Lockheed Signs with EEStor to Use New Ultracapacitor

Over a year ago, we discussed a start-up company, EEStor, that was making incredible claims about their new power source. Later, EEStor made waves with its bold predictions and secretive policies. Now, Lockheed Martin has decided to give EEStor a chance. The two companies signed a deal this week to use the new energy storage units in Lockheed's products. The folks at GM-Volt interviewed a Lockheed representative about the deal. The representative had this to say regarding EEStor: "We've visited their facility. We were very impressed. They are taking an approach that lends itself to a very quick ramp-up in production. We've seen a lot of their testing and efforts to measure the purity of the powders that they use, and the chemistry. Well be working with them very closely this year to develop prototypes in certain pursuits."

Comments

They have to actually MAKE them, first.

[fyngyrz]

They've missed the publicly announced milestone, and there is a lot of speculation about the practicality of the method. Don't get me wrong, I *really* want them to succeed, but so far, it's 100% vapor.

Re:They have to actually MAKE them, first.

[Amorymeltzer]

Articles state Lockheed will be helping out in that department - it's a complete collaboration and will probably give 'em a chance. Lockheed's got more pull and power than most anyone else, so in this arena their input is good for development. Now, whether you'd rather have this thing drop immediately into the hands of military contractors is another issue, but you've got to admit - they get the job done.

Run for it, Marty

[Dachannien]

If this ultracapacitor can discharge its energy at a rate of 1.21 jigawatts, it's no wonder Lockheed's interested.

Re:Run for it, Marty

[BobSixtyFour]

With a discharge like that, the only thing that can charge it up is a bolt of lighting!

Re:Run for it, Marty

[evilviper]

With a discharge like that, the only thing that can charge it up is a bolt of lighting!

I realize this is just a joke, but that is in fact a great idea. We are looking for ever cheaper energy, and lightning is extremely high power, and rather constant in certain areas. If cheap enough storage devices could instantly store it, it would make an incredibly good power source.

Re:Run for it, Marty

[TheRaven64]

When I was checking in to fly a little while ago, I was asked if I was carrying anything 'that could be used as a weapon.' I thought for a second, and came to the conclusion that I was carrying very little that couldn't be used as a weapon with a little ingenuity. In the interests of a quiet life, I didn't explain this to the security operative, I just mumbled 'no' and carried on.

Re:Run for it, Marty

[evilviper]

Doc> Unfortunately you never know when or where it's ever going to strike.

In fact, scientists are really quite good at causing a storm to develop a lightning strike exactly where they want it. Shoot a grounded cable into the clouds, and you've got extremely good odds. For a more sustainable method, building a tower in the absolute middle of nowhere in the flat plains of the US would guarantee a steady supply of lightning strikes, without moving parts, or much maintenance.

Not to be confused with..

[The Living Fractal]

Not to be confused with an 'ultracrapacitor' which is apparently something that exists within the guy in the cubicle next to mine... And let me tell you this: it is *real* vapor ware.

Hmmm

[antifoidulus]

measure the purity of the powders that they use

Meaning they let the executives snort the primo cocaine off the hooker's pelvis.

Maybe 5% chance this is legit....

[gweihir]

It has all the telltales of fraud or of people havinfg unjustified high hopes for their product because of a self-delusion. Of course there is a small chance of this working. Break-througfhs have been made before. But they should not be believed until they produce a working prototype and it has been evaluated thoroughly by an impattiel third party. In the past, this type of claims were either never deliverd on, or it turned out that the devices could not be made to last long. Making an energy-storage device last long is not an engineering task, that can be planned or that is typically successful.