Battery Breakthrough?

[bystander]

This outfit has been very secretive during development, and has a number of detractors that compare it to "cold fusion" or "perpetual motion".

A Texas company says it can make a new ultracapacitor power system to replace the electrochemical batteries in everything from cars to laptops.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/18086/page1/

This is a three page article, the tantalizing figures are on page two:

EEStor claims that, using an automated production line and existing power electronics, it will initially build a 15-kilowatt-hour energy-storage system for a small electric car weighing less than 100 pounds, and with a 200-mile driving range. The vehicle, the company says, will be able to recharge in less than 10 minutes.

An aside, if scaleable, this means a 20 lb. battery pack for a PT would hold about 3 kw, or about four times what a set of Saphion packs currently holds. Of course you'd want two 10 lb. packs for safety redundancy. And it's not clear at this point if a smaller sized pack would have to be extra bulky.

Another detail is the operating voltage. Unless the PT changes to electrostatic motors, the battery's 1800 to 3500 volts would have to be converted to 72 volts, requiring more circuitry and slight power losses.

Back to talking about the EEStor announcement.

Initial reports were that the first incarnation would be a 53 kw storage device. For some reason, their first production model will be only 15 kw.

It is important to note that they haven't started production yet, so this announcement's most important aspect may be to calm the concerns of the initial investors, rather than to say anything meaningful about delivery dates.

Also, check out some of the comments on the article. There are some very high-criticism content writings there. Some are constructive, for example, the 10 minute charging time quoted is only possible if you have 240v, 375amp service in your home (which is a lot higher than normal).

[drmarty]

I read all the comments. I think several were made by relatives of Crash.

And here is the post by the MORONS at Gizmodo who dis the Segway:

"Seasoned scientists at EEStore say they've created a battery made of glass- and aluminum-coated ceramics that could allow electric motors to completely replace the internal combustion engine. The inventors, erstwhile Xerox PARC and IBMmers, boast about the car's efficiency, saying it'll be so cheap it'll be as if gas costs 45 cents per gallon, will drive 500 miles on nine bucks' worth of electricity, and needs just five minutes to completely recharge. Plus, the company's CEO says, "a four-passenger sedan will drive like a Ferrari." Tall claims, EEStore.

Meanwhile, Feel Good Cars, those Canadian electric carmeisters whose ZENN electric car is pictured above, vow to make this technology roadworthy by 2008. Oil companies, get out your checkbooks, but you'd better have some phat cash 'cause these EEStore guys are well-financed. – Charlie White"

They are more than happy to jump on board and report this in a positive way.

HMMMMMMMM. I sure hope it works. But I wouldn't invest a penney. I am willing to bet $500 against $50 that they won't have production batteries that power the Zenn cars by the bitter end of 2008. Who will volunteer to hold the bet?