http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/10/28/eestor-battery-hits-delay-chevy-volt-dodges-that-bullet/
This could be one of those instances where an established business with a high level of skepticism is paying off. GM has been reluctant to partner with Eestor in developing it’s new ultracapacitor in any way because of the uncertainty surrounding the technology. Eestor just revealed that its battery won’t be available by the end of 2008 as originally expected, which means the Chevy Volt project may have dodged a bullet.
If GM had partnered with Eestor to develop battery technology for the Chevy Volt then its goal to mass produce them by 2010 would be in jeopardy. That spells potential disaster for a company as stretched as GM is right now.
In an e-mail interview, Eestor CEO told GM-Volt that:
As we stated in the beginning of 2008, properly funded EEStor, Inc. would anticipate in being in production status late in 2008.
The funding that we did receive was not sufficient to meet the production status late in 2008 but as identified by our last news release, EEStor, Inc. has made excellent progress with that level of funding.
Eestor has remained fastidiously secretive, which makes sense if the technology it brags about holds up to the company’s claims.
ZENN Motors, Inc and Light Electric Vehicles both have contracts with Eestor and are providing venture capital funding. They both hope to leapfrog the rest of the automotive industry by integrating Eestor’s ultracapacitor into their vehicle lineups. Supposedly the new technology uses barium titanate powder, weighs less than traditional lithium-ion, and is less costly to manufacture.
While Eestor has hired a third party to verify its progress twice now, no real information has been shared with the public on how this technology will work in the real world. Still, with the current state of the global economy and a tendency toward conservative spending, it’s good to see companies that are still willing to take risks.
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