A Texas company by the name of EEStor has patented a process for creating a super capacitor that may change our lives forever. ADHEREL
Yes, it’s true. If you are interested in the details, I won’t bore you with them, since there is a very good Wikipedia article on the matter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EEStor). However, I will tell you what I think this could mean for us gadget freaks.
The gist of the capacitor is that it will store very large amounts of energy, more so than current Lithium-Ion batteries of today. Around twice as much, some estimates have put it. So that new Macbook Pro that Apple announced recently that gets 8 hours of battery life? Well, double that to 16 hours.
But here’s the real kicker. The capacitor can be recharged in very little time. In essence, plug your Macbook in, count to 5, and it’s fully recharged!
Right now, it appears that the technology is intended for automotive use. Think Tesla Roadster here. Right now, the Tesla has a range of around 240 miles. But it has to be recharged overnight. But with this new capacitor, it can be recharged in 5 minutes and can go 480 miles!
Now, the article says that typical home outlets won’t have the juice to recharge a car in 5 minutes, but the idea is to have a second capacitor in the house that can be recharged overnight (when electricity charges are lower), and then that can recharge the car in 5 minutes.
I think the largest barrier for electric cars today is the loss of total freedom. Right now, I can get in my car and drive it to anywhere that is accessible by roads with a gas station within 200 or so miles (since my car’s range is around 400 miles or so… I mean, hey, I have to get BACK to the gas station, right?). And it only takes about 5 minutes to fill the tank. But who would want an electric car that would only go 240 miles and then you have to stop overnight to recharge it? A cross-country drive would take weeks! Americans, I believe, truly like the idea that we can get in our cars and go nearly as far as we’d ever want to go; it’s true freedom. And we’re not willing to give that up just to go green.
But with the EEStor capacitor, suddenly things become far more possible. Imagine re-tooled “gas” stations with special plugs. Give them $5, plug the car in, wait 5 minutes, and bang, you’re back on the road.
But I’m not here to talk about cars, exclusively. I think this technology will revolutionize portable electronics. As I mentioned, laptops and the like will last longer on a single charge. And there will be no more huddling around outlets in airports, since you can just plug in, wait a few seconds, and then you’re done. As well, “spare” batteries will be far more multi-purpose. Imagine carrying a gadget about the size of a laptop battery in your backpack for traveling. Your iPod goes dead, so you plug this thing in and then unplug it and your iPod is ready to go with a full charge. And that’s only in desperation, because the iPod’s 4 hours of video playback will be 8 hours, 10 hours of audio playback will be 20 hours. So the iPod will last for most trips/flights that might keep you away from an outlet.
I cannot tell you how much I see this changing the nature of our handheld gadgetry. Most small electronics make sacrifices simply to save juice. But if power suddenly ceased to be an issue, imagine the possibilities. Cellphones would get better signals because they could put more energy into communication with the towers. Backlights could be kept on full brightness. Gadgets that today stay away from wireless communication (iPods, etc.) can suddenly have greater functionality. And who cares if your iPhone only lasts half a day? Simply plug it in for a few seconds and you’re good to go again.
Another item to think about is longevity. Apple is extremely happy about the 1,000 charges that their new Macbook Pro non-removable battery can endure. They say that’s an average of 5 years of life before you have to take the whole laptop in to have the battery replaced. But the EEStor capacitor has apparently been tested to 1,000,000 cycles (charge and discharge) and has lost none of its capacity. So with this, the huge complaints about non-removable batteries become moot. Who will complain about a non-removable battery that never loses its capacity and can be charged in a few moments?
Finally, there is the idea that this capacitor will not lose juice while idle. Imagine a flashlight that never needs batteries (it charges in seconds) and can sit for decades in a drawer and still shine brightly. How about recharging gadgets (like the “spare battery” I mentioned earlier) that can sit on a store shelf for years, and can then be purchased, already fully charged?
In essence, think of every electronic gadget you own… toothbrushes, razors, cordless screwdrivers and other tools, GameBoys, whatever… think of how they would change if they could be charged in a few seconds. Right now, such gadgets have to have a place to sit and charge. Like a cordless toothbrush; it has to have its charging station, constantly plugged in. Well with this super-capacitor, it can just sit in a drawer. After a few weeks, whoops, it’s dead. Stick it in an outlet for a few seconds and suddenly it’s ready to go for another few weeks. And it didn’t even disrupt your oral hygiene routine.
So, let me know your thoughts. How do you think this type of technology will change our lives? Weigh in in the comments below.
This technology seems very promising. However, I (like many others) have been following EEStor for several years. I getting tired of waiting. Are they waiting for an invitation?
Agreed. It always seems like the coolest technology takes 40 forevers to come to fruition.
-Mike
Michael, it should be noted that some people still doubt EEStor really has the technology they claim… despite the patents, despite the partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop military applications of the technology. There are still plenty of people who claim the technology just can’t work and point to production delays to suggest that EEStor is ‘making it all up’.
That caveat aside… I’m optimistic enough to have purchased shares of several of EEStor’s partners (EEStor itself is privately held). You are entirely correct that if EEStor has anything even close to what they claim then it will lead to profound changes.
Transportation: Even before ‘charging stations’ become available you could pre-charge three spare batteries and stick them in the trunk when you have a long trip planned.
Renewable energy: EEStor style capacitors could solve the problem of solar and wind power being intermittently available. Build a plant to store excess energy in large capacitors during peak times and then release it at night / when the wind dies down. The same would work on smaller scales… solar panels on your house could charge a capacitor all day while you are at work, allowing you to then use that energy when you get home at night. Solar panels on a car could also help keep the battery charged (maybe 15 miles worth per day at current solar efficiencies).
Wearable electronics: A vest with capacitors sewn in and wiring to various pockets/attachments could allow you to power your laptop, cellphone, iPod, camera, flashlight, and all other portable gadgets. BTW, Lockheed Martin recently patented a military version of this concept using EEStor devices… noting in the patent that the EEStor units are also fairly good at stopping bullets.
Powered equipment: Cordless electric lawnmowers, leafblowers, string trimmers, and so forth have started to appear on the market, but they tend to be ‘low strength’ and have lousy battery life. With ultracapacitors you’d probably see all of these (and snowblowers, hedge clippers, chainsaws, et cetera) becoming cordless electric devices by default.
Yeah, I saw that there are doubters… I hope it’s real because it would definitely revolutionize our lives.
I’m not sure I agree with you about taking extra capacitors in the trunk of your car. I would bet that changing them out would be a difficult task. Of course, there could just be a plug (like what was postulated in having a home unit that would slowly charge and then quickly recharge the car). But then I would think that weight-to-power might make this idea not such a good idea. After all, if it were that easy, why not just design the car with more battery life to begin with? But OTOH, you could be right. I mean, people carry gas cans in their vehicles sometimes.
Yes, larger electric items would be far more viable (leaf-blowers and the like). Imagine if you could charge a lawnmower for a minute or so and get an hour’s worth of mowing? You could do the front yard, drink a beer while it recharges, and then tackle the back yard.
I was thinking about the wearable stuff and other military uses. But in my mind I was more thinking about generic rechargers. Like, for instance, there’s no reason to have a walkie-talkie constantly plugged into your vest; but if you could just plug it into your vest and recharge it in just a few seconds, that would be very handy. It would also allow you to only recharge those things that happened to get the most use. Like, say your walkie didn’t get much use in the field but your GPS is dying, you can recharge that GPS and not the walkie.
There was mention in the Wikipedia article about using these for home power. Like, you could charge it at night when it costs less, and then use it in the daytime. And yes, you are correct about this being an excellent way to level out energy sources that are cyclical and not always at their peak input. Great idea!
So let’s just hope that this is reality and not some lame attempt to get funding for something that doesn’t exist.
-Mike
It’s coming, we just have to be patient
Energy independence is one step at a time.
right now they ship oil and natural gas across the sea in super tankers, can you just see a giant floating supper capaciter making its way into the harbor and offloading the electricity to serveral hundered on land.
Actually, that is extremely interesting. This might become an extremely efficient means of transporting energy. Unfortunately, the tankers and trucks will probably still burn fossil fuels.
But aside from energy independence I think this is a fascinating advancement for a number of reasons. It could very well make things that were ridiculous before become very viable.
-Mike
CBDunkerson: “I’m optimistic enough to have purchased shares of several of EEStor’s partners (EEStor itself is privately held). You are entirely correct that if EEStor has anything even close to what they claim then it will lead to profound changes.”
I’ve been trying to figure out how to buy ZNN shares for the very reasons you mention but they are traded in Canada — what is the easiest way to get these shares?
Completely agree with the power storage / leveling by the way. That will be the greatest asset. This would resolve most of wind power’s deficiencies.
… and solar, tidal, geothermal… the uses are endless.
-Mike
Zenn Motors sell on the Vancouver Exchange under ZNN.V. You can purchase it in the US in the “pink sheets” under the trading symbol ZNNMF.PK.
-Rich
People need to start buying cars based on what they actually use them for, not what they MIGHT use them for. How many SUVs were sold because they MIGHT tow a boat (which they never bought)? If you buy a car for your daily commute, rather than for that trip you MIGHT take cross country, electric cars are an extremely attractive option. Besides, why not rent a car if you ACTUALLY need to drive cross country? I drive a Ford Ranger EV daily, and the 40 miles gets me where I need to go 90% of the time. If it got 60 miles, it would do about 98% of the trips, and I would get rid of the gas burner and just call Enterprise when I needed to go farther.
Well, you definitely have a point. But “might” and “will eventually” are two totally different things.
For instance… Ford Ranger? Do you haul cargo every day? If not, then you should get a car.
I’m kidding, of course. Part of what makes this nation great is the fact that we can make our own decisions on what to drive, as long as it’s within our budget. If you like trucks, then drive a truck. If you like station wagons, then go for it. Ditto SUVs and sports cars.
As for renting a car for driving cross-country… well, that may be fine for some. But there’s a reason I keep a relatively new car in the driveway. I don’t want it to break down. Renting a car subjects you to not only the maintenance habits of the rental company but also the driving habits of all of the prior renters of that vehicle. Plus, there’s just something comforting about being away from home but having your own car, your own little slice of property and home-iness. And also not having to pay extra for the mileage you rack up.
Now, I do agree that people should try to be more practical in their choices. But I have to also make sure to state that peoples’ practicality is their own. I wouldn’t ever suggest anyone drive a Hummer, but I will defend to the death their right to own one if they want to.
BTW, there are many more uses to SUVs than towing boats. I try to always keep at least one friend that has a vehicle with some cargo capacity. I don’t want a purchase of a new TV or couch to get hundreds of dollars more expensive because I have to rent a truck or pay for delivery.
-Mike
Eletruk, you it wrong.
Companies need to start providing cars that ppl will buy. Right now, if I were a car builder, I would do an electric mini-van with a minimum range of 100 miles and the option of buying it with higher range. The reason is simple; How many Americans buy a mini-van for their PRIMARY car? Few. Almost all cases use the mini-van as the wife’s car to haul kids and what not around. 100 mile range gives 50 mile trips. 99 % of all trips are under 30 miles (one way). If wife wants to take longer one, either buy the optional set of batteries, use the other car, OR the smart company WOULD provide cheap rentals for these buyers (able to rent a gas version for a day for say $20; company keeps info on file and makes it easy to rent quickly).
Let’s objectively reason together, this tech is (forget game changing) world changing, such technologies are typically suppressed by the guys running the show only to be released when they deem it either necessary or unavoidable, (if you’re frowning disregard and go back to sleep) now, an application of the tech has been patented which proves at the very least that an ultracapacitor IS (if not existing) developable, on the other hand lockheed does not partner lightly, they are an elite traditionally premium co. That needs not to mingle with with questionable newcomers, looking at it optimistically the “word” is out which may be good, and a collapsed world economy may be a good moment for a quantum boost upward, one that’s unconventional and and would evidently restructure the whole game; on the pessimistic side we could just as easily be in the middle of a long delay and/or suppression.
We are in for an energy revolution; our global survival depends on it. It’s the only way to address the critical mass of humanity’s problems. The status quo doesn’t want you to know that, but their houses of cards are falling, hourly now. I agree with Nikola; now is the time, the game has shattered and a new phoenix must rise.
On the issue of ‘technology suppression’… I don’t think it is really an option at this point because EEStor isn’t the only game in town. There are at least two other companies working on similar ultracapacitor designs and there have been recent advances in ‘traditional’ battery design that promise a similar storage capacity (though not the fast charge times and potentially infinite reusability).
Thus, even if EEStor fails, most of the tranformative events we have been talking about are still in the works.
There were also some comments about trucking and shipping. I’m curious to see whether advances in energy technology (particularly nano-antennas) will lead to a resurgence of trains for shipping. With ultracapacitors to store energy an electric train might only need to draw power from overhead wires every few miles. That would increase the reliability of trains and reduce the infrastructure which needs to be maintained. With cheap electric power train transport would also become more economical than trucks or shipping (though shipping would still obviously be required for inter-continental trade).
As to long distance automotive transportation… if EEStor distances (~400 miles) and charging times (~5 minutes) can be achieved then you’d see gas stations slowly converted into charging stations and long distance travel would work just like today. If the charge times can’t be achieved then other battery technologies are still going to make the distance possible… and then what we would likely see is electric cars with a small gasoline driven electrical generator. If you are going more than 400 miles you pull in and fill the tank with gasoline which runs the generator and recharges the battery. Note that because the generator can be run at a constant pace, rather than accelerating up and down like an internal combustion engine, it is actually more efficient… cars would easily get 75 miles per gallon… on the less than 1% of trips (over 400 miles) that they used any gasoline at all.
re: suppression, I agree. I don’t think this genie can be kept in the bottle. Energy development is very in-vogue right now and it would be difficult to suppress any form of growth in this industry.
Unfortunately, I don’t think cars like the Chevy Volt are going to be all that practical. I am sure you all can agree that 99% of trips are local, within the 40 mile range of the Volt. So that gas just sits in the tank and goes bad. That will make gasoline purchases be complete wastes of money, even though they’d be far fewer and farther between. It is an interesting concept, though.
However, new things like this ultra-capacitor will, I think evolutionize the auto industry and revolutionize the portable electronics industry.
-Mike
When every house in north america has one in their garage and every business has one in their building. We will have the storage capacity enough to capture Lightning and all it’s vast amount of energy.
cheers
Can’t wait much longer and rid our world of fossil fuels and all the perils it brings.