyperloop test run was conducted on November 9, 2020, in Las Vegas, with a pod traveling at over 161 km/hr. Saraswat also discussed India’s reliance on lithium imports from China and the government’s efforts to promote methanol as an alternative fuel.