Another episode in the drama of EEstor - the privately owned potential game changing technology developer that has yet to produce a prototype for public inspection - is the public endorsement or EEstor’s recent milestone announcement by Zenn and Zenn’s decision to increase its investment in EEstor.   Zenn (ZNNMF) is the only way for the public to participate in EEstor.   Here and here are my recent reports on the Zenn/EEstor back-story.

The current development has Zenn “independently verifying” EEstor’s recent announcement of significant permittivity (energy storage capacity) by its technology.  Zenn now is acting on its option to increase its investment in EEstor on the same terms as its original $2.5 million investment that bought them 3.8% of EEstor.   The new investment will reportedly bring Zenn to between 6.2% and 10.5% ownership of EEstor, depending on the actions of other investors.

There is ample room for skepticism on multiple aspects of this story.  First - is there really a product here?  Second - will it work in the real world as it is reported to do in the lab?  Third - if EEstor does become a huge success, will the venture capitalists who control the company work cooperatively with Zenn or will Zenn be muscled out somehow?  Despite what has to be viewed as very long odds, I think the Zenn/EEstor story is sufficiently interesting - given the terrific record of Kleiner Perkins, the lead investor, and the apparent interest of Lockheed Martin - that I continue to own Zenn shares, which have done well of late.

Here is the full press release:

ZENN Motor Company Confirms EEStor’s Third-Party Certified Permittivity Results and Announces Intent

ZENN Motor Company Inc. (”ZMC” or “the Company”) (TSX VENTURE:ZNN), a leading developer of zero emission transportation solutions and technologies, is pleased to announce that it has completed its due diligence on EEStor, Inc.’s (”EEStor”) stated permittivity results of the manufacturing-grade chemicals to be used in EEStor’s Electrical Energy Storage Units (EESU). The permittivity results were publicly announced by EEStor in a press release dated April 22, 2009 which they subsequently updated in a press release on April 29, 2009.

The verification process followed by ZMC was compliant with its Technology Agreement with EEStor. The Company contracted with Professional Testing (EMI), Inc. (PTI) located in Round Rock, Texas to verify calibration and suitability of the test equipment to accurately measure capacitance over a defined temperature range in order to determine permittivity. This verification procedure was performed by PTI before and after Dr. Golla performed the retesting on ZMC’s behalf. PTI is a test laboratory with over 20 years operating experience and has ISO 17025 accreditation from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program. The permittivity re-testing was conducted on hot-pressed dielectric layers provided by EEStor and certified by them to have been made of materials produced on their production line. Dr. Edward D. Golla, a PhD in Analytical Chemistry, was independently contracted by ZMC and re-performed the testing of the dielectric layers. Dr. Golla is the Laboratory Director of Texas Research International, Austin, Texas. Dr. Golla’s relevant experience includes the application of instrumental techniques to analytical problems and he has also taught Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis at schools such as St. Edwards University and Southwestern University of Georgetown, Texas. ZMC received full cooperation from the management of EEStor in completing the verification process.

Texas-based EEStor disclosed that it had over-achieved on the key Technology Agreement milestone of permittivity levels for its Composition Modified Barium Titanate powders (CMBT), the main material in their ultracapacitor energy storage technology. The tests undertaken by the Company as outlined above confirmed the attainment of a relative permittivity of at least 22,500 over an operating temperature range of -20 to +65 degrees centigrade.

As a result of the verification of this significant milestone, ZMC will pay EEStor, Inc. the next milestone payment of US $700,000.00 in accordance with the Technology Agreement between the two companies.

“The permittivity results exceed the specifications outlined in our Technology Agreement by over 21 percent,” stated Michael Bergeron, VP of Engineering at ZMC. “Our engineering team has been working hard in preparation for the integration of EEStor’s technology into our planned range of Electric Vehicle offerings including the cityZENN^TM and ZENNergy^TM drivetrains and the permittivity results provide a great incentive for us to further increase our investment in this regard.”

The Company considers the high relative permittivity achieved by EEStor on its CMBT material, when viewed in conjunction with and in large part as a result of EEStor’s previously communicated accomplishments, to be an important step towards EEStor’s planned commercialization of EESUs that meet or exceed the specifications outlined in the Technology Agreement between the two companies.

Energy storage is directly proportional to permittivity, so by having attained a permittivity level that is at least 21 percent higher than the target stated within the Technology Agreement, even higher energy density is possible at the same working voltage over the temperature range of -20 to +65 degrees centigrade. Furthermore, EEStor’s past press releases have indicated:

a) their attainment of a very narrow particle size distribution in the range of 1 micron (an important determinant of permittivity);

b) extreme purification levels of the constituent chemicals, including aluminum oxide in the parts-per-trillion level (a key factor in the target working voltage without voltage breakdown); and

c) their ability to tune the constituents of the CMBT powders so as to allow them to operate deep within the paraelectric phase, which assists EEStor in meeting the high working voltages outlined in the Company’s EESU specification.

“The permittivity results are a very significant event for ZMC,” said Ian Clifford, Chief Executive Officer of ZENN Motor Company. “We look forward to the achievement of the final milestone under our agreement, the delivery of a full production quality EESU in accordance with our specifications.”

The EEStor EESU is expected to outperform every chemical battery on the market in terms of energy density, charge time, cost, and overall performance. According to EEStor, their energy storage technology is expected to provide the following key characteristics once commercialized:

- A fraction of the weight and volume of the most advanced chemical battery technology for the equivalent amount of energy storage

- The EESU will not contain any hazardous materials

- The EESU’s storage capacity will NOT be reduced by extremes in temperature

- Being a solid-state ceramic device, the EESU’s storage capacity and life expectancy will NOT be reduced with extensive charge-recharge cycles

- The EESU is capable of recharging at electronic speeds

- The EESU will be comprised of constituent powders that are fully recyclable

- The EESU will not suffer from self-discharge and can be stored for months in a fully charged state with minimal loss of energy

- The EESU will be priced attractively relative to advanced chemical batteries and will allow for viable and affordable electric vehicles

Through a wholly-owned subsidiary, the Company made a US $2.5 million equity investment in EEStor on April 30, 2007, for an approximate 3.8% ownership position of EEStor. Under the terms of the initial share purchase agreement, ZMC has an additional investment option of up to US $5 million at the same valuation upon EEStor’s successful completion of this permittivity milestone. The investment is subject to reduction based on participation by other EEStor shareholders.

“We now plan to increase our shareholder position in EEStor to the fullest extent possible,” stated Ian Clifford. “In addition to our exclusive automotive applications, our equity position in EEStor gives our shareholders a stake in the many potential mass applications EEStor can pursue, such as powering portable consumer electronics, improving the performance of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar generation, and increasing the efficiency and stability of power grids around the world.” Should the other EEStor shareholders exercise their maximum investment, the Company’s additional investment would be limited to US$2,000,000. The Company’s total minimum and maximum equity interest in EEStor following the investment would be in the range of approximately 6.2% to 10.5%. Details of the additional equity investment will be provided by the Company when determined.

ABOUT ZENN MOTOR COMPANY

www.ZENNcars.com

ZENN Motor Company, Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to being the global leader in zero emission transportation solutions and technologies for markets around the world. Driven by quality, ingenuity, and a philosophy of social responsibility, the ZMC team is redefining what is possible in both urban and business fleet transportation.

The ZENN^TM (Zero Emission No Noise) provides an excellent alternative transportation solution for environmentally conscious drivers who want to dramatically reduce their operating costs and free themselves from dependence on oil. The current ZENN low speed vehicle is perfect for urban commuters and commercial fleets such as resorts, gated communities, airports, college and business campuses, municipalities, and parks and is sold through a network of retailers across the United States and directly by the Company in Quebec.

The planned commercialization and implementation of the ultra capacitor being developed by ZENN Motor Company’s strategic partner EEStor, Inc., is expected to enable future ZENN vehicles and ZENNergy drivetrain-powered vehicles to travel at speeds and distances similar to internal combustion powered vehicles but at a fraction of the cost and with zero emissions. Under its Technology Agreement with EEStor, ZMC holds the worldwide exclusive rights to incorporate EEStor’s energy storage technology for new passenger vehicles up to 1,400 kilograms curb weight; golf cart and utility vehicles and the conversion of any class of used internal combustion 4-wheel vehicles to electric.

Tags: peak oil investments

This entry was posted on Monday, May 25th, 2009 at 11:13 am and is filed under Ultracapacitors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.