Could underground EVs revolutionize mass transit? A video showing an underground electric minibus prototype has been leaked. The minibus allegedly belongs to The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk in 2016.
The Boring Company aims to address traffic congestion in large cities through underground tunneling. The company’s signature achievement thus far is a 2.2-mile tunnel system called the Las Vegas Loop.
The Loop first opened to the general public in 2021. It transports individuals in Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model X EVs at speeds of 30 miles per hour. The Loop currently has five stops in the Las Vegas region, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Allegiant Stadium, and Harry Reid International Airport.
As mentioned, the Loop is currently operating based on existing Tesla vehicles. However, there have been rumors of The Boring Company creating a multipassenger vehicle that is specifically designed for the tunnel system. The recently leaked video shows what could be a prototype of this vehicle.
Leaked video of the secret Tesla van prototype designed for Elon Musk's Vegas Loop, from inside The Boring Company's Las Vegas headquarters pic.twitter.com/A3A3XJ0UTx
— Jacob Orth (@JacobsVegasLife) July 10, 2023
The vehicle resembles the minibuses presented in The Boring Company’s technical drawings five years ago. The prototype includes a Tesla steering wheel and seating for 12 passengers.
In 2018, Elon Musk pledged that The Boring Company’s tunnels would include fully autonomous vehicles and ground-to-tunnel elevators. Since the prototype relies on a steering wheel, it’s evident that production is still a long way off.
Once completed, the Las Vegas Loop will include 29 miles of tunnels and transport more than 90,000 passengers per hour. Musk has also expressed interest in eventually connecting the Las Vegas Loop to the Los Angeles area, hundreds of miles away.
Las Vegas-based influencer Jacob Orth recorded the video on July 10. Orth claimed that he shot the video from The Boring Company’s Las Vegas headquarters. Electrek was unable to verify the authenticity of the video, so some skepticism is warranted.
Image source: Jacob Orth, https://twitter.com/JacobsVegasLife/status/1678509827981451265. Image cropped.
