Tech visionary Elon Musk, known for his SpaceX and Tesla Motors ventures, has unveiled a concept for solar-powered ground transportation at nearly the speed of sound.

Dubbed Hyperloop, the "extremely speculative" plan envisions pods traveling on a cushion of pressurized air through low-pressure tubes at speeds of around 1,220 kph (600 mph).


He estimates a functioning hyperloop between San Francisco and Los Angeles would require an investment of around $6 billion and that the project would be economically viable at a cost per ticket of about $20.

Hyperloop capsules could cover the 550 kilometers (342 miles) between the two California cities in 30 minutes or so, Musk said.

A $68 billion high-speed rail service linking Los Angeles and San Francisco is scheduled to become operational in 2028.

The hyperloop initiative could be implemented with existing technology, Musk said. EFE