Ultracapacitors/EESTOR

whereagles · Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Ultracapacitors

hum.. from mmunroe's post it looks like ultracapacitors' uses are limited. Still, engine start/stop and domestic usage are good applications of the tech.

BigTex · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: Ultracapacitors

Is anyone aware of anything happening on the ultracapacitor front since the original post?

JRP3 · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 396

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Demoth · Coal Joined: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EEStor

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialsections&sc=batteries&id=18086&a=

http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21171/?a=f

The claims seem far fetched, but their facilities impressed a few Lockheed-Martin exects enough that they are risking their careers. Some of the guys heavily involved in EESTOR, like Dick Weir and Topfur from Dell, are already rich. What would they gain scamming a few million from a few investors with a non-publically traded company. Maybe a few million off Zenn stock. They had to spend enough of it to satisfy their investors with their facilities.

But they would know scaming Lockheed-Martin or even making them look bad would start a full investigation by the government. EESTOR is Texas based and not many con men would target a defense contractor.

So, if EESTOR's claims are even 75% true, we could be seeing 500 mile range electrics that charge in 5 minutes (at a station or with a home mod). We would be talking $10 worth of energy for 500 full miles. Better with some nano-solar supplimentation.

And on the grid side, renewable would be a reilable 24/7 source. Solar, wind, wave. Cheap and efficient storage has been a big barrier.

These people are claiming they have a ultra capacitor with energy storage up to 3X superior to the best lithiums by production time and only a .01% per month self discharge rate. Meaning I could forget my car somewhere for 50 years and still drive it across state. Half the price per stored watt-hour as lead-acid batteries. And no degradation from charge/discharge cycles means no replacements will ever be needed.

So, I guess by next year we will know. The claims seem beyond belief, but the people involved stand to lose everything once the con was uncovered.

Just something to watch, but not get too excited over, at least until/unless a prototype is independently inspected.
Hopefully, if the tech does exist, it won't get repressed or severely delayed by oil interests.

Spanktron9

The company has been making these claims for quite a while. They are seriously behind schedule.While their product is "theoritically" feasible, most Electrical engineers I know, don't believe in the effectiveness of the application.

I hope it does work though!

mos6507

BigTex

Do a search in the forums. There is at least one other pretty good thread on EESTOR that I started a while back.

EESTOR is for real, but still way behind on their promises. I think this technology could be very interesting, though.
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Spanktron9

I just read the most recent article and it seems that they are simply restating their previous claims. I sent it off to several friends in the engineering field for analysis. The article is full of "if's" and "hopes" and "claims". The third-party verification, along with completed vehicle prototype testing are two BIG hurdles for this tech. Previous criticism has partially focused on the lack of operating temperature range and the fragility of the capacitor. In addition, something about the voltage/amps/current required to charge a vehicle in that amount of time didn't add up for mass distribution either. I'll post analysis when I get it. Here's hoping that even if the tech doesn't work for transportation it does work for load and production smoothing from solar/wind facilities.

criticalmass · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Ultracapacitors/EESTOR

All very promising. This is also worth thinking about~

Electric advanced DC motors are more than twice as efficient as a high compression, 40 MPG ICE motor. Thus, taking even 1/3rd the number of ICE (gas) powered vehicles off the road should only lead to an equivalent 1/6 increase in electricity usage from the current grid.
That useage, most commonly used during off peak hours, would be nominal.

Granted this is WAY oversimplified, but what if we could take even 1/3rd of our gas-powered vehicles off of the road? Poof, gone. Then replace them with EV's that charge during off-peak hours. This is a MAJOR efficiency gain with nothing more than current technology.

criticalmass · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Ultracapacitors/EESTOR

I kind of had to chuckle at this last post because it further solidifies my bias when you take a look at that 9" ADC motor that clearly needs to be in a car :D

whereagles · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Ultracapacitors

Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 573

It's only storage.

Isn't it?

JRP3 · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 396

Cheap, light, long lasting storage is a game changer.
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Quinny · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 03, 2008 Posts: 573

JRP3 · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 396