North Carolina's high-tech Research Triangle may get even more advanced in years to come.

The Tar Heel State announced on Friday that it is exploring options to bring Virgin Hyperloop One technology to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill corridor, which has grown into a hub for technology companies and research universities.

"You can literally begin to start thinking about the cities like they're metro stops," Jay Walder, the CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One, told Cheddar. North Carolina's inquiry makes it the ninth state to explore hyperloop as a potential regional transportation system.

"We have stopped our imagination somewhere around 1956, which is when the interstate highway system was created, and it is time to restart our imagination," Walder said.

Virgin Hyperloop One, which was developed by Virgin founder Richard Branson, is the first company to successfully operate a full-scale hyperloop vehicle system, which uses electric propulsion and electromagnetic levitation in depressurized tubes to propel vehicles at hundreds of miles per hour.

"Imagine being in a super-fast vehicle that is completely smooth, no turbulence moving at airline speed," Walder added.

Although still in its early stages, hyperloop technology is proving to be a far faster, safer, and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional forms of transportation, according to the company.

"The Research Triangle area is uniquely positioned from a technology focus, spatial layout, and favorable mid-East Coast location to benefit from a hyperloop travel solution that could quickly link America's R&D cities of Raleigh and Durham with each other and with neighboring regions in the southeast and mid-Atlantic," Joe Milazzo II, the executive director of North Carolina's Regional Transportation Alliance, said in a statement.

Trips between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are expected to be under 10 minutes, according Virgin Hyperloop One's initial estimates.

"You can take it a step further — Raleigh-Durham to Washington DC it just over 35 minutes," Walder told Cheddar.

<i>Cheddar</i>
Share:
More In Technology
Blue Bear Capital Raises $150 Million as It Helps Bolster Fight Against Climate Change
Blue Bear Capital, a venture and growth equity firm focusing on AI-powered solutions for the world’s energy, infrastructure, and climate challenges, recently announced it has raised $150 million dollars in new funding. Ernst Sack, Partner at Blue Bear Capital, joins Cheddar Climate the vision his company has when it comes to combating climate change.
Tinder Looks to Keep Users Active With In-App Currency
Tinder is working to keep users on the platform for longer periods by introducing its own in-app currency. Users can collect coins by staying active on the dating app or purchasing them. The currency can then be used on features like Super Likes or Boosts.
Drone Racing League New Season Kicks Off
The Drone Racing League kicked off its 2021-2022 world championship season this week. Spanning across 14 different locations over the course of the year, 12 of the world's best drone pilots will be racing against each other to bring home the title. Drone racing has grown in popularity over the past year, with the Drone Racing League seeing an uptick of nearly 200 percent average viewership, 90 percent in virtual drone racing participation and 60 percent fanbase growth over social media. Rachel Jacobson, President of the Drone Racing League, discusses the future of the sport and why she thinks drone racing will soon be on par with traditional sports.
Load More