Zenn Electric Cars to Steal Some Thunder?
This was too good to pass up. It’s a tale of intrigue, exciting new technology, and a secretive business deal that could change the automotive industry as we know it. Canadian electric car company Zenn Cars already sells city-only electric cars, but they claim they’ll sell a new model in 2009 that can go 80mph with a 250 mile range.
So what makes Zenn Cars special among the EV contenders? They’ve thrown their money behind a different kind of battery. Solid-state super capacitors (not technically batteries) supposedly last longer, store more energy, and cause less ecological harm than lithium-ion or lead-based batteries. This is where the story gets interesting.
EEstor is the secret behind this promising promise, and the operative word here is “secret”. EEstor shuns publicity, refuses to give interviews, and certainly hasn’t been showing off their product. Everyone’s trying to learn more about this company and its technology, but I can’t seem to find their web page - if they have one. Yet EEstor (if that’s their real name) has already raised a few brows by signing a deal with Lockheed Martin for defense and homeland security applications (details not disclosed). If they can deliver what they promise it will change everything. We’re talking batteries that are lighter, stronger, faster, cheaper, and they never lose their charge capacity. The possibilities for everything from autos to cell phones are exciting to put it mildly. Imagine buying one rechargeable battery for every cell phone, laptop, gadget, appliance, etc. you’ll ever use. Ever. Imagine car batteries that never go to the landfill and eliminate the need for gasoline. Exciting? You bet. But only if EEstor can walk the walk, after trying their hardest to avoid the talk.
On top of all this, it seems like everyone is coming out with electric vehicles in the near future. Tesla’s Roadster is already under production and promises to come out later this year. Aptera’s futuristic Typ1 could also come out at the end of this year or in 2009. In 2010 GM swears they’ll roll out the much-awaited Volt. The Zenn Citycar could be available in Fall of 2009, which would put it right in the middle of the hot new EV market. It’ll be fun to see who, if any, come out on top with the “Prius” of electric vehicles.
Sources: Zenn Car
Sources: EEstor
www.TreeHugger.com (EEstor intro)
www.TreeHugger.com (EEstor press release)
Sources: Electric Vehicle Release Dates:
(image courtesy of ZennCar)
Hot air!
Great article in ZENN motors. I did a search for them and came across http://www.ultracapacitors.org. this site talks about the energy storage technology.
interesting topic.
JJ
I still wonder if there is enough capicity in the grid to charge a few million of the electric motor cars! With capacitors or batteries!
I would like to have one but I think it will be priced well above most peoples income. Most of these things are so pricy that the people that can afford them don’t need them and those of us that need them can’t afford them.
I think My photovoltiac panels could regharge one in about a week.
Just: I think that will be the big question one day if a technology like this does take off, but because of the price I think we would have years before enough cars would hit the road to worry the power companies.
However, most advocates agree that most of the charging for these cars would need to take place during off-peak hours for this very reason.
As for price, Zenn Cars claims their model will be “very affordable”, unlike the Volt. That’s because this technology (if it works) is cheaper than lithium-ion batteries. They’re not aiming for luxury, they’re aiming for the mass market. So who knows? Maybe this will become the most-common of electric cars…
More source material on EEstor and Zenn found here: http://bariumtitanate.blogspot.com/
Wrong. With this tech there will be an alternative to gas stations as well. They will have a similar set up though. They will have the same tech underground charging up for when there is a need, probably off peak hours for obvious reasons. They will just have larger storage devices that are waiting to recharge cars the same way they have a large gas tank underground waiting for people to fill up now. The whole “off peak charging” for the mass distribution of these vehicles is a moot point because of the actual tech involved.
The vastness of the use of this tech doesnt stop at the vehicle. theoretically people will have these in their homes as well. THink about it. Plug into the grid maybe once a month and use up the energy as you need it in your home. Think about a power source that can be used on all devices with the same standard. No more needing everything from AAA batteries to that manufacturer only thing for your cell phone. For that matter think about a battery that will outlast your car rather than the other way around.
Or people, at least in some areas, could have a small wind turbine or two recharging their own storage device at home and need relatively little power from the electrical companies. And with a vehicle that gets 250 miles or even 100, they could recharge from home every night. (national estimates say that around 80% of Americans drive less than 60 miles a day for commuting to work and back)
Portable EVERYTHING. As long as the size is unlimited we could have portable microwaves.
So now the only problem is that there is no known working prototype for the Eestor energy storage device. Very few people have even seen the manufacturing platform or even inside the Eestor building. At this point its all speculation for all of us on the outside.
That is the silver bullet for the US, and probably the world’s energy. If the information that Eestor has released is true, it will change the face of this planet. Its that big….if its true that is. And I am skeptical but extremely hopefully, leaning more towards the hopeful every day.
~Z
p.s. The current “low speed” vehicle that ZENN offers is only $12k starting price. They have stated that their aim is for MASS acceptance and appeal. This means that the highway car will be priced around most mid-sized cars. I am speculating a price of $21-29k USD.
Ziggy:
I’m glad you agree with the bulk of my article. As for recharging stations, Zenn Cars claims you could completely charge their system in 5 minutes - if you have enough voltage. That would require a special peripheral device at home or at the recharging station - infrastructure yet to be built. There are some electric recharging stations scattered across the country, but I’d guess in the first years when this technology is available the lack of infrastructure will require people to recharge at home.
Naturally, if the technology does take off, current fueling stations would be wise to provide that infrastructure for customers to bring in business. Thanks for your comment!
First of all, if the 80mph, 250 mile Zenn makes it to market next fall, it will be in Europe, not the States.
There are many tests, hurdles that have to be taken care of here first. Zenn has said that on their site.
This is where I fear Big Oil, and special interests groups. IF their influence can drag out the process for who knows how long.
And I applaud EEStor for remaining secretive about their technology until the last moment. When they are producing in quantities, it will make it harder for the special interests to kabash it. And please EEStor, remain a private company. Don’t go public!!
We might never see your technology if that happens.
Dan Hurles:
That’s right. If this doesn’t work, it ain’t gonna be because of the technology itself given the immense interest that has been generated thus far–it’ll be because of special interests.