Vegas Loop: Tesla Wants You to Zoom Under Sin City
A subterranean tunnel for electric vehicles (EVs) to zoom through might be different from what you think of when contemplating Sin City. However, Elon Musk’s The Boring Company built one, and it’s worth a peek. We visited the Las Vegas Loop to see what the underground highway is all about. Check out the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop and its electric “Tesla loop” lunacy.
What is the Vegas Loop?
The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop is an underground transportation system. However, before you go picturing little rail cars or even an It’s a Small World-esque annoyance, this is different. The loop is 1.7 miles of underground tunnel with a near-constant stream of Tesla EVs cruising subterranean streets. Moreover, it’s not just a publicity stunt; it has a purpose.
The loop joins portions of the sprawling LVCC to add a little flare to time-saving trips across the campus. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says the loop cuts walk times between West and Central Halls from 25 minutes to just two.
Can I ride the Tesla loop in Vegas?
While the Vegas Loop isn’t technically a “Tesla loop,” Tesla owner Elon Musk’s connection to the project and the use of Tesla vehicles have many naming it so. Still, you can ride the “Tesla loop” in Las Vegas with relative ease. It’s as easy as boarding a waiting Tesla EV and cruising under the surface of the Las Vegas Convention Center to any of the Vegas Loop stations, like the West Station, Central Station, or South Station.
How much does it cost to ride the Tesla loop in Las Vegas?
According to Las Vegas Then and Now, “navigating the Las Vegas Convention Center is free.” That’s good news for convention-goers looking to score a ride in a Tesla and get off their feet. However, The Boring Company has plans to expand the loop beyond the LVCC and Resorts World connections. Specifically, the company says the future loop will include stops along the Las Vegas strip, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Allegiant Stadium.
It’s good news not just for Las Vegas visitors and students but undoubtedly for future F1 spectators of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is set to commence in 2023.
Who built the LVCC Loop?
The Boring Company, one of Elon Musk’s endeavors, conceived and built the Vegas Loop with plans to expand it. Moreover, The Boring Company says that it made the tunnel in just one year using its Godot Tunnel Boring Machine at the cost of 47 million dollars. Also, the company claims that it bored and built the tunnel during large, pre-COVID conventions with “zero road closures and zero disturbances.”
Should you ride the loop?
Our own Braden Carlson rode the Vegas Loop and was impressed with the spectacle of it all. The loop might seem silly, but The Boring Company says it transported between 14,000 and 17,000 passengers in one day during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022. Moreover, Carlson was able to hop right into a silent Tesla and head underground for free with his convention badge. The Vegas Loop might be a fun way to do something different in Sin City.
Keep up with MotorBiscuit and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest automotive content.