Revolutionize Your Commute: Step into the Future of Transportation Now Boarding!

In a groundbreaking achievement, Virgin Hyperloop has successfully transported its first passengers using the Pegasus pod, a cutting-edge vehicle designed in collaboration with BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and kilo design. The Pegasus, also known as 'XP-2', is an autonomous transportation system that enables hyperloop travel at an incredible speed of over 1,000km/hour, making it the fastest land-based travel system in existence. Following a year of close collaboration, the first passengers were able to experience this revolutionary mode of transportation at Virgin Hyperloop's DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, which has seen over 400 tests with unoccupied pods. The Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) Certifier was on hand to oversee the demonstration, which is a historic moment in transportation as Pegasus becomes the first fully functional system for manned Hyperloop travel.

“When we started in a garage over 6 years ago, it felt like a distant dream to one day ride in a Hyperloop pod. Today, that dream came true – and not only for me, but for a whole generation who now has a moonshot to look towards right here on Earth. Together with BIG and Kilo, we have worked on a seamless experience that starts the moment you think about being somewhere – not going somewhere. We don’t sell cars, boats, trains, or planes. We sell time.” Josh Giegel, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Virgin Hyperloop.

The future of transportation has arrived with Virgin Hyperloop's revolutionary mobility ecosystem. The waiting hall is a thing of the past as pods and portals whisk passengers away with no more waiting. BIG and Kilo played a key role in designing the Pegasus, a 2-seater pod that showcases the safety of travelling in a Hyperloop vehicle. But this is just the beginning - the design language and characteristics of the Pegasus will shape larger, 28-passenger vehicles in the future. The Pegasus is a pressurized vessel that embodies a new, game-changing vehicle typology. Its design unifies the pressure vessel and sledge for a seamless appearance that balances both performance and human-centred characteristics.

First Passengers: Virgin Hyperloop’s Co-Founder and CTO Josh Giegel and Director of Passenger Experience Sara Luchian 

“Virgin Hyperloop can radically transform the way we travel. The immediacy of an elevator in a modern high-rise combines with the speed and distance of air travel to create an on-demand system that transports passengers at supersonic speed. Virgin Hyperloop with our Pegasus pods changes the experience of moving across a country or even a continent into that of a subway system—one that could eventually cover the entire globe and push global travel in a more sustainable direction. With the successful test, I’m thrilled that Hyperloop travel has reached an important milestone and I look forward to continuing our collaboration and making this new way of travelling a reality for future generations.” Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

Josh Giegel, co-founder and CTO of Virgin Hyperloop, along with Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, have become the first passengers to experience the cutting-edge transportation system. Unlike traditional rail transit, Hyperloop operates in an almost airless tube, which eliminates the need for aerodynamic features, resulting in a sleek design and maximum energy efficiency. By using magnetic levitation instead of wheels, the system minimizes drag and enables higher speeds to transport a larger number of passengers or cargo. Additionally, Pegasus pods operate individually, with an impressive arrival and departure rate, providing on-demand travel options.

“When designing the future of transportation and the slate is sort of blank, the opportunities are endless. We’ve needed to adjust our way of thinking away from the classic modes of transporting like trains, planes and metros, and towards a new vehicle typology, closest to that of a spaceship. Hyperloop allows passengers to get from A to B in a split second, and Pegasus provides the feeling of safety, convenience and a smooth journey.” Jakob Lange, Partner, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

The latest vessel design incorporates user-friendly features to enhance the passenger experience. With its front 'scoops', passengers can comfortably board and disembark the vessel. The fairing's sides and front door have apertures that offer a clear view of the tunnel ahead. The design echoes the Pegasus' exterior with soft forms, pill shape cut-outs, and entryways. Inside, the seating elements and extended arms serve multiple functions such as aiding entry and exit, and providing storage for safety equipment, oxygen throughput, and lighting. The seats are also easily assembled and disassembled for quick rear equipment access.

After undergoing a thorough safety process, Pegasus showcases various safety-critical systems that are set to be featured in a commercial Hyperloop system. Equipped with an advanced control system, Pegasus can quickly detect any abnormal states and activate the necessary emergency responses. The interior of the vehicle spans 6 square meters and has been custom-designed to prioritize the safety and comfort of passengers, with safety equipment and controls seamlessly integrated into the furniture.

Virgin Hyperloop's announcement of the Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC) in West Virginia, designed by BIG, is set to revolutionize transportation as we know it. With the recent successful safety demonstration, the way is now paved for Hyperloop systems to become certified worldwide, transforming time and space as we know it with the help of BIG's latest creation, Pegasus. This marks BIG's second transportation project this year, following the announcement of Toyota Woven City in January, a cutting-edge urban incubator dedicated to advancing all aspects of mobility. Get ready to soar into the future with BIG's game-changing transportation designs.

  Tour Pegasus here: https://big.dk/#projects-pegasus

All images Courtesy of Virgin Hyperloop