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September 4, 2007 2:24 PM PDT

Is EEStor delaying its power system for cars?

by Michael Kanellos
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It looks like the futuristic power system for electric cars promised by EEStor could be a little late.

EEStor CEO Richard Weir told CNET News.com in a brief phone interview that commercial production of its energy storage system--a device that holds electricity and functions somewhat like a battery--will be sometime in the next 10 months or so. The unit is also referred to as an "ultracapacitor."

"We intend to be in production on or before the middle of next year," he said.

Although that means that the company could be in production by tomorrow, the time frame is a little wider, and extends about six months or so further into the future than previously stated.

Back in January, the company stated that it would start shipping 15 kilowatt hour electrical energy storage units to Canada's Zenn Motors, its first customer, in 2007. Zenn's cars will mark the first commercial application of EEStor's technology.

EEStor has been somewhat secretive about its technology, but proponents claim it will revolutionize the automotive industry because it will deliver electrical storage units that can power cars for hundreds of miles and can be recharged in minutes. By contrast, lithium-ion batteries now being prepared for cars take hours to charge and can take cars 200 miles or less. Skeptics have wondered whether EEStor can live up to its claims.

A six-month delay isn't that serious of an issue for a start-up, and a number of clean-tech companies have faced delays this year. Tesla Motors had to postpone its electric cars a few months, while in solar both Miasole and DayStar Technologies have had delays. So has GreenFuel Technologies, which wants to turn algae into fuel and clean carbon dioxide from the environment. But it's not great news either, and underscores the difficulty of bringing some of these green technologies to market.

Zenn, which invested in EEStor earlier this year, currently sells low-speed electric cars that run on more conventional batteries. These low-speed cars, which are similar to those made by other small manufacturers like Miles Automotive, are designed for campuses and retirement communities. The U.S. Department of Defense has also launched a program to buy a significant number of low-speed vehicles.

For more information, you need to go to Zenn's Web site. EEStor doesn't have one.

You can't learn a lot from looking at the Web site of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers either. The firm is reportedly an investor in EEStor, but EEstor is not listed as a portfolio company on the firm's site. Venture firms, however, do this at times with stealth companies.

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If this works . . . a big if
by ArtInvent September 4, 2007 3:17 PM PDT
In batteries and alternative energy, anyone who has watched the industry for a year or two will know how many of these 'revolutionary' 'change the rules' 'disruptive' technologies have come up, only to crash as either immature, way too expensive, or outright hoaxes. What happened to the Zebra battery? Where's my GM hydrogen car? Honestly, I don't know why you journalists even report this stuff so faithfully when there's really nothing there to report. Maybe if they actually had a working prototype of some kind they were willing to show someone, anyone. As it is, you are just shilling for their marketing machine.
Reply to this comment
Zebra
by drivin98 September 4, 2007 3:45 PM PDT
To answer your question about what happened to Zebra batteries, Modec Electric Van uses ZEBRA batteries for the 2007 model. http://www.modec.co.uk/
To answer your question about the location of your GM hydrogen car, it's probably where you parked it. Ok, I jest, here's a more complete answer.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/09/04/frankfurt-preview-general-motors-hydrogen4/
Are you nuts?
by theBike45 September 4, 2007 7:09 PM PDT
Calling CNET a shill is about as idiotic a
claim as I can imagine. Apparently your also illiterate and don't understand the word "shill."
Please explain how it would be possible to shill for a company like EEStore, and what conceivable purpose there would be for doing so? Have you ever heard the term "libelous statement" ? That's exactly what you just uttered.
What a moron.
A big if...but still news
by ghosford September 5, 2007 3:45 AM PDT
EEStor had a press conference; as a responsible news organization, CNet reported on this. The news to report was that the product was delayed - in fact, they went one step further and related it to the larger picture in stating that many "clean-tech companies have faced delays...." In fact, if this does work, they would be irresponsible to not report on it. They have no way to predict the future, and if you could predict which products would be successful, I'm sure you would be much richer than you are now.

As far as "shilling," Dictionary.com defines a shill as "a person who publicizes or praises something or someone for reasons of self-interest, personal profit, or friendship or loyalty." (And the verb is defined as "to work as a shill.") Although I wouldn't necessarily exclude this happening from the realm of possibility, the overwhelmingly more likely explanation is that they are simply reporting the news, whether the technology and/or the company producing it (and its "marketing machine") succeeds.
View reply
Six Months Six Years
by rbiz September 5, 2007 6:18 AM PDT
One truth is that, I've been hearing about the "real" possibilities
of going electric since I was fifteen years old - and the promise
was always that it was only about ten or fifteen years away - and
yet here we still are - ten or fifteen years away... (notably this
time, its the hydroden powered possiblitiy). Oh, and I'm almost
fifty now.

To our credit we've managed to finally squeak out some nice
hybrid cars that help reduce our gasoline usage, and that people
will buy, but I still sense that none of us is really committed to
completely doing away with petroleum or alchohol based fuels at
all, or in the future, we just keep playing this mind game with
ourselves that burning less is good enough, and that the next
generation can decide whether or not they want to actually
eliminate traditional internal combustion engines in
automobiles.

Let's see, what was it last month right here on CNET (not
pointing any fingers at CNET), a new type of carburation system
that can facilitate a gasoline burning engine getting upwards of
100 miles to the gallon... Oooooo!

So tell me, are we going to get off of our gasoline habit, or not.
I know I really want to see that happen before my final breath,
but if I'm the only one then obviously it's not happening - and
I'm very weary of feeling obligated to slap the next set of good
'ole boys on the back for getting us more miles per gasoline
gallon. From here on out, my moral and financial support is
reserved exclusively for those developers and technologies that
get us off of gasoline - now.
Reply to this comment
Now!
by drivin98 September 5, 2007 7:17 AM PDT
There are thousands of EV's across the country now. Most of these are car conversions and aren't perfect, but they fulfill the driving requirements of most people and aren't so expensive. There are also electric skateboards, bicycles, scooters and motorcycles.
Hopefully, the Tesla, Miles Automotive and Phoenix Motors people can begin supplying the next-gen electric cars over the next twelve months, but there are definitely electric alternatives to gas available now. ^_^
rbiz: Lets Shift to Renewables Now!!
by Rob Wheeler September 22, 2007 7:46 AM PDT
Dear friend,

I have been following the development of renewable energy for
35 years. I am convinced we could make the shift to a fully
renewable energy future within 15 or 20 years - if we would fully
invest in it now like we have done with nuclear and fossil fuels.
This means a complete phase out of coal, petroleum, nuclear,
etc by 2025.

(It will only take 20 years because they won't want to shut down
the newest plants or give up the newest cars and trucks until
then. And the oil companies will want to continue to profit from
extracting oil as long as possible.)

I am writing a book about this and also promoting efforts to
create an International Renewable Energy Agency which would
fund R&D, along with distribution and marketing efforts around
the world. If you are seriously interested in supporting efforts
such as this please contact me. Sincerely,

Rob Wheeler
rob@wmgd.net
1-717-264-5036
A little honesty
by Rick Cavaretti September 6, 2007 7:46 AM PDT
I know this goes against the whole human-contrieved religion of
wall street, but really, can't EEstor act more like a research lab than
a bunch of bean counters and honestly report it's work, like most
researchers do in journals?

To be blunt, it would 'suck' if this was all a scam. Too bad.
Reply to this comment
THEY ARE A SMART COMPANY
by mewachenu September 9, 2007 6:07 AM PDT
I don't know why all these people are going crazy WHEN EESTOR is not updating them on there every move about the product that they claim will revolutionize energy storage forever.

DONT YOU THINK that the companies got all around a big round table and said you know what if we play our cards right we can create a microsoft effect aka MONOPOLY on this product.

they are ensuring they have all the aspects of this product thought out so as to ensure that no one else can reinvent something along the sames lines. they are taking there time staying out of the spot light and doing a very good job of keeping the technical aspects of there patent a secret.

i know and have a feeling that this is real and is you will all see that it is possible to do what they say can be done.

as far as technology goes batteries are about 100 years behind the power curve when it comes to the rate of reinvention/upgrades.

batteries are so last millenium and i hope EESTOR is the one to abolish the insane petrolium companies for good. the world would be better off if cars where designed allong the EV path.

oh yeah i'm crazy but i can still write reviews have a nice day
Reply to this comment
Offical Response from Zenn on this article
by afjerry September 11, 2007 5:11 PM PDT
Dear Mr. Jerry,

There has been no official delay communicated directly to ZENN Motor
Company. This particular is in fact misleading in its story title.
EEStor is quoted as stating that the EESU is on schedule for delivery
to
ZMC within the next ten months. That is not to say that they won't
deliver before then - merely announcing the possibility that additional
time may be required in the commercialization phase - not development
time of the ultracapacitor.

The next milestone involves permittivity testing and no official 'due
date' has been announced.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any additional questions
or concerns.

Catherine Scrimgeour
Public Affairs Specialist
ZENN Motor Company
Tel: 416.535.8395 x 201
Fax: 416.535.4043
www.ZENNcars.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Sherry Good
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 3:55 PM
To: afjerry@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: Investors - Message to Investors from Site

September 10, 2007

Dear Mr. Jerry,

Thank you for your support of ZENN Motor Company.

I am forwarding your e-mail to our Investor Relations Department. You
should hear from them shortly.

Again, thank you for your support and if I can be of further
assistance,
do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

Yours truly,


Sherry B. Good
ZENN Motor Company
( 416 535 8395 ext. 205
Fax: 416 535 4043
Toll Free: 1 877 817 7034

www.ZENNcars.com


-----Original Message-----
From: www feelgoodcars com [mailto:feelgood@media6.magma.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:46 PM
To: Sherry Good
Subject: Investors - Message to Investors from Site

Subject: Eestor announces delay - please clarify

Message: I am an investor and read the following article on eestor
delay, please post eestor offical delay and information about the next
milestone as well as the delay.

http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9770849-7.html
Reply to this comment
Feedback on Zenn Comments
by afjerry September 11, 2007 5:27 PM PDT
There has always been a question is there a working prototype of the eestor utracapacitor, based on the comments zenn gave (see below:) I think this has answered that. I think this is the most positive news I've heard yet. if there is no development, they got the real deal, and the manufacturing process difficult yes, but sounds close to being there.


"ZMC within the next ten months. That is not to say that they won't deliver before then - merely announcing the possibility that additional
time may be required in the commercialization phase - not development time of the ultracapacitor.
Reply to this comment
permittivity testing and no official 'due date?
by MarkL77 September 20, 2007 12:57 PM PDT
permittivity testing involves battery storage, If you read the article http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/18086/?a=f
Jim Miller, vice president of advanced transportation technologies at Maxwell Technologies and an ultracap expert who spent 18 years doing engineering work at Ford Motor, isn't so convinced.

"We're skeptical, number one, because of leakage," says Miller, explaining that high-voltage ultracaps have a tendency to self-discharge quickly. "Meaning, if you leave it parked overnight it will discharge, and you'll have to charge it back up in the morning."

Hopefully they can overcome this mountain of a hurdle?
Reply to this comment
I have too see it to believe it
by admjwarren December 22, 2007 3:25 PM PST
And every day I don't see it I believe it a little less.
Reply to this comment
Not the first time....
by bigduke January 10, 2008 3:41 PM PST
Many years ago free-radicals were going to be the ultra energy storage solution to super energy density storage.

It didn't work.

duke
Reply to this comment
I want to see a couple of EESOTR in this baby!
by tarrith April 21, 2008 10:45 PM PDT
Get rid of all those Lithium batteries and fill 'er up with EESTOR's.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/06/03/electric-yamaha-r1-lightning-lithium/

YEAH BABY! Now we're talking!

Tarrith
Reply to this comment
by xymox_or_bust November 18, 2008 3:33 PM PST
LOL, this is all too funny, I got a call today from the notorious B of www.theeestory.com. "B" for all of you that don?t know is the secret forum owner and has never revealed his identity.

I have been using the alias of goUSA on the open forums to try and get a reaction and well I guess I have succeeded to some part. Before that I was also known as XYMOX. I am what you would call one of their biggest skeptics. I don?t believe the pipe dream and I?m not a fan of "Physics because I say so"

Now that I have you attention.

I was flattered that "B" would actually take the time to call little old me up and ask if there was something I wanted to get off my chest. At first I resisted, but I conceded to voice the opinion that I think its nifty that whenever there is a naysayer on the board, they are summarily banned from the "OPEN FORUM" The first time I was brought down was when I posted some personal address information on his site, fair enough, thats his rules and I?m not the owner, so see ya XYMOX.

This last time I was given the boot for only asking B to reveal his identity. Well what I was looking for was a reaction. You see I like reactions because they are fun, I don?t know, but that?s the way people are, we push buttons and things happen. So I got my phone call. At that point I then knew more than the rest something about this man,... what he sounded like.

And oddly enough I did happen to stumble upon an audio clip of one of my suspects Ian Clifford, CEO of Zenn Motorcars, well this sample was one of many but it is best online voice sample I have heard so far. that?s at
http://www.zenncars.com/media/audio/evcast.mp3
Why did I suspect Ian, Well given his Internet Marketing background and being the one person in this world who has the most to gain from this scam, my focus was narrowed on him.
Well it didn't take me to long after I closed my eyes and remembered who I was talking to, the voice of the caller and the voice of Ian Clifford are one and the same. I have a very good memory for audio as I am a trained musician and have what you could call an audio-graphic memory that rivaled the most studious contemporaries back in college, but enough of my self-admiration.

I have my answer, and I can?t say I?m happy because I?m not, I really wanted the technology they are promoting to be real, but given the deception and the gravity of the slippery tongue that is Ian Clifford, I know that it?s not more than a dog and pony show.

The world is no better off.
Reply to this comment
by slayeroftrolls December 21, 2008 11:45 PM PST
No one cares about you and your paranoid, trollish ramblings. Audio-graphic? Give me a break. Your argument has zero substance and contains extra helpings of paranoia and conjecture. You skeptics are a dime a dozen and history has dispatched many of your ilk like trash. And another thing, even if the technology fails, no one will care when you say i told you so.

That said, there is no reason to believe that Eestor is an investor scam operation. ZERO! They have some of the brightest people investing in their company and including one of the most technologically advanced defense companies in the world. These investors do not blindly trust companies with their money. They want some proof of life and I'm sure Richard Weir (IBM STORAGE DEVICE tech wiz himself) has instilled a confidence in them which they are comfortable with.

Come back and talk in 6 months when Eestor starts shipping units. I am confident this technology is for real and the big oil companies have been marginalized to the point where they won't be able to trash this tech like they have done to others.
by xymox_or_bust January 7, 2009 5:57 AM PST
oh greatslayer of trolls, care to put money where your mouth is?
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