Could EEStor Be Real?

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2680000.html

By: James Kingsdalec Saturday, October 04, 2008 2:16 PM
Sectors: Finance

As I’ve noted previously, there is a potentially disruptive battery technology known as an ultracapcitor that is being developed by a rather secretive but apparently well financed company called EEStor in Texas. It would store and then generate enormous quantities power compared with existing batteries, be capable of re-charging very rapidly, and hold a virtually infinite number of recharges.

If it sounds like science fiction, well … maybe it is. There are a lot of sceptics. On the other hand, if you’d described a digital camera to someone 50 years ago you’d probably also get a lot of skeptical reactions. I suspect many investors are doing the same thing I’m doing about EEStor - keeping a careful watch on whatever is published and owning a few shares of Zenn Motors, the only public way to play it.

Recently there have been two developments. One is the announcement of some sort of agreement between EEStor and a company that makes two- and three-wheeled vehicles. I don’t know if that has any significance or not. The other is that during the recent collapse of the stock market, the price of Zenn Motors has held up remarkably well.

Take it for a possible straw in the wind. Here is the PR piece:

EEStor and LightEVs Sign Exclusive Technology Agreement
Last update: 3:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 2, 2008

EUGENE, Ore., Oct 02, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Light Electric Vehicles Company (LightEVs) announces the signing of a world-wide Exclusive Technology Agreement with EEStor, Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas to provide electric vehicles and propulsion systems using EEStor’s Electric Energy Storage Units (EESUs) for the two- and three-wheeled vehicles markets. Carl Watkins, President of LightEVs, said, “We have watched EEStor continue to make progress in proving their ability to produce ultra-high performance multilayered 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.” EEStor’s EESUs are expected to be highly configurable for shape, size, and power, and offer a breakthrough level of performance and price compared to existing battery technologies, including lithium iron phosphate.

EEStor EESUs are expected to provide over 450 watt hours per kilogram and over 700 watt hours per liter, charge in minutes, and, for all practical vehicular purposes, last indefinitely.

By comparison, lithium iron phosphate batteries provide about 100 watt hours per kilogram and 170 watt hours per liter. Unlike electrochemical batteries, EESUs should not break down from use or time during the life of a vehicle. They are expected to deliver high current without loss of efficiency or excess heat, and they should operate at optimum efficiency over a wide range of ambient temperatures. They will be configurable for any output voltage that optimizes vehicle performance, and will maintain that output voltage at a constant level over the span of each discharge cycle. Production is expected to start mid 2009.
LightEVs expects to offer a variety of electric propulsion systems for use in electric bicycles, scooters, motorcycles, and three-wheeled vehicles in partnership with existing manufacturers and under its own brands. John Stephens, Executive Vice President, said, “We expect to provide performance characteristics exceeding those of existing light electric and gasoline powered vehicles. For example, we are planning an electric bicycle that will have a one kilowatt-hour EESU weighing less than five pounds which should provide approximately 100 miles or more of range, and we are considering a three-wheel two-passenger electric vehicle which could offer EESU options permitting ranges from about 120 miles to over 500 miles on a single charge, and a top speed of over 85 mph.”

The light electric vehicle category is the largest established electric vehicle market in the world, with an estimated 20 million units sold per year. Some countries are seeing a 50% increase in sales of electric bikes and scooters per year. Light electric vehicles provide advantages in cost of purchase and operation, faster charge time, parking availability, reduced traffic congestion, and storage.

Contact: Light Electric Vehicles Company, P.O. Box 1316, Eugene, OR 97440-1316, or e-mail admin, or call 541-915-7207.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

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