Magnetic levitating pods traveling through a series of tubes sounds like a scene from science fiction movies, right? But what if they could become a new form of mass transportation? Yes, we are talking about the hyperloop.

One of the companies working on the technology is Hard Hyperloop. Since 2020, the Dutch-based startup has developed numerous prototypes and test benches. It is also part of the European hyperloop center and has received €15 million in funding from the European Commission.

The company is developing hyperloop technology for passengers and cargo, enabling travel through a network of low-pressure tubes using magnetic levitation. The pods are expected to reach a cruising speed of 700 km/h and a top speed of 1,000 km/h, dramatically reducing travel time. And in terms of sustainability, the system causes no direct emissions and can be powered by green electricity.

We spoke to Mars Geuze – Chief Commercial Officer of Hardt Hyperloops – at TNW 2022 and asked him what the advantage of hyperloop is and which modes of transport are over- or underestimated. The result was a quick, fun video, which you can find at the top of this article, or look here.

Geuze argues that the hyperloop is still underestimated, even though it can travel with 10 times less energy than aviation or road transport. But optimistically, “in the last survey, there was an adoption rate of about 35%, scoring higher than autonomous cars,” he told us.

Trains and buses are also underestimated for Geuze. Trains in particular can connect cities well and provide high capacity with a lower carbon footprint compared to cars, he explained.

Geuze, on the other hand, considers passenger cars an overvalued means of transport. “They are the biggest contributor to your energy footprint and we need to move away from them,” he noted.

But what does he think of golf carts… or pogo sticks? Click here for his answers and watch the full interview.