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Comments
Tyere isn o way is could be real OOTFLMAO :P
Look at EESTOR:
As of last year selling price would start at $3,200 and fall to $2,100 in high-volume production
The product weighs 400 pounds and delivers 52 kilowatt-hours.
The batteries fully charge in minutes as opposed to hours.
Fact: It is a elctric storage device like a battery and it does have some good features: large capacity high recharge rate and it could drive a large electric motor. But calling it a four passneger Ferrari is a stratch beyond belief. it is liKe saying they are light years ahead.
LOL
MidCow
whoa
What a coincidence; I work in Cedar Park (suburb of Austin) and live just outside of town. You ain't kidding about the 'stealth' part. I did a search for any articles in the local paper covering the Cedar Park area (the Hill Country News): zip mention over the last two years.
I looked them up; their office is in a business park no more than a couple of miles away from my office. But there's no manufacturing going on (that I'm aware of) at that locale.
BTW - more discussion of EEStor here:
http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/01/eestor_ultracap.html
see their web site http://www.feelgoodcars.com
Cheers,
MidCow
Surpise - they have 'big oil' in Canada too.....
I certainly have my doubts, as all of their claims just seem too good to be true. And if they were really on to something, one would imagine there would be a public bidding war for the company.
Time will tell....
http://tyler.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2006/3/29/1849708.html
You'll notice in this article they were promising a big announcement for May - which came and went by four months ago.
Still holding my breath...
http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=- %2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7033406.PN.&OS=PN/7033406&RS=PN/- 7033406
In the Free Market, price is the decider. If the "Oil Cartel" bought up those patents, there would be no incentive to sit on them unless the market was not there to make them as much money as they do from oil. When the scales tipped, they would be using the technology. Tipping the scales could be other things besides price. Government regulations mandating a greater MPG than could be economically attained, comes to mind.
Plus there is the trouble of proving that the deliberate shelving of as of yet unproven technology has any negative effect on competition.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm sure it is different but it shouldn't be. Buying a competing technology for the purpose of keeping it off the market should be an anti-trust violation. It may not be but that represents a loophole. Example, Company A cannot buy Company B because it would create a monopoly. So Company A instead purchases Company B's proprietary technology and forbids them from using it. Same result. In the case of an oil company buying technology that could revolutionize EVs I don't think there would be much doubt as to their motivation.
Its different because it is different. By buying a patent you are not eliminating any competition. The company you bought it from is still in existence. Its really no different that developing the technology and not releasing it.
Company A instead purchases Company B's proprietary technology and forbids them from using it. Same result.
No its not because company B is still in existence and can produce competing technology. Furthermore it is hard to even prove that anyone was harmed if the technology was unproven.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I looked up EEStor and went by their place a couple of days ago. It's a smallish lease space in a local business/industrial park (probably no more than 3000 sf). Somehow, when I looked at the place, I just didn't get the feeling that I was looking at the birthplace of an industry that would revolutionize the way we drive.
Of course, I probably would have thought the same thing looking at Michael Dell's garage 25 years ago....
Personally, I think they are still WAY early in the initial prototype stages and are releasing just enough info/enticements to shake loose more venture capital.
In other words, be patient. I think it's way too early to start the conspiracy histeria that they've been 'taken over' by some Big Oil/Detroit consortium
I agree but something similar happened before when Chevron bought control of NiMH battery patents. Suddenly Panasonic was no longer able to make replacement batteries for the RAV4 EV.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/cnnmoney/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&- newsId=20060928005400&newsLang=en&ndmConfigId=1000618&vnsId=33
I have never been very good at either, but I am rarely shocked by inaction or action, on the part of either.
That's how MS, CA, and other Oligopolies have operate for years. It happens all the time and has happened before. Why do you think the main reason is we don't have perpetual motion? I am not trying to create friction. That way you remain an Oligopoly and have the effect of a Monopoly without being one. As far as an oil company buying, it would not be vertical integration nor horizontal diversification and would more than likely not provide a good ROI. if you are really interested in what and oil company really does and where they are going talk to an analyst in their R&D or look at their acquisition/divestiture portfolio. Motivation of all business's: increase bottom line.
LOL,
MidCow
The demonstration electric SUV is an early model of the commercially available vehicle, targeted for volume delivery in Spring 2007. This vehicle is planned to be capable of road speeds up to 95 mph, a driving range that is configurable up to 200 miles, a battery recharge time potential of less than 10 minutes, and an acceleration of 0 to 60mph in less than 10 seconds. Another configuration of the vehicle as a Sports Utility Truck will also be on display at the Symposium.
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/09/21/1918751.htm
Spring 2007? Nice! However, mention of price is discretely absent.
I understand that but there are rules to the game. MS is a good example. They've been fined for anti-trust violations and have had to change the way they bundle their OS. I'm sure corporations are constantly trying to push the envelope in terms of what they can get away with. Suposedly that's why we have watchdog agencies like the FTC to make sure that the game stays relatively fair. I have no problem with a corporation dominating the market by providing a better product/service at a better price. I do have a problem with them achieving this domination by using their resources to eliminate competition so that they no longer have to provide the best product, service or price.
Oh, oh, oh Mr. Kotter!!! Is it because it violates the laws of physics?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Cheers,
MidCow
Mass production of this type of battery pack could probably push the price down $10k or more. While Altairnano seems to have a good product I seriously doubt they have this type of manufacturing capability. It would be great to see them enter into a business relationship with Panasonic or better yet some Chinese manufacturer.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/07/tesla_reveals_h.html
BTW - that 10,000 lb figure (curb weight for the GM Sequel) is wrong as well. The actual curb weight is 4,774 lbs.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/01/more_details_on_1.html
The only REAL 10,000 lb figure I can find is the PRESSURE at which the carbon-composite fuel tanks store the hydrogen (10,000 psi).
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/08/gm_announces_dr.html
I hope that straightens a FEW things out.....
That was bought by the military and is being used right now. BTW turn around and say hello to Captain Johnson, you won't see him but he is there watching you.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I imagine that once they get closer to releasing to the public they will provide some information on where their vehicle can be purchased and taken to for maintenance (hopefully they won't have a 20k premium for transportation to their local facility).
http://reviews.cnet.com/4326-10865_7-6546764-2.html?tag=ss_nxt
Your CNET review stated 4774 kg. The other reviews/press releases I've seen say 4774 lbs.
I hope those guys at CNET never try to land a probe on Mars.... :surprise:
I remember the Month and Day exactly: it was on the first day and it was the fourth month of the calendar year. I believe the year was in the early 2000s, but not completely sure of the year.
A vacuum without sound and an engine without friction; except the tires and pavement! remember E=mc^2, W=V*I*(phase angle)
MidCow
No such animal in captivity.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Yes I know ... as well as there is no perpetual motion. So what is the ultimate goal... to reduce friction as much as possible: newer slicker synthetic oils, parts with tighter tolerances and machines surfaces of smoother and smoother material.
Just as you can never reach infinity ...
MidCow
That's because of the government conspiracy! :P
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, or what.... :confuse:
I've been to a presentation by Ballard Power. Trust me, they have a very agressive business plan, but there are a whole lot of high hurdles to trip over.
OTOH, there is someone on the board who actually drives an EV. Which do you think has the better chance of mainstreaming over the next 5-7 years? Only other alternative I see that could make any impact would be diesel.
Oh I love eletric motors. Eletric motors, erector sets, brainiacs, is what I wanted and played with as a kid. When other kids wanted to be fireman nad policemen I wanted to be an electrical engineer.
Having said all that I am not sure the state of batteries or ultracapacitors and the transportation infrastucutre are far enough along or forward thinking enough to manage and support EVs as an repalcement offering fro ICEs. I thinkthe scope is more limited and will remain so for some time to more like the super golf-cart NEVs.
MidCow
and yes I did achieve my childhood goals EE,MBA
http://www.evworld.com/archives/interviews2/mcoates1.html
This article discusses a survey showing considerable untapped demand for an affordable EV, which is interesting in itself. But toward the bottom, a proposal is discussed about leasing the batteries instead of selling them with the car.
If people paid for EV batteries by the mile, the way we do for gasoline, it might better fit expectations about costs.
Example: my EV uses old-fashioned lead-acid batteries, which are good for about 20,000 - 30,000 miles. A replacement pack, after the trade-in value of the old batteries, is about $800. So if I were leasing thes batteries, I might be charged three cents per mile, or perhaps four, to cover overhead. Since electricity is only about a penny per mile, this is still bargain transportation; but now I don't have to shell out extra money for batteries up front.
Li-Ion batteries cost considerably more. But they last for a lot more miles. This solution addresses shelf-life considerations that some Li-Ions have, too. If you are a light driver, who ordinarily might not get the maximum mileage out of your pack before it expired, your pack could be swapped out on a regular basis with drivers who would get those miles used up.
Dealers should love 'battery rotation' because it gets them regular maintenance visits and helps lock in buyers to their dealerships.
I like to pay up front and not worry about obligations, but that is just me. One of the things that appeals to me about EVs is less quality time at gas stations and garages.
It also removes concerns about slowly failing batteries from the equation. Your batteries would always be peppy.
Also, without this, there might be the tendency to unload your car for a new one just as your battery pack is failing. Battery leasing would keep trade-in values more stable.
In fact, EVs should be darn cheap if sold without batteries. There's almost nothing inside an EV except batteries. These cars will be marketed like cellphones. Sign a five-year contract for our battery plan and get your car for free!