Disrupting has become rather fashionable. To the point that people talk about disrupting the disruptor. A disruptor's success cycle to ubiquity and riches is today faster than ever thanks to the world of venture capitalism that is rapacious in its appetite for the brave and the new. No sooner would a successful disruptor be established and catching breath that new disruptors would appear on its tail. Is that what hydrogen fuel cells may be to electric batteries for cars? Probably not.
One company that is making high claims to disrupt the nascent community of alternative automotive energy is EESTOR, a company based out of Austin, Texas. Characteristically secretive about its technology, it has ironically, perhaps not without intent, gained much attention. Information available on the web reveals that EESTOR is in the business of developing ultracapacitors, a higher form of battery, that will produce electric power. EESTOR's ultracapacitors will produce electric power better and bigger than ever before. An article from Business 2.0 claims that this breaking device is soooo powerful that it can charge up in 5 minutes to provide a 500 mile driving range in a cost which equates to $9 today - and not just to puny 100bhp cars but the kind of power that could carry a large SUV. EESTOR's technology is already scheduled to be incorporated into vehicles manufactured by a Green Canadian company known as Feel Good Cars. On Nov. 15, in a press release by Feel Good Cars the following was revealed:
"On September, 30, 2005, FGC entered into a Technology Agreement with EEStor Inc. located in Austin, Texas, to acquire the exclusive worldwide right to purchase high-power-density ceramic ultra capacitors called Electrical Storage Units (ESU) that are under development by that company. An ESU can store over 10 times the energy of lead-acid batteries and are expected to be available for use in the ZENN and regular electrically powered small cars. FGC's exclusive worldwide right is for all personal transportation uses under 15 KW drive systems (equivalent to 100 peak horse power) and for vehicles with a curb weight of under 1200 kilograms not including batteries."
This is very good news for FGC whose current car brand know as the Zenn leaves much to be desired. I'm sorry but after reading the following advertisement from their website I could not help but laughing. And its not the kind of laugh that people gave to electric cars 10 years ago. But the kind that you get after the release of the Tesla Roadster that accelerates to 60mph in 4 seconds, can reach 130mph and push past 200 miles off one charge..........
ZENN not only looks like a car; it performs like one, too. Equipped with front-wheel drive, brisk acceleration and capable of achieving a regulated maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h), it keeps pace with traffic on local streets to get you where you’re going safely and in good time. And ZENN’s battery efficiency gives you the freedom to cover a lot of ground: approximately 35 miles per charge (56 kilometres).
Well, looks like such painful advertising is all about to change for FGC and that they may well end up with the last laugh here. What the relationship between EEstor and FGC is and why EEstor has partnered with a non-conventional car maker remains a mystery too. So, the ultracapacitors aim to accomplish 10 times of what today's batteries can do. That's a significant achievement. EEStor and FGC have certainly attracted not just attention but money from Venture Capital firms to further validate their claim.
This is wonderful news that is set to further the already growing market of hybrid electrics, the expected Plug-in hybrid electrics and pure electric cars. The continuing force of invention and disruption has tremendous potential and some complications too. The complication being that technology getting outdated soon and thus the value of the car. For those of us choosing to invest in a car that employs some form of alternative energy the reasons should be overwhelmingly Green. To be on the safe side, look to depreciate the car over 4 years flat. And don't lease.
One company that is making high claims to disrupt the nascent community of alternative automotive energy is EESTOR, a company based out of Austin, Texas. Characteristically secretive about its technology, it has ironically, perhaps not without intent, gained much attention. Information available on the web reveals that EESTOR is in the business of developing ultracapacitors, a higher form of battery, that will produce electric power. EESTOR's ultracapacitors will produce electric power better and bigger than ever before. An article from Business 2.0 claims that this breaking device is soooo powerful that it can charge up in 5 minutes to provide a 500 mile driving range in a cost which equates to $9 today - and not just to puny 100bhp cars but the kind of power that could carry a large SUV. EESTOR's technology is already scheduled to be incorporated into vehicles manufactured by a Green Canadian company known as Feel Good Cars. On Nov. 15, in a press release by Feel Good Cars the following was revealed:
"On September, 30, 2005, FGC entered into a Technology Agreement with EEStor Inc. located in Austin, Texas, to acquire the exclusive worldwide right to purchase high-power-density ceramic ultra capacitors called Electrical Storage Units (ESU) that are under development by that company. An ESU can store over 10 times the energy of lead-acid batteries and are expected to be available for use in the ZENN and regular electrically powered small cars. FGC's exclusive worldwide right is for all personal transportation uses under 15 KW drive systems (equivalent to 100 peak horse power) and for vehicles with a curb weight of under 1200 kilograms not including batteries."
This is very good news for FGC whose current car brand know as the Zenn leaves much to be desired. I'm sorry but after reading the following advertisement from their website I could not help but laughing. And its not the kind of laugh that people gave to electric cars 10 years ago. But the kind that you get after the release of the Tesla Roadster that accelerates to 60mph in 4 seconds, can reach 130mph and push past 200 miles off one charge..........
ZENN not only looks like a car; it performs like one, too. Equipped with front-wheel drive, brisk acceleration and capable of achieving a regulated maximum speed of 25 mph (40 km/h), it keeps pace with traffic on local streets to get you where you’re going safely and in good time. And ZENN’s battery efficiency gives you the freedom to cover a lot of ground: approximately 35 miles per charge (56 kilometres).
Well, looks like such painful advertising is all about to change for FGC and that they may well end up with the last laugh here. What the relationship between EEstor and FGC is and why EEstor has partnered with a non-conventional car maker remains a mystery too. So, the ultracapacitors aim to accomplish 10 times of what today's batteries can do. That's a significant achievement. EEStor and FGC have certainly attracted not just attention but money from Venture Capital firms to further validate their claim.
This is wonderful news that is set to further the already growing market of hybrid electrics, the expected Plug-in hybrid electrics and pure electric cars. The continuing force of invention and disruption has tremendous potential and some complications too. The complication being that technology getting outdated soon and thus the value of the car. For those of us choosing to invest in a car that employs some form of alternative energy the reasons should be overwhelmingly Green. To be on the safe side, look to depreciate the car over 4 years flat. And don't lease.
In case you are still wondering, why 'EEstor Bunny'? Despite the hallow overtone, the actual reference is to - remember the 'Energizer Bunny' ? The one that kept going, and going, and going........
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