ET3 Global Alliance
| Company type | Consortium |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation technology |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Daryl Oster |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Daryl Oster, Yaoping Zhang (Chinese subsidiary manager) |
| Products | Evacuated Tube Transport technology |
| Website | et3 |
ET3 Global Alliance is a United States-based open consortium of license holders, established by Daryl Oster in 1997, dedicated to advancing the Evacuated Tube Transport (ET3) technology. This alliance focuses on building a worldwide transit system featuring pod-sized vehicles that travel inside 1.5-meter-wide tubes utilizing frictionless superconductive maglev technology. According to Oster, ET3 pods can achieve velocities up to 350 mph (560 km/h) while consuming only about 20 cents worth of electricity. The initial deployment targets regional travel speeds, with long-term plans aiming to develop capabilities for hypersonic speeds reaching 6,500 km/h (4,000 mph).
History
The first academic institution to join ET3 GA as a licensee was Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), which holds the majority of international licenses concentrated in China. By 2007, Professor Yaoping Zhang from SWJTU began advocating for ET3 as a form of "evolutionary transportation" and currently manages ET3 GA’s Chinese subsidiary, ET3 China Inc.
In 2014, ET3 submitted new patent applications related to advancements in high-temperature superconductivity (HTS). By the year 2016, more than 380 licenses had been distributed across 22 nations, including upwards of a dozen within China. In July 2013, Daryl Oster and his team engaged in discussions with Elon Musk regarding the technology, resulting in Musk committing to fund a prototype inspired by ET3’s design.
See also
- Hyperloop
- Swissmetro, launched in 1974
- Vactrain, concept introduced in 1914