Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla • Hacker News Board

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#21

Post by ProblemFactory » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:24 PM UTC

Is technology really the slow and expensive part of boring tunnels? To me it has always seemed that tunnels are expensive because:

* Planning the traffic impact and how it interacts with other transport lanes, all the above-ground building work to make the tunnel useful,

* Emergency ventilation and escape routes, and all other infrastructure that goes into the hole,

* Avoiding any building foundation piles, unmapped tunnels, pipes and cables, re-planning and fixing them if you do hit them,

* In Europe at least, archeological surveys.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#22

Post by kin » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:26 PM UTC

sschueller wrote: post #3

Many US cities need to solve their short distance public transportation problem first. I don't see how adding another long distance transport solves anything. How does this help people stuck in LA traffic all day?

He's already recorded a video transporting a car-sled from LAX to Westwood in 5 minutes. That alone would solve a lot of my traffic woes.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#23

Post by mchafkin » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:26 PM UTC

apsec112 wrote: post #9

[deleted]

my two cents on this is that even if the hyperloop doesn't pan out all, the tunnel project could still be a big deal. If you stick regular state of the art high speed trains in musk's hypothetical NY-DC tunnel, that would be worthwhile.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#24

Post by ubernostrum » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:27 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #6

sschueller wrote: post #3

Many US cities need to solve their short distance public transportation problem first. I don't see how adding another long distance transport solves anything. How does this help people stuck in LA traffic all day?

This also doesn't help people trying to lose weight, or the people who can't remember where they put their keys - but that's not who this is aimed at.

but that's not who this is aimed at

I think a lot of legitimate criticism of HN's darlings starts with which markets and demographics they aim at, and whose problems they deem worthy of solving.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#25

Post by strictnein » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:29 PM UTC

LurkingPresence wrote: post #18

Wouldn't it be smarter to start with a smaller project? Like maybe do the Chicago airport project before tearing up the east coast for a super tunnel. That seemed to work for Space X (start small, iterate).

Or to start someplace that is much easier to develop, like in Texas. I understand the economics might not be as favorable, but there is a ton of truck traffic going N/S in TX that would be thrilled to skip over (or, I guess under) the major population centers.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#26

Post by edraferi » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:30 PM UTC

b_ttercup wrote: post #17

tyingq wrote: post #5

The headline seems to be focused just on the drilling/tunnel part. Whether a hyperloop is as crazy as SpaceX or Tesla doesn't seem to be covered.

I recall reading the plan was to make electric sleds for cars (vaguely akin to car wash tracks) rather than hyper loops.

That would be awesome, especially if you can keep the engine running for climate control, etc.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#27

Post by kin » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:30 PM UTC

skykooler wrote: post #19

kin wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't a hyperloop. It's just a new alternative transit system to bypass LA traffic

Bypassing LA traffic by going from New York to Washington D.C.

You don't have to be so mean about others referencing old news: http://www.scpr.org/news/2017/05/13/71818/elon-musk-digs-dee...

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#28

Post by strictnein » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:31 PM UTC

kin wrote: post #16

tyingq wrote: post #5

The headline seems to be focused just on the drilling/tunnel part. Whether a hyperloop is as crazy as SpaceX or Tesla doesn't seem to be covered.

This isn't a hyperloop. It's just a new alternative transit system to bypass LA traffic

No, Musk was saying NYC to DC in 29 minutes. That's more than a 200 mile route, so you're talking average speeds of > 400mph.

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#29

Post by paulsutter » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:32 PM UTC

sschueller wrote: post #3

Many US cities need to solve their short distance public transportation problem first. I don't see how adding another long distance transport solves anything. How does this help people stuck in LA traffic all day?

The Boring Company is initially focused on local 200 kph tunnels, which would absolutely revolutionize commute-distance transportation.

https://www.boringcompany.com/faq/

Re: Elon Musk’s Tunnel Plan Isn’t as Crazy as SpaceX or Tesla

#30

Post by simonh » Tue, Jul 25, 2017, 4:33 PM UTC

ubernostrum wrote: post #24

pavel_lishin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This also doesn't help people trying to lose weight, or the people who can't remember where they put their keys - but that's not who this is aimed at.

but that's not who this is aimed at I think a lot of legitimate criticism of HN's darlings starts with which markets and demographics they aim at, and whose problems they deem worthy of solving.

It's not about worthiness, it's about having a solution or not. If Musk has a solution for long distance but doesn't have one for commuters, should he not pursue the long distance solution because reasons? That seems absurd.