.@elonmusk called the thing "hyperloop" because it's supposed to reach hypersonic speed, but now everyone uses the term to refer to any maglev train in their backyard. For reference, hypersonic speed starts at about 6000 km/h.
https://twitter.com/Markus_Soeder/status/1575821169156145152?s=20&t=uscRq9FWhX3iTz5DX548lA
This, btw, is not to say that I'm against the project or anything. Though 3,5 million sound like an underestimate. If I was minister I would believe this number for a second.
Sorry, 3.5. For peculiar reasons the Germans use a "," instead of a "." to indicate the first decimal. (Now try to imagine how much of a mess that is in Excel.)
Okay, okay, why am I saying I don't believe this number? For one, because scientists constantly crudely underestimate their project costs and then count on politicians falling for the sunk cost fallacy and pour in more money.
Second, as a rule of thumb, employing someone at a university for one year costs 100k Euro, including all taxes and benefits etc (this is Germany after all). 10 people for 3 years is 3 million. And that's just for the salary!
Ah, sorry, I meant I wouldn't believe this number for a minute. #EditButton Getting a coffee now.
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