European Hyperloop Center
The European Hyperloop Center

The European Hyperloop Center.

is an open innovation center and testing facility, located in Groningen, the Netherlands. This collaborative facility will be a home to developers from around the world to test and validate their hyperloop technologies. Here, (high-tech) companies, industry, and science work together on the development of the Hyperloop. The test track will be open to any company and knowledge organization who wants to develop, demonstrate, and./or validate their (sub)system for the hyperloop or related technologies.

Projects.

  • Phase A Location Veendam

    Temporary build-up of 420m test-track, to be reused for the for Phase B in Groningen. Location: HUSA Logistics, Veendam.

  • Phase B Location Groningen/Meerstad

    The 2.6 km long high-speed test track (700 km/h) with research laboratory. Location: Groningen/Meerstad.

  • Infrastructure Prototype

    A 30m, 1.4m diameter, prototype of the hyperloop infrastructure (INPR) to test essential core elements to build the infrastructure. Location: BuildinG (Zernike Campus)

  • Hyperloop Vehicle Mock-up

    A mock-up vehicle and VR experience to simulate and research what it would be like to travel by hyperloop. Location: Hive.Mobility (Bytesnet Groningen)

Phase A Location Veendam
Phase B Location Groningen/Meerstad
Infrastructure Prototype
Hyperloop Vehicle Mock-up
EHC Phase A

EHC Phase A.

The intended location for the temporary construction of Phase A is situated on the HUSA site in Veendam. The track has a switch that can be used to test the hyperloop switch technology at a speed of 75km/h. The temporary structure can be used to learn a lot for the realization at the Meerstad location.

Key data Phase A:
Length: +-420m
Pipe diameter: 2.5 m
Pressure in the pipe: 100pa
Speed: 75km/h turnout, 100km/h straight line
Temporary premises: +-500m2

More information see the project description here.
EHC Phase B

EHC Phase B.

The 2.6 km test center will facilitate the testing and demonstration of the hyperloop’s safety features, performance, reliability by continuous testing, as well as the manufacturing and construction process.

What can be tested:
• Key hyperloop-related technologies such as levitation, propulsion, stabilization, cornering, lane switching, and emergency braking
• Functions enabled by technology, such as communications, operation, and control of multiple vehicles in the hyperloop
• Commercial readiness of cargo transport via hyperloop, such as the demonstration of transportation of full-size and full-weight cargo pallets, as well as loading and unloading

Key data Phase B:
Length: +-2.6km
Pipe diameter: 2.5 m
Pressure in the pipe: 100pa
Speed: up to 700km/h straight line

Together with the agency The Imagineers, the municipality of Groningen has set up a virtual visitor center, click here for more info.

Infrastructure Prototype.

  • As part of the development a prototype of the 30m, 1.4m diameter, hyperloop infrastructure (INPR) has been built at BuildinG (Zernike Campus) to test a number of essential core elements to build the infrastructure safely, quickly, and at low cost. This infrastructure prototype allows to test the assembly process and tolerances, and compensation of influences on the pipe.

  • Assembly and tolerances

    The design must be built quickly with minimal impact on the construction site, but while maintaining tolerances. This prototype was made to test the assembly process. A so-called "assembly jig", designed and produced by Hardt and Mercon, ensures that all parts are placed and secured seamlessly in the pipe at the factory. secured. At the construction site the entire prefabricated pipe is installed and adjusted at the construction site.

  • Compensation of influences on the pipe

    The pipe is influenced by the pressure difference with the outside air, among other things, weight of the vehicle, and temperature differences. With the expansion joint is used to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of the pipe.

Assembly and tolerances
Compensation of influences on the pipe
Hyperloop Vehicle Mock-up

Hyperloop Vehicle Mock-up.

An important element to test and design for is the passenger experience and social acceptance of travelling with hyperloop. But how to test these experiences without an operational hyperloop yet? We do this by combining hardware and a digital environment (VR) as a ‘mock-up’ of a hyperloop vehicle. The mock-up and testing are located in the building of Bytesnet (Zernike Campus), together with Hive.Mobility.

Goals:
• To test how people experience the of the interior of the hyperloop and its physical properties
• To test different properties that influence the experience of the user.
• To test the effects such a created context (through mockup and virtual environment) have on people’s perception of the hyperloop.

Interested to learn more?