{{short description|Canadian-French company}} {{Infobox company | name = TransPod | logo = Transpod-logo-.png | type = Private | hq_location_city = Toronto, Ontario | hq_location_country = Canada | foundation = {{start date and age|2015}} | homepage = {{ubl |{{URL|transpod.com}} }} | founders = {{ubl | Sebastien Gendron (CEO) | Ryan Janzen (Inventor, CTO) }} | industry = High-speed rail<br/>Clean technology }}
'''TransPod Inc.''' is a Canadian company designing ultra-high-speed transportation technology and vehicles.<ref name="transpodabout">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.transpod.com/about-transpod/ |accessdate=26 May 2025 |website=TransPod |publisher=TransPod Inc }}</ref>
TransPod vehicles are being designed to travel at over {{convert|1000|km/h|mph}} between cities, using fully electric propulsion to carry passengers and cargo.<ref name="procedia">{{cite journal |last1=Janzen |first1=Ryan |title=TransPod Ultra-High-Speed Tube Transportation: Dynamics of Vehicles and Infrastructure |journal=Procedia Engineering |date=2017 |volume=199 |pages=8–17 |ref=procedia|doi=10.1016/j.proeng.2017.09.142 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The proposed system would create a faster and carbon-free alternative to jets and automobiles if it was powered with electricity from carbon-free sources.<ref name="tedxtoronto">{{cite web |title=TransPod FluxJet Announcement - July 2022 (Full Event) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSjoW9TDcas&t=412s |accessdate=20 March 2023 |website=YouTube | date=15 September 2022 |publisher=TransPod }}</ref> The TransPod vehicles, which TransPod calls "FluxJets",<ref name="tedxtoronto" /> are designed to travel through a tube guideway which is similar to a hyperloop or vactrain system, with variations based on magnetic levitation rather than air bearings to promote vehicle stability,<ref name="procedia" /> and placing the core magnetic levitation technology on the vehicle rather than the infrastructure in an effort to minimize infrastructure costs.
In November 2016, TransPod raised a US$15 million seed round from Angelo Investments, an Italian high-tech holding group specializing in advanced technologies for the railway, space, and aviation industries.<ref name="techvibes15">{{cite press release |title=TransPod Announces $15 Million USD Seed Round Funding |url=https://www.transpod.com/press-release/transpod-announces-15-million-usd-seed-round-funding/ |accessdate=26 May 2025 |website=TransPod |date=23 November 2016 }}</ref> It has since expanded from Toronto, Canada, to open offices in Limoges, France and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.<ref name="transpodabout" />
In September 2017, TransPod's Chief Technology Officer Ryan Janzen revealed part of the technology in a paper published in the journal Procedia Engineering.<ref name="procedia" /> The paper was presented at the EASD EURODYN 2017 conference,<ref name="eurodynlectures">{{cite web |title=Keynote Lectures - Eurodyn |url=https://www.eurodyn2017.it/keynote-lectures/ |website=Eurodyn 2017 |accessdate=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005072339/https://www.eurodyn2017.it/keynote-lectures/ |archive-date=5 October 2017 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> and introduces basic design elements of the TransPod system.<ref name="procedia" />
In March 2022, TransPod achieved an agreement in principle for US$550 million in funding for its proposed Calgary to Edmonton Ultra-High-Speed Tube Transportation system in Alberta, Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=TransPod secures US$550M to build Calgary-Edmonton hyperloop |url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2022/03/29/transpod-secures-us550m-to-build-calgary-edmonton-hyperloop/ |date=29 March 2022 |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=Lethbridge News Now }}</ref> The financing is being provided by Broughton Capital Group, in cooperation with China-East Resources Import & Export Co. Full construction of the line was expected to begin in 2027.<ref name="transpod_bcg">{{cite press release |date=29 March 2022 |title=Next Stage of Development of Ultra-High-Speed Tube Transportation |url=https://www.transpod.com/transpod-next-stage-development-550m-usd-finance/ |access-date=26 May 2025 |website=TransPod }}</ref>
In July 2022, TransPod unveiled its new vehicle and infrastructure design, termed the "FluxJet", alongside a one-third scale vehicle prototype, at a live event in Toronto.<ref name="tedxtoronto" />
==Technology==
The TransPod system is being developed to carry vehicles at speeds greater than 1000 km/h. Announced in 2016,<ref name="innotrans">{{cite press release |last1= |first1= |title=The TransPod System, InnoTrans 2016, Berlin |url=https://www.transpod.com/press-release/transpod-to-reveal-hyperloop-design-and-onboard-experience-at-innotrans-2016/ |date=19 September 2016 |accessdate=26 May 2025 |website=TransPod }}</ref> the TransPod system contains aerodynamic and propulsion systems to reduce friction compared to trains, automobiles and jets, and to therefore travel at a faster speed.<ref name="procedia" /> TransPod's technology is designed to be compatible with renewable energies{{how|date=May 2025}} including solar generation, supplemented by regional electrical grid connection link-ups. TransPod states the purpose of this is for reduced carbon emissions.<ref name="europecoststudy">{{cite press release |title=TransPod Releases Initial Cost Study for Hyperloop System in Europe |url=https://www.mermecgroup.com/press-room/news/1127/transpod-releases-initial-cost-study-for-hyperloop-system-in-europe-.php |website=MERMEC |date=19 July 2017 |accessdate=26 May 2025 }}</ref>
To achieve fossil-fuel-free propulsion, TransPod vehicles take advantage of electrically driven linear induction motor technology,{{how|date=May 2025|title=How does electrically driven mean no fossil fuels are used?}} with active real-time control <ref name="procedia" /> and sense-space systems.<ref name="sensespace">{{cite journal |last1=Janzen |first1=Ryan |last2=Mann |first2=Steve |title=The Physical-Fourier-Amplitude Domain, and Application to Sensing Sensors |journal=Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Multimedia |date=2016 |url=http://eyetap.org/docs/PhysicalFourierAmplitude_JanzenMann2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717081002/https://eyetap.org/docs/PhysicalFourierAmplitude_JanzenMann2016.pdf |archive-date=17 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The TransPod system is distinct from the hyperloop concept proposed by Elon Musk's Hyperloop Alpha white paper.{{efn|[http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf Elon Musk's Hyperloop Alpha white paper]}} Unlike hyperloop, the TransPod system uses moving electromagnetic fields to propel the vehicles with stable levitation from the top surface, rather than compressed air below the vehicle.<ref name="procedia" />
Passenger vehicles include seating for 54 people,<ref name="tedxtoronto" /> while cargo vehicles have a loadable interior. Each vehicle includes an aircraft-like fuselage<ref name="innotrans" /> pressurized for atmospheric air circulation and control – and includes propulsion, guidance and control systems to operate at speeds exceeding 1000 km/h within a protected tube guideway.<ref name="tedxtoronto" /> The tubes are twinned to permit bidirectional vehicle travel.<ref name="procedia" />
The cargo transport TransPod vehicles are designed to carry payloads of 10 tons and have compatibility with wooden pallets, as well as various unit load devices such as LD3 containers, and AAA containers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feasibility study results of the TransPod project in Alberta |url=https://www.transpod.com/study/feasibility-study-results-of-the-transpod-project-in-alberta/ |date=June 2021 |access-date=20 March 2023 |website=TransPod |url-access=registration }}</ref>
At high speed, the vehicle's dynamic forces are controlled by an internal guidance system, which TransPod calls Veillance Flux.<ref name="tedxtoronto" /> Deviations of the vehicle's trajectory are sensed and tracked by a combination of inertial sensors and optical sensors.<ref name="procedia" /> TransPod's systems use sense-space processing<ref name="sensespace" /> and real-time computer vision algorithms.<ref name="tpresearch">{{cite web |title=TransPod Research |url=http://transpodresearch.org |website=TransPod Research |publisher=TransPod |accessdate=4 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214182507/http://transpodresearch.org/ |archive-date=14 December 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
At the InnoTrans Rail Show 2016 in Berlin, TransPod premiered their vehicle concept, alongside implementation of ''Coelux'' technology – an artificial skylight to emulate natural sunlight within the passenger pods.<ref name="wired">{{cite magazine|title=This Canadian Hyperloop Concept Features a Faux Sunroof|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/10/hyperloop-transpod-concept-canada/|magazine=WIRED|accessdate=4 October 2017|date=2016-10-04}}</ref><ref name="itberlin">{{cite web|last1=Wood|first1=Eric|title=Toronto startup's hyperloop technology makes a splash at Berlin trade show|url=http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/toronto-startups-hyperloop-technology-making-a-splash-at-berlin-trade-show/79876|website=itbusiness.ca|date=21 September 2016}}</ref> Thereafter, in July 2022, TransPod unveiled its first functional prototype, a one-third scale vehicle, at a TransPod-organized event in Toronto.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=TransPod Unveils the FluxJet, a First-in-the-World Vehicle for Ultra-High-Speed Transportation of Passengers and Cargo at over 1,000km/h |url=https://www.transpod.com/press-release/fluxjet-unveiling/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=TransPod }}</ref> At the same event, a new system design was unveiled, which included some significant modifications from the original design - including the removal of the axial compressor from the vehicle.<ref name="tedxtoronto" />
==Test track in France==
In January 2017 TransPod announced plans for a test track to be constructed in the village of Droux near Limoges<ref>{{cite news|title=Une piste pour l'Hyperloop à l'étude au nord de la Haute-Vienne|url=https://www.lepopulaire.fr/droux/transport/2018/01/25/une-piste-pour-l-hyperloop-a-l-etude-au-nord-de-la-haute-vienne_12713616.html|accessdate=February 28, 2018|publisher=Le Populaire|date=January 25, 2017|ref=lepopdroux}}</ref> in collaboration with the French department of Haute-Vienne. The proposed test track would exceed 3 km in length, and operate as a half-scale system 2m in diameter.<ref name="lelpopulaire">{{cite news|last1=Chapperon|first1=Olivier|title=Première esquisse pour la piste d'essai de l'hyperloop en Haute-Vienne|url=https://www.lepopulaire.fr/chateauponsac/economie/innovation/2018/02/20/premiere-esquisse-pour-la-piste-dessai-de-lhyperloop-en-haute-vienne_12746484.html|accessdate=February 28, 2018|publisher=Le Populaire|date=February 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Limoges-Paris en 40 minutes|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4MJeiin7e4|agency=20 Heures|date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gradt|first1=Jean Michel|title=Train supersonique : HyperloopTT prend de l'avance En savoir plus sur|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/hightech/0301351679820-train-supersonique-hyperloop-prend-de-lavance-2156911.php#xtor=CS1-26|accessdate=February 28, 2018|publisher=Les Echos|date=February 27, 2018}}</ref> In February 2018, Vincent Leonie, vice president of Limoges Métropole and a deputy mayor of Limoges,<ref name="limogesmetropole">{{cite web|title=Les élus|url=http://www.agglo-limoges.fr/fr/content/les-elus|website=Limoges Metropole|accessdate=February 28, 2018}}</ref> announced that agreements for the "Hyperloop Limoges" organization have been signed to promote and accelerate the technology.<ref name="lelpopulaire" />
==Technology Demonstrator Unveiling== In July 2022, TransPod organized an event to unveil its first ever functional prototype, a one-third scale vehicle operating in an open tube-like structure.<ref name=":0" /> During the event, Chief Technology Officer Ryan Janzen explained the key concepts behind the TransPod system, including its contactless plasma-based power transmission system, its propulsion and levitation systems, and its "veillance flux" guidance system, while they were shown in real-time in a series of demonstrations.<ref name="tedxtoronto" />
==Organization== ===Funding and partnerships===
In November 2016, TransPod secured US$15 million in seed funding from Angelo Investments.<ref name="techvibes15" />
TransPod's Toronto office is located on Dufferin Street, in the Liberty Village community. TransPod's French office in Limoges, near the location of its half-scale test track site in Droux. TransPod's Dubai office is located downtown, in the Burj Khalifa district.<ref name="transpodabout" />
TransPod is additionally partnered with IKOS,<ref name="ikos">{{cite web|title=TransPod partners with IKOS on design of hyperloop pod|url=http://www.canadiangreentech.ca/index.php/news/4803-transpod-partners-with-ikos-on-design-of-hyperloop-pod|website=Canadian Green Tech|date=26 January 2017 }}</ref> an engineering firm based in Paris, and REC Architecture, centered in the Toulouse area.<ref name="masstransitthree">{{cite web |title=TransPod Accelerates Global Growth with Opening of Three Offices in North America and Europe |url=http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/12315853/transpod-accelerates-global-growth-with-opening-of-three-offices-in-north-america-and-europe |accessdate=4 October 2017 |website=Mass Transit|date=15 March 2017 }}</ref><ref name="inversethree">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Mike |date=March 15, 2017 |title=TransPod Wants to Develop a Hyperloop for Canada by 2020 |agency=Inverse |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/29088-transpod-hyperloop-system-canada-italy-france-offices |accessdate=4 October 2017}}</ref>
In June 2017, TransPod announced a partnership with Liebherr-Aerospace to support the research, development, and production of new cabin and vehicle thermal systems.<ref name="liebherr">{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Rob|title=TransPod Partners with Liebherr-Aerospace to Develop Technology for Hyperloop|url=https://techvibes.com/2017/06/20/transpod-liebherr-aerospace-to-develop-technology-hyperloop|website=Techvibes|date=20 June 2017|accessdate=4 October 2017}}</ref>
TransPod signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Alberta in August 2020 to identify land for a test track and study the feasibility and projected effects of a Calgary-Edmonton TransPod system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Aninda |date=2020-08-26 |title=TransPod signs MoU for potential Edmonton-Calgary hyperloop system |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/news/transpod-mou-potential-edmonton-calgary-hyperloop-system/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Railway Technology }}</ref>
Since signing the MOU with the Government of Alberta, TransPod has received significant support from the Building Trades of Alberta, the local group representing Alberta's union workers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BuildingTradeAB/status/1508817048763310088 |url=https://twitter.com/BuildingTradeAB/status/1508817048763310088 |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Twitter }}</ref>
In March 2022, TransPod announced that it had reached an agreement (in principle) with Broughton Capital Group for US$550 million in funding, in collaboration with China-East Resources Import Export Company, for the construction of the first phase of its Calgary to Edmonton project.<ref name="transpod_bcg" />
===Governance===
'''Sebastien Gendron''' is the CEO and co-founder of TransPod.
'''Ryan Janzen''' is the CTO and co-founder of TransPod.
==Planned routes== TransPod has plans to develop routes worldwide, and is designing line configurations between international cities. For example, in Canada, TransPod lines are being designed for Toronto-Montreal,<ref>{{cite news|title=Rapid Transit|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rapid-transit-1.4296028|accessdate=4 October 2017|agency=CBC|publisher=CBC|date=Sep 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Toronto-Montreal Hyperloop plan could see travel time cut to 39 minutes View description Share|url=https://omny.fm/shows/am640-the-morning-show/toronto-montreal-hyperloop-plan-could-see-travel-t|accessdate=4 October 2017|agency=The Morning Show|date=Sep 18, 2017}}</ref> Toronto-Windsor,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Aboelsaud|first1=Yasmin|title=Toronto tech company proposes Toronto-Windsor hyperloop connection|url=http://dailyhive.com/toronto/transpod-hyperloop-study-toronto-windsor-2017|accessdate=4 October 2017|publisher=Daily Hive|date=Jul 26, 2017}}</ref> and Toronto-Waterloo corridors in Ontario and Quebec, as well as the Calgary-Edmonton corridor in Alberta, Canada.<ref name="cbccalgarycorridor">{{cite news|title=Calgary to Edmonton in 30 minutes? Hyperloop could be the future of transportation in Alberta|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transpod-hyperloop-calgary-edmonton-corridor-1.4060954|accessdate=4 October 2017|agency=CBC|publisher=CBC|date=April 7, 2017}}</ref> TransPod is preparing to build a test track for the system in Canada.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Brodie|title=Hyperloop startup TransPod scouting Alberta for test track options|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2017/03/31/hyperloop-startup-transpod-scouts-alberta-test-track-options.html|accessdate=4 October 2017|agency=Metro News|publisher=Metro News}}</ref> This track will be extendable as part of a full route pending a combination of private and public funding to construct the line.<ref name="cbccalgarycorridor" /><ref name="cbc" />
In parallel, TransPod is designing line configurations for routes elsewhere in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Oceania.
===Calgary–Edmonton Corridor=== TransPod signed a Memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta in August 2020 to identify land for a test track and to study the feasibility and projected effects of a Calgary-Edmonton hyperloop.<ref name="cbc">{{cite web |last1=Edwardson |first1=Lucie |title=Canadian hyperloop company says ultra-high-speed travel between Calgary and Edmonton is feasible |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transpod-hyperloop-calgary-edmonton-sebastian-gendro-1.6078775 |website=CBC News |access-date=3 September 2021 |date=25 June 2021}}</ref> The corridor is predicted to have a potential speed of 1000 km/h and a travel time of 45 minutes.<ref name=":1" /> The study was released June 2021 and claims the TransPod system would reduce carbon emissions by 636,000 tonnes per year, would create more than 15,500 jobs per year during construction, and would add $19.2 billion to Alberta's GDP. The study also estimates a cost of $45.1 million per kilometer and $6.7 billion for "fixed infrastructure-like stations." The total cost is forecasted to be $22.4 billion.<ref name="cbc"/> TransPod believes that construction of the test track, followed by the testing phase, will be completed from 2024 to 2028 and the construction of the full Calgary-Edmonton Corridor to begin in 2028.<ref name="cbc"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/hyperloop-feasibility-study-makes-the-case-for-high-speed-calgary-edmonton-line/|title=Hyperloop feasibility study makes the case for high-speed Calgary-Edmonton line|date=25 June 2021}}</ref>
On March 29, 2022, TransPod announced it has reached an agreement in principle for US$550 million financing from Broughton Capital Group in cooperation with China-East Resources Import & Export Co. for its Calgary to Edmonton Ultra-High-Speed Tube Transportation system.<ref name="transpod_bcg"/>
===Toronto–Windsor Corridor=== In July 2017, TransPod released an initial cost study<ref>{{Cite web |title=Studies |url=https://www.transpod.com/studies/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=TransPod }}</ref> which outlines the viability of building a TransPod line in Southwestern Ontario between the cities of Windsor and Toronto.<ref name="hypetechvibes">{{cite news|last1=Kowlton|first1=Thomas|title=Hype for Hyperloop in Canada: Half the Cost, Quadruple the Speed of Proposed High-Speed Rail Plan|url=https://techvibes.com/2017/07/13/hype-for-hyperloop-in-canada-half-the-cost-quadruple-the-speed-of-proposed-high-speed-rail-plan|accessdate=4 October 2017|publisher=Techvibes|date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> The Government of Ontario announced an environmental assessment for a high-speed-rail line along this route in May 2017 for the same corridor.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Benzie|first1=Robert|title=Kathleen Wynne is all aboard $21B high-speed-rail Toronto-Windsor project|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/05/19/wynne-is-all-aboard-21b-high-speed-rail-project.html|accessdate=4 October 2017|agency=Toronto Star|publisher=Toronto Star|date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> The study indicates a TransPod tube system would cost half the projected cost of a high-speed rail line along the same route, while operating at more than four times the top speed of high-speed rail.<ref name="magnitudeanalysis">{{cite web |title=INITIAL ORDER OF MAGNITUDE ANALYSIS FOR TRANSPOD HYPERLOOP SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE |url=https://transpodhyperloop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/TransPod-infrastructure_EN_July-17-update2.pdf |accessdate=4 October 2017 |website=TransPod }}</ref>
===Marseille-Nice Corridor=== In October 2019, TransPod released a pre-feasibility study which outlines the viability of building a TransPod line in the south of France between the cities of Nice and Marseille.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marseille connection |url=https://www.transpod.com/study/marseille-connection/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=TransPod }}</ref> The study only evaluates passenger transport (ignoring cargo), concluding that a passenger-only line would not be financially feasible but indicating that a passenger-and-cargo line may be feasible in the region and merits further study.
===Thailand Corridor=== In March 2019, TransPod released a pre-feasibility study which outlines the viability of building a TransPod line across Thailand, between the cities of Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hyperloop in Thailand |url=https://www.transpod.com/study/feasibility-study-thailand/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=TransPod }}</ref> The study only evaluates passenger transport (ignoring cargo), concluding that a passenger-only line would not be financially feasible but indicating that a passenger-and-cargo line may be feasible in the region and merits further study.
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
Category:Companies based in Toronto Category:Canadian companies established in 2015 Category:High-speed rail in Canada Category:Hyperloop