EEStor powered bicycles may be cheap alternative to Chevy Volt
By Matt Jansen
The Chevy Volt is getting lots of attention because of its promise to provide 40 miles of gas free transportation. If GM used the type of battery that EEStor is promising, that range could be extended to 300 miles. But what about the folks that can’t afford a Chevy Volt? Light Electric Vehicles Company has some smaller (cheaper) solutions for you.
Though not as glamorous as a Chevy Volt, Light Electric Vehicles Company is planning to release a set of electric powered vehicles that use two or three wheels. That means a small two person car or a bicycle, according to a company press release.
The especially interesting part about the company’s upcoming product is its intention to use battery power generated by EEStor’s ultracapacitor. Essentially that means a whole lot of power packed into a small form factor.
Carl Watkins, President of LightEVs says “We are extremely happy to reach an agreement with EEStor to provide its new battery technology to the bicycle, scooter and motorcycle markets of the world. We have watched EEStor continue to make progress in proving their ability to produce ultra-high performance multilayer barium titanate ceramic capacitors in production quantities. They have met or exceeded each of their technology milestones, as verified by outside laboratories, and the remaining steps all utilize well established industry techniques.”
Which brings up a good point, EEStor has yet to provide a functioning prototype for public consumption. It has worked with an independent verification agency but otherwise its work remains largely an idealistic description on paper.
Still, with sound financial backing and exclusive deals with more than a couple of manufacturers like Zenn and LightEVs, EEStor must have a compelling story to share with those it trusts. It sounds like an area GM needs to explore for its Chevy Volt project.
Especially if that means more people will be driving Volts than electric bicycles.
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Read more entries by Matt Jansen.
Stumble It!
October 2nd, 2008
I hate to break it to you, but Eestor is a scam – so “no” an electric bike will not be a cheap alternative to the Chevy Volt.
October 2nd, 2008
I am not sure that EEstore is a scam, but it is far from proven. They have some big backers, but that is it. Not even a prototype has been shown yet. The concept is that they can get a lot of voltage to stay put on an tiny conductor. They claim a super-insulator (My made up term) they have perfected allows this. The high internal voltage (300v?) along with very high density would allow for their claims. The problem, so that many scientist have been unable to even come close to these claims most supercapacitor’s use 2-3v.
October 2nd, 2008
Well, I think “scam” is a strong word. They are highly secretive, but have been publishing “milestones” that point to a ramp-up of production. However there is not one single person who has verified their claims. Nobody has actually seen one of these things operate, and the general scientific community claims the physics won’t work. But since EEStor is still “on schedule” so to speak, we can’t yet call it a scam.
October 3rd, 2008
They were to have demonstrated a working capacitor in 2006, then 2007, then 2008.
The bench marks were something that recently popped up instead of the promised working capacitor.
If they could just show us a working prototype, I would feel much more confident. As is, I am beginning to doubt that we will ever see a shipping product.
October 16th, 2008
The pedigree of the players makes the idea of a a scam seem a nonsense and I think that anyone who thinks Eestor have not built and demonstrated prototypes cannot be taken seriously. What is illogical is to expect them to show the technology to their competitors and to other engineers. They are not in pure research. My view is that their likely problem is translating their prototypes into reliable mass produced items. Bob in Bangkok