Elon Musk wants to fund, build and operate a high-speed loop in Chicago

HAVING just fixed South Australia’s energy problem with the world’s largest battery, Elon Musk has now turned his attention to another city with a plan equally as ambitious.

Elon Musk has another big plan to change the world. Picture: Dylan Coker

HE HAS completed the world’s biggest battery in South Australia, unveiled a new electric truck and raised $A132 million dollars to fund space travel by selling shares in his company.

But this isn’t enough for Elon Musk, with the South African-born business magnate having already announced plans for his next ambitious project.

The proposal came after Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he was exploring options for an underground link between O’Hare Airport and the city centre.

In classic Elon Musk fashion, he replied to comments with a tweet that said his infrastructure firm, the Boring Company, is hoping to fund, build and operate a high-speed loop.

The Boring Company will compete to fund, build & operate a high-speed Loop connecting Chicago O’Hare Airport to downtown https://t.co/bRqKpzSJjz

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 30, 2017

Musk had previously outlined his vision for a tunnel network under Los Angeles, in which pods would park on a high-speed sledge and be whisked along underground tracks.

“Loop is a high-speed underground public transportation system in which passengers are transported on autonomous electric skates travelling at 125-150 miles per hour (200-240km/h),” the Boring Company website explained.

“Electric skates will carry between 8 and 16 passengers (mass transit), or a single passenger vehicle.”

The Musk venture believes tunnels are more effective than flying cars when it comes to solving the problem of “soul-destroying” traffic.

“Unlike flying cars, tunnels are weatherproof, out of sight and won’t fall on your head. A large network of tunnels many levels deep would fix congestion in any city, no matter how large it grew,” the website explained.

An artist impression of what would transport people in Chicago

As for fears of the tunnels collapsing during an earthquake, Musk said this was not something people would need to worry about.

“Tunnels, when designed properly, are known to be one of the safest places to be during an earthquake. From a structural safety standpoint, the tunnel moves uniformly with the ground, in contrast to surface structures,” the website explained.

This isn’t the first time Musk and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have been in contact over the concept, with a team of aides sent to meet with the Tesla founder earlier this year.

“It would be a tremendous investment, job creator and economic engine for the city that would pay dividends for decades ahead,” Mr Emanuel said, reported the Chicago Sun Times.

“They are very interested. And we’re gonna have ‘em now out to the city to explore further what we are doing and planning to see whether the tunnel approach is an alternative to the ones we’ve been discussing.”

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