Zeleros starts construction of pilot track with hyperloop motor in Spanish port

In the Spanish port of Sagunto near Valencia, construction of a Zeleros pilot system to move containers electrically started this week. It will become operational in 2022 in a bid to optimise and decarbonise freight logistics in ports and hinterlands, as well as further accelerate the development of hyperloop technology.

The project is called the SELF-Booster project, which stands for Sustainable Electric Freight-forwarder. It will consist of a test track that will automatically move a vehicle from 0 up to 120 kilometres per hour and back to a stop in 100 meters. This project itself is not a hyperloop with a pod in a vacuum tube, but it does use one of the relevant technologies for hyperloop: the linear motor.

Linear motor for hyperloop

This linear motor is central in Zeleros’ hyperloop technology, and is “like a rotating motor, but unfolded”. Powered by electricity and thanks to electromagnetic fields, it can move objects with high accuracy at any designed speed, says the company. Zeleros has been lab-testing a special type of it called the “switched reluctance linear motor”, which is developed by Spanish research center CIEMAT. According to Zeleros, this has proven to be an optimal solution for hyperloop to reach ultra-high-speeds, but also for applications at lower speeds and heavy loads, such as for the freight mover.

“The launch of the SELF-Booster pilot is a historic moment in our development programme, as we are getting out of the laboratory and testing in a space that is a step closer to reality”, said David Pistoni, CEO and Co-Founder at Zeleros.

Decongesting ports

The SELF-Booster enables standard intermodal containers to be moved in a faster and sustainable way within ports with the linear motor as a backbone. Fully operational, it could decongest loading and unloading areas in ports by efficiently moving containers between terminals or nearby storage areas with full grade of automation and powered by electricity. The infrastructure is designed to be seamlessly integrated in the terminals, operating together with other port handling machines such as straddle carriers, reach stackers or gantry cranes. The project is supported by the European Union through the Horizon 2020 Programme and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation’s Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI).

Next to this freight project, Zeleros keeps developing hyperloop for passengers as well, for which it works together with Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for the hyperloop capsule design.

Read more:

Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.