Elon Musk is back with another bold claim. This time, he says The Boring Company could build the long-discussed trans-Atlantic tunnel for “1000X less money” than the staggering $20 trillion price tag being floated around. But before you start dreaming of zooming from New York to London in under an hour, let’s unpack what’s really going on here.
The idea of a tunnel connecting America and Europe is not new – it’s been around for decades. But it’s always been more science fiction than reality. According to Newsweek and other outlets, the price tag alone makes it almost impossible, with estimates reaching $20 trillion. That’s almost the entire GDP of the United States!
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Despite some flashy headlines, no plans exist to build this tunnel. Governments haven’t approved it, no budgets have been allocated and no construction companies have been hired. In short, it’s just a concept. Musk’s claim to do it for a fraction of the cost adds to the spectacle, but he isn’t even breaking ground on it anytime soon.
Musk’s comment also ties into his promotion of hyperloop technology, which uses vacuum-sealed tubes to propel trains at incredible speeds. In 2013, Musk popularized the idea with a white paper that excited people about futuristic travel. But more than a decade later, hyperloop has been anything but groundbreaking.
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Despite some test tracks by Musk’s Boring Company and pilot projects by other companies in places like India and China, no commercial hyperloop system is operational today. Many experts have criticized the technology as impractical and overly expensive. In fact, The Boring Company quietly shifted its focus away from hyperloop projects, opting instead for much simpler underground tunnels for cars.
