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I thought the point of Hyperloop was to head off the upgrading of Californian railway systems? Created and Hyped by Tesla's owner because Tesla needed Americans

I thought the point of Hyperloop was to head off the upgrading of Californian railway systems? Created and Hyped by Tesla's owner because Tesla needed Americans to stick to buying ever-more-expensive cars. So, its purpose is done now and it can retire gracefully. Or am I being too cynical?

schleck8 3y ago
You are definitely not the only one with that thought
zizee 3y ago
The scuttlebutt was related to the Californian high speed rail project. Would that really take a significant number of cars off the road? And what was the expected completion date? My gut says that it would have an inconsequential impact to Tesla, but I'd be interested if people have numbers that make this theory hold water.
- davidgerard 3y ago
  what "make this theory hold water" is that Musk said it outright.
  - zizee 3y ago
    The theory I am talking about is Musk's motivations was for Tesla to sell cars. I think he was pretty vocal about the high speed rail project not being great, and it not a great way to spend tax payers dollars. Can you point to where he said he wanted it cancelled to sell more cars? And my question stands. How many cars will be taken off the roads when the high speed rail is complete? Even better, would be to share the numbers with timeline of each phase. From what I read, the first phase of the high speed rail was not due to open until 2030, and be just 275 km. It does not sound like an existential threat to Tesla. I know musk is a divisive character, and is much derided in HN, but it seems to me a lot of the stuff on the internet and press that people attribute to him don't stand up to much scrutiny. It would be good if we could hold ourselves to a higher standard on HN.
atoav 3y ago
Elon Musk is said to have admitted this to his biographer according to this source: https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1557702368417964032 https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1557702368417964032 See previous discussion here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32892396 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32892396
rschiavone 3y ago
That seems to be the reason. "Musk reportedly told his biographer, Ashlee Vance, that the Hyperloop proposal was motivated by “his hatred for California’s proposed high-speed rail system,” which he felt would be too slow, outdated and expensive. “With any luck, the high-speed rail would be canceled,” Vance wrote." https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/elon-musk-hyperloop-rail-17486877.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/elon-m... https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1495877041585074177 https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1495877041585074177
- beembeem 3y ago
  And when I found this out, I lost a lot of respect for him. All his talk of sustainability is junk when you see words like this.
  - randyrand 3y ago
    if rider numbers are bad, the rail will have been net bad for the environment
    - beembeem 3y ago
      I'll try to take this as a serious comment, but I'm unsure because it displays a lack of awareness. The goal of the project is to go where people want to go. The CAHSR project took in a lot of feedback as well as local political involvement to get to its alignment. Because of this process, it hits many major population centers and destinations throughout the state. It eventually will connect all three major metro areas (SD, LA, SF) as well as the capital city (Sacramento). Once complete the HSR will be the fastest door-to-door mode of inter-city transit for many of these destinations.
      - dragonwriter 3y ago
        > It eventually will connect all three major metro areas (SD, LA, SF) as well as the capital city (Sacramento). There are no concrete plans to do anything related to Phase 2 since the active scope was narrowed, so the SD and Sacramento connections are really wishful thinking at this point; the Authority still says that planning is happening on Phase 2, but lists no Phase 2 related progress (even planning) in their annual reports and similarly has no Phase 2 related progress goals in those reports. Its an SF to Anaheim project.

schleck8 3y ago

You are definitely not the only one with that thought

zizee 3y ago

The scuttlebutt was related to the Californian high speed rail project. Would that really take a significant number of cars off the road? And what was the expected completion date? My gut says that it would have an inconsequential impact to Tesla, but I'd be interested if people have numbers that make this theory hold water.

davidgerard 3y ago
what "make this theory hold water" is that Musk said it outright.
- zizee 3y ago
  The theory I am talking about is Musk's motivations was for Tesla to sell cars. I think he was pretty vocal about the high speed rail project not being great, and it not a great way to spend tax payers dollars. Can you point to where he said he wanted it cancelled to sell more cars? And my question stands. How many cars will be taken off the roads when the high speed rail is complete? Even better, would be to share the numbers with timeline of each phase. From what I read, the first phase of the high speed rail was not due to open until 2030, and be just 275 km. It does not sound like an existential threat to Tesla. I know musk is a divisive character, and is much derided in HN, but it seems to me a lot of the stuff on the internet and press that people attribute to him don't stand up to much scrutiny. It would be good if we could hold ourselves to a higher standard on HN.

atoav 3y ago

Elon Musk is said to have admitted this to his biographer according to this source: https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1557702368417964032 https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1557702368417964032 See previous discussion here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32892396 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32892396

rschiavone 3y ago

That seems to be the reason. "Musk reportedly told his biographer, Ashlee Vance, that the Hyperloop proposal was motivated by “his hatred for California’s proposed high-speed rail system,” which he felt would be too slow, outdated and expensive. “With any luck, the high-speed rail would be canceled,” Vance wrote." https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/elon-musk-hyperloop-rail-17486877.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/elon-m... https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1495877041585074177 https://twitter.com/parismarx/status/1495877041585074177

beembeem 3y ago
And when I found this out, I lost a lot of respect for him. All his talk of sustainability is junk when you see words like this.
- randyrand 3y ago
  if rider numbers are bad, the rail will have been net bad for the environment
  - beembeem 3y ago
    I'll try to take this as a serious comment, but I'm unsure because it displays a lack of awareness. The goal of the project is to go where people want to go. The CAHSR project took in a lot of feedback as well as local political involvement to get to its alignment. Because of this process, it hits many major population centers and destinations throughout the state. It eventually will connect all three major metro areas (SD, LA, SF) as well as the capital city (Sacramento). Once complete the HSR will be the fastest door-to-door mode of inter-city transit for many of these destinations.
    - dragonwriter 3y ago
      > It eventually will connect all three major metro areas (SD, LA, SF) as well as the capital city (Sacramento). There are no concrete plans to do anything related to Phase 2 since the active scope was narrowed, so the SD and Sacramento connections are really wishful thinking at this point; the Authority still says that planning is happening on Phase 2, but lists no Phase 2 related progress (even planning) in their annual reports and similarly has no Phase 2 related progress goals in those reports. Its an SF to Anaheim project.