EEStor won't be delivering any production ultra-caps this year
Over the past couple of years a number of companies have burst onto the alternative fuel vehicle scene with big claims and little in the way of actual product. Not the least among these has been EEStor, a privately-held Texas company that claimed a major breakthrough in ultra capacitor technology. Unfortunately, the company has been somewhat secretive and has yet to publicly demonstrate these electrical energy storage devices. Canadian NEV manufacturer ZENN signed an exclusive supply deal with EEStor and invested in the company. However, plans to demonstrate the new devices this year have failed to materialize so far. Our friend Lyle over at GM-Volt has more than a passing interest in electric vehicle technology above and beyond the car that gave his site its name. He actually managed to contact company founder Dr. Richard Weir who acknowledged that the company won't meet its target of producing storage devices by the end of this year. He did leave himself the out that the original target of producing hardware in 2008 was based on getting sufficient funding for the company, something which has not transpired. Weir does claim to have made some recent progress with a deal with Light Electric Vehicles Company. Hopefully, EEStor will succeed in its efforts because any new technology that can make EVs more practical and affordable is a good thing. But there are certainly no guarantees.[Source: GM-Volt.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike Z 10:23AM (10/28/2008)
EEScam
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Serge 11:05AM (10/28/2008)
Originally, we were supposed to sEE production EEUnits in 2006, with nothing but PR coming from the company EEver since. There is not EEven a 3rd party confirmation of EEnergy density for prototypes. But fear not and head over to theeestory.com for a daily dose of optimism.
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Yanquetino 11:07AM (10/28/2008)
Ian Clifford stated in ZENN's stockholders' meeting last March 28 that, should EEStor not pull through and deliver a commercial product by the end of the year...
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[F]or the cityZENN application we can certainly --and will, if necessary-- introduce the cityZENN vehicle in the same timeline with alternative battery technologies, albeit with a lessened range capability, which is one of the key benefits that EEStor brings --amongst others. And there are advances being made in the lithium-ion world, and others, that will allow us to, and we're very cognizant of what those are and continually track and research --both for competitive reasons and also from possible backup reasons-- what those technologies are.
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If we are to take Clifford at his word, we should still see a cityZENN vehicle by the end of 2009, albeit not powered by EEStor, right?
If not... then Clifford needs to make a public announcement to explain any delays --and the reasons behind them.
ZENN has been counting on EEStor, but we consumers have been counting on ZENN --and need some reassurance that its backup plan is still in place.
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:41PM (10/28/2008)
I think the EEStor caps are waiting on Dean Kamen's Stirling engine, which has been 2 years away for about 10 years now.
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Gerald 1:00PM (10/28/2008)
Dr. Weir has done some remarkable work with the gravity drive in the "Event Horizon", so I have no doubts he will succeed with his ultra-caps! :-)
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Victor 7:53PM (10/28/2008)
IF their technology works as claimed, they could simply LICENSE IT TO OTHER companies.
But they're not doing that......conclusion: It doesn't work.
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m1k3g 11:46PM (10/28/2008)
Despite this news, Zenn stocks jumped 20% today.....!
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Jay Tee 5:44PM (10/29/2008)
Guys, the technology does work. They are simply having trouble commercializing it. It is a game-changing technology, one which Lockheed recently invested in, BTW.
You will eventually see some kind of capacitor for sale from them, but unfortunately, that will be later, rather than sooner.
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Peter 6:04PM (12/07/2008)
Given the technical challenges delays are understandable. For pity sake, how many times has GM delayed the Volt and that hasn't got a single revolution in technology in it!
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Sam Abuelsamid 6:36PM (12/07/2008)
Actually, GM has never delayed the Volt. As for new technology, even mighty Toyota acknowledges that the lithium ion battery chemistry is new for high volume automotive applications.