Mystery blogger offers insight into secretive EEStor
There’s no shortage of speculation about EEStor Inc., the Texas-based energy storage company that claims it will change the world with its super-dooper, disruptive, “this changes everything” ultracapactor. But one anonymous blogger has been digging around and is managing to piece together a decent — although not necessarily accurate — picture of what’s going on at the secretive company. Some have accused this blogger of being Dick Weir, EEStor’s media-loathing founder and CEO, or Ian Clifford, CEO and founder of ZENN Motor Co., which is a minority owner in EEStor and has exclusive license to use its technology in certain vehicle applications. But the blogger in question attempted to clear the air today, pointing out he’s not an employee of EEStor or ZENN, has no friends at the companies or special relationships. He’s just an average joe — in the D.C. area, I have learned — interested in the technology and who likes to dig around. A ZENN stock pumper? Impossible to know. But if you’re to believe the posting, he seems to be having more success than professional journalists like me. One financial analyst, who has access to EEStor, told me Dick Weir talks to this blogger because, “It amuses him. He gets a kick out of it.” There you go.
So what’s the latest poop on EEStor from blogger central? You can read it here if you’re interested. Some of the points raised I’ve heard as well, but haven’t been able to nail down as fact. But if you’re to believe what you read, EEStor is almost done its Web sites, has filed 21 new patents, and is putting a plan together to raise capital that would go toward a seven-fold expansion of its current pilot production line. Apparently the long-awaited permeativity tests, not yet released, have been known for some time. Dick Weir is simply choosing to release the results at the same time as putting up the new Web site and announcing the new patent filings. At which time, he’ll be prepared — and more accepting of — the flood of questions from media and investors. Can’t wait. Certainly, the aim here is to raise a whack of capital, perhaps using ZENN’s stock, in reaction to this frenzy, as a proxy for the market value of EEStor.
We shall see. Certainly, if a company like ZENN is to meet its promise of having a highway-speed vehicle based on ZENN’s technology within the next two years, EEStor must be making some progress behind the scenes.
Tyler Hamilton is senior energy reporter and columnist for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. In addition to this Clean Break blog, Tyler writes a weekly column of the same name that discusses trends, happenings and innovators in the cleantech market. This blog is a personal project started in April 2005. It is not an official blog of the newspaper. Tyler can be reached at tyler@cleanbreak.ca
July 18th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Interesting info on the mystery blogger, if true- because if true, then it seems to up the odds that Eestor is closer to reality then vaporware- and I would very much like to believe that it is going to be wildly successful- but, as they say, something about large granules of sodium-chloride come to mind…
July 18th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
If I might ask an unrelated question- there is another blog, the EnergyBlog, run by an older gentlemen (even older than I am!) named Jim Fraser- his blog has quoted yours quite a bit since I have been reading it over the last year- anyway, it appears to have ‘died’ – no new postings in a couple of months. Just curious if you know why, or if something happened to Mr. Fraser?
Thanks!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
You know, I’ve been thinking the same thing. I don’t know, honestly. Actually, I’ve been a little concerned. I’m hoping it’s just because he’s away or has lost interest.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I believe that Bariumtitanate, as well as nearly everyone else that has had a fascination with EEStor’s behavior has missed one critical point. And I believe that it’s a point, that when you factor it in with everything else, explains EEStor’s/Zenn’s/KPCB’s behavior around the ESU.
I’ve been watching the EEStor/Zenn/KPCB thing since EEStor was first talked about on Slashdot a few years ago. I’d come to the same conclusions as the gentleman on bariumtitanate quite some time ago, but about a year and a half ago I came to realize that the ESU is a military weapon of incredible potential.
If it’s true that EEStor has created an electrical capacitor with capabilities anywhere close to what they’ve claimed, they have created a military weapon of a potential that I’d find difficult to put into words. There are any number of high energy weapons that are just waiting in the wings for something like the EEStor ESU.
If it’s true, just as an example, Air Power is now null and void. The fastest jet or drone is just a clay pidgen to a multi-megawatt mobile laser.
Literally, military conflict as we know it would be a thing of the past. I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but I know for certain that it will be a true statement if the military forces of the world got their hands on this thing.
Every time I read something about people wondering why EEStor isn’t saying anything and why they aren’t kissing the feet of investors, I want to grab the author and chant “It’s a game changing weapon! Forget about everything else!”. EEStor doesn’t need to kiss anyones feet. With that in mind, go back and look at EEStor’s behavior.
Now, going back to Colin Powell’s supposed interaction with EEStor and KPCB, and Lockheed’s confirmed involvement with EEStor. If you take that in mind when reading the bariumtitanate article, EEStor’s actions begin to make more sense (at least to me).
Dick Weir has made a weapon that can sit right next to nuclear weapons in it’s strategic worth. It will also have immense tactical value. People may not see that day one, but eventually, they will see it. I’m quite sure that Lockheed sees it. Google: Lockheed high energy weapons.
Mobile power for the soldier of the future my foot…
Now, here’s the strange thing, personally, I’m not to worried about the fact that this will be used to create the next round of superweapons. I honestly believe that the reason that the military is out of the way on this is that they believe that energy independence is a key strategic goal, and if that means everyone gets a perfect missle/aircraft defense system and railguns that lob slugs that weigh tonnes over 200km, then that’s worth the price. Imagine Iran with no oil revenue. I’m sure the US Military has.
Honestly, this entire thing is a series of strategic maneuvers on the part of the US Government. When you start to think about it, if there really is an ESU, a lot of what has been happening around EEStor would make sense. If there really is an ESU, the rabbit hole would be fairly deep.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Hi Tyler,
Forgive my clumsy and low class attempt to reach you.
I emailed you on 5/12/08 “EEStor’s WIPO documentation – technical manufacturing and prototype test results” but never got a response.
As that failed, may I try again?
http://nekote2.blogspot.com/2008/07/eestor-wipo-patentdoc.html
and
http://nekote2.blogspot.com/2008/07/impressions-of-eestor-ultra-capacitor.html
A helluva’ lot more genuine technical detail than I found, so far, any place else on the web.
I loved how they use -150
July 20th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Tyler
Can you point out in the blooger info which you heard but could not validate? like you mention in one blog here about facility expansion, also he is talking to dick weir’s? what about when web site etc?
Also are you in the process of contacting eesto/zenn/etc on the blog posting and comments?
Ok, now that the cat our of the bag, any production eesu being tested not permittivity but real world essu applications?
July 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I’m not interested in speculating anymore. If this blogger wants to do that, it’s fine with me. It’s why I directed people from my blog to his. If I have learned something first-hand from credible sources, then I will write something — if not on this blog then in the Toronto Star or Technology Review or somewhere else. I have no interest anymore in feeding the rumour mill, though I’m still interest in listening in.
I imagine more will come out within the next few months, directly from EEStor. At this point we can stop the speculation and start chewing on real data and info.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Fair enough, you broke the story and been fair to eestor, always been professional, can’t say they have been the same to you. Thanks for the articles, the blogs on eestor, etc., and we keep coming back for your excellent journalism on related subjects.
Thanks Tyler,
July 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I disagree with one of your major points: if this capacitor works, it will have a tactical value far, far in excess of the value of nuclear weapons. It would completely obsolete nuclear weapons (no missile or bomber could get through an energy weapon based point defence network). Our energy/particle weapons are currently just sitting around waiting for a decent energy storage solution. Right now military lasers are all but useless due to the bulk of their power source (either chemical or electrical, depending on the laser type). With a capacitor like this that would all change. And if all our cars became electric? You’re right. Something like ~50% of our oil usage is for automobiles. Take that away and oil prices fall like a rock.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:14 am
On your point with Military value, strategic vs tactical. I agree completely. The fact that it’s of revolutionary military importance is the concept that I was trying to get across.
When looking at EEStor, I believe that fact must be taken into consideration when attempting to understand EEStor’s behavior.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
A quick look this morning (7/21/08) at the U.S Patent database (www.uspto.gov) shows nothing new filed for either eestor of weir: richard dean.
Guy in SB
July 21st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
You’re not interested in “feeding the rumor mill” anymore?
Then why are you linking to an anonymous blogger?
–Franklin
July 21st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Cause it’s the summer and I have nothing better to write about, perhaps.
Wow, you are a skeptical one with little faith in humanity. Are you 90 years old, or something? Because you are crusty.
Pointing out someone’s blog is not akin to feeding the rumour mill. I’m just as interested in the fascination that people have with Eestor as the technology itself.
Man, I only wish I had money to invest in some stocks. But if I did, I can tell you right now it wouldn’t be ZENN. Why don’t you get your mind out of the gutter and contribute something constructive to this blog.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:33 pm
It makes sense to not have the new patents filed in EEstor’s name or Weir’s name at this point. They can have an attorney or somebody with power of attorney who will not raise any flags in a patent search apply for the patents and then after they are granted, they may be assigned to EESTOR and WEIR. Such arrangement would be set out in a contract prior to the patent application.
If those 22 new patents hold the keys to the kingdom, it would be better to keep it stealth.
Read this:
“Joint Ownership
Patents may be owned jointly by two or more persons as in the case of a patent granted to joint inventors, or in the case of the assignment of a part interest in a patent. Any joint owner of a patent, no matter how small the part interest, may make, use, offer for sale and sell and import the invention for his or her own profit provided they do not infringe another’s patent rights, without regard to the other owners, and may sell the interest or any part of it, or grant licenses to others, without regard to the other joint owner, unless the joint owners have made a contract governing their relation to each other. It is accordingly dangerous to assign a part interest without a definite agreement between the parties as to the extent of their respective rights and their obligations to each other if the above result is to be avoided.
The owner of a patent may grant licenses to others. Since the patentee has the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling or importing the invention, no one else may do any of these things without his/her permission. A patent license agreement is in essence nothing more than a promise by the licensor not to sue the licensee. No particular form of license is required; a license is a contract and may include whatever provisions the parties agree upon, including the payment of royalties, etc.
The drawing up of a license agreement (as well as assignments) is within the field of an attorney at law. Such attorney should be familiar with patent matters as well. A few States have prescribed certain formalities to be observed in connection with the sale of patent rights.”
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#joint
July 21st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Sorry Tyler, I am at a loss as to why, if you had money, you would not invest in ZENN? Would you explain why? I thought you were both supportive and hopeful of ZENN and its relationship with EEstor?
July 21st, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Why? Because EEStor is Highly speculative, with a capital H. This doesn’t mean I’m not interested or don’t support what it’s doing. I’m hopeful, and follow it closely. Investing in ZENN, as a publicly traded proxy for EEStor, would seem to me even worse. I’m a big fan of ZENN, but its stock value doesn’t reflect its real business — it only reflects the potential for EEStor. If you took away EEStor ZENN would be a penny stock. No disrespect to ZENN. It’s just fact. Some people have an appetite for risk, some don’t. I don’t buy lottery tickets or gamble in Vegas, either. Those who invest in the company will either get rich, or they will lose their shirts. It’s a coin toss at this point, given the lack of information and the secrecy around EEStor.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:39 am
What would happen to all of this if someone comes up with a simpler, far less expensive process for developing electrodes which have 30 times more storage than EEStors ESU?
Stay tuned for info to be announced in 3-6 months!
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
I dont think the patent would be valid if the proper inventors name were not on it.
On your search, did you turn up the other patents or published applications? Sometimes their search engine doesnt work well.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 am
I just answered my own question. Putting EEStor in as assignee does not bring up any published applications, you may be right about his disguising the connection.
But, if you put Weir in as Inventor, and Cedar Park as Inventor City, you come up with four applications, two of which are relatively new, and show some of the direction he is going in. Unlike some of the previous patents/applciations, these seem professional:
20070148065 Method of preparing ceramic powders using chelate precursors
20080031796 Method of preparing ceramic powders using ammonium oxalate
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’ll see your 30 and raise you 100.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Perhaps it is time to change your online poll.
What Canadian Clean Tech business would you invest $100,000?
a. ZENN
b. 6N Silicon
c. Railpower
d. Magenn Power
Darklamp
July 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am
lots of new patent info available here
http://bariumtitanate.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-eestor-patent.html?showComment=1216883280000#c789254974466907237
July 26th, 2008 at 1:37 am
Looks like EESTOR has a competitor The company’s press release http://www.1-ltl.com/press%20release.htm
pending patent links http://www.1-ltl.com/patent.htm