EEStor

The claims are described in detail in several of the company's patents.{{cite patent |country=US |number=7033406 |title=Electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) utilizing ceramic and integrated-circuit technologies for replacement of electrochemical batteries |pubdate=2006-04-25 |inventor1-last=Weir |inventor1-first=Richard Dean |inventor2-last=Nelson |inventor2-first=Carl Walter |assign1=EEStor, Inc.}}{{cite patent |country=US |number=7466536 |title=Utilization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) plastic and composition-modified barium titanate powders in a matrix that allows polarization and the use of integrated-circuit technologies for the production of lightweight ultrahigh electrical energy storage units (EESU) |pubdate=2008-12-16 |inventor1-last=Weir |inventor1-first=Richard Dean |inventor2-last=Nelson |inventor2-first=Carl Walter |assign1=EEStor, Inc.}}

The following is how EEStor's energy storage device (sometimes referred to the EESU) is claimed to compare to electrochemical batteries used for electric cars:{{cite web |url=http://www.zennergy.com/ |title=Zennergy |publisher=Zennergy.com |date=21 April 2011 |accessdate=2013-11-06}}

• No degradation from charge/discharge cycles

Several delays in production occurred and there has not been a public demonstration of the uniquely high energy density claims of the inventors.{{cite web|author=Lyle |url=http://gm-volt.com/2010/04/22/zenneestor-update/ |title=Zenn/EESTOR Update – April 22, 2010 |publisher=gm-volt.com |date=2010-04-22 |accessdate=2011-05-21}} This has led to the speculation that the claims are false. In January 2007 EEStor stated in a press release "EEStor, Inc. remains on track to begin shipping production 15 kilowatt-hour Electrical Energy Storage Units (EESU) to ZENN Motor Company in 2007 for use in their electric vehicles."{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/eestor-announces-two-key-production-milestones-automated-production-line-proven-third-631210.htm |title=EEStor Announces Two Key Production Milestones: Automated Production Line Proven and Third Party Verification of All Key Production Chemicals Completed |publisher=Marketwire.com |date=2007-01-17 |accessdate=2013-11-06}} In September 2007, EEStor co-founder Richard Weir told CNET production would begin in the middle of 2008.{{cite web|last=Kanellos |first=Michael |url=http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9770849-7.html |title=Is EEStor delaying its power system for cars? – September 4, 2007 |publisher=news.com |date=2007-09-04 |accessdate=2009-09-21}} In August 2008, it was reported he stated "as soon as possible in 2009".{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21171/page2/ |title=Better Batteries Charge Up |publisher=Technology Review |date= |accessdate=2009-09-21}} ZENN Motor Company (ZMC) denied there was a delay, just a clarification of the schedule, separating "development" and "commercialization".{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?ch=specialsections&sc=batteries&id=18086&a=f|title=Official Response from Zenn on delay of EEStor (under Comment section written by afjerry on 09/11/2007 at 9:47 PM)|date=2007-09-11}} In March 2008 Zenn stated in a quarterly report a "late 2009" launch was scheduled for an EEStor-enabled EV.{{cite web |url=http://www.zenncars.com/media/documents/FY08_Q2_Management_Discussion_Analysis.pdf |title=ZENN : Management's Discussion and Analysis |publisher=Zenncars.com |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319213824/http://www.zenncars.com/media/documents/FY08_Q2_Management_Discussion_Analysis.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-19 }} In December 2009 Zenn announced that production of the lead acid based ZENN LSV would end April 30, 2010. At that time Zenn did not announce a date for production of an EEstor based car.

In July 2009 ZENN Motor Company invested an additional $5 million in EEStor, increasing its share of ownership to 10.7%.{{cite web|url=http://www.emediaworld.com/press_release/release_detail.php?id=623265 |title=ZENN Motor Company increases ownership of EEStor |publisher=Emediaworld.com |date= |accessdate=2009-09-21}} A Zenn press release indicates they were able to get a 10.7% stake because other EEStor investors did not increase their stake.{{cite web |url=http://www.zenncars.com/media/press_rel/07_08/EEStor_confirms_progress_July30.pdf |title=News Release : Zenn Motor Company's Strategic Energy Storage Partner, EESTOR Inc. Confirms Progress Towards Commercialization of Its Technology |publisher=Zenncars.com |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319213832/http://www.zenncars.com/media/press_rel/07_08/EEStor_confirms_progress_July30.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-19 }}

In a press release dated February 2021, the company announced it was changing its name to "Fuelpositive Corporation".https://eestorcorp.com/2021/02/04/eestor-corporation-announces-that-it-will-change-its-name-to-fuelpositive-corporation/ "EEstor Corporation Announces That It Will Change Its Name to Fuelpostive Corporation", retrieved February 24, 2021

EEStor's claims for the EESU exceed by orders of magnitude the energy storage capacity of any capacitor currently sold. Many in the industry have expressed skepticism about the claims. Jim Miller, vice president of advanced transportation technologies at Maxwell Technologies and capacitor expert, stated he was skeptical because of current leakage typically seen at high voltages and because there should be microfractures from temperature changes. He stated "I'm surprised that Kleiner has put money into it."{{cite web|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/business/18086/ |title=Battery Breakthrough? |publisher=Technology Review |date= |accessdate=2009-09-21}}

EEStor's claims for the comprehensive permittivity, breakdown strength, and leakage performance of their dielectric material far exceeded those understood to be consistent with the fundamental physical capabilities of any known elemental material or composite structure. For example, the thermochemical theory of polar molecular bond strengths has been confirmed to be valid for a wide range of low-$\backslash kappa$ thru high-$\backslash kappa$ paraelectric materials, and shows that there exists a near universal inverse relationship ($\backslash beta\; \backslash propto\; \backslash kappa^\{-1/2\}$) between a material's permittivity ($\backslash kappa$) and its intrinsic (i.e. defect-free, and thus likely optimal) breakdown strength ($\backslash beta$).{{cite journal |title=Trends in the Ultimate Breakdown Strength of High Dielectric-Constant Materials, J.W. McPherson et.al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 2003 |journal=IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices |volume=50 |issue=8 |pages=1771–1778 |doi=10.1109/TED.2003.815141 |year=2003 |last1=McPherson |first1=J.W. |last2=Jinyoung Kim |last3=Shanware |first3=A. |last4=Mogul |first4=H. |last5=Rodriguez |first5=J.}}

EEStor reports a large relative permittivity (19818) at an unusually high electric field strength of 350 MV/m, giving 10⁴ J/cm³ (10³ W⋅h/L) in the dielectric. Voltage independence of permittivity was claimed up to 500 V/μm to within 0.25% of low voltage measurements. Variation in permittivity at a single voltage for 10 different components was claimed by measurements in the patent to be less than ±0.15%. If true, their capacitors store at least 30 times more energy per volume than (other) cutting-edge methods such as nanotube designs by Dr Schindall at M.I.T.,{{cite web |url=http://www.rle.mit.edu/rleonline/People/JoelSchindall_cv.pdf |title=Joel Schindall, Ph.D. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612162723/http://www.rle.mit.edu/rleonline/People/JoelSchindall_cv.pdf |archive-date=June 12, 2010 }} Dr. Ducharme's plastics research,{{cite web|url=http://physics.unl.edu/~ducharme/ |title=Stephen Ducharme |publisher=Physics.unl.edu |date=1996-07-09 |accessdate=2013-11-06}} and breakthrough ceramics discussed by Dr. Cann.{{cite web |url=http://www.physics.orst.edu/node/461 |title=High Energy Density Dielectrics Based on Bi-Perovskites | Department of Physics |publisher=Physics.orst.edu |date=2009-04-29 |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319214617/http://www.physics.orst.edu/node/461 |archivedate=2012-03-19 }} Northrop Grumman and BASF have also filed patents with similar theoretical energy density claims.{{cite patent|country=US|number=2007121274|status=application|pubdate=2007-05-31|title=Small volume thin film and high energy density crystal capacitors|inventor1-last=Talvacchio|inventor1-first=John|inventor2-last=Murduck|inventor2-first=James|inventor3-last=DeSalvo|inventor3-first=Gregory|inventor4=Rowland Clarke;Abigail Kirschenbaum;Deborah Partlow}}, since abandoned.{{Cite patent|country=US|number=7023687|pubdate=2006-04-04|title=High energy density capacitors|assign1=BASF AG|inventor1-last=Sterzel|inventor1-first=Hans-Josef|inventor2-last=Kühling|inventor2-first=Klaus}}

The EEStor patents cite a journal articleS. A. Bruno, D. K. Swanson, and I. Burn, J. Am Ceram. Soc. 76, 1233 (1993) and a Philips Corporation patent{{cite patent|country=US|number=6078494|pubdate=2000-06-20|title=Multilayer capacitor comprising barium-titanate doped with silver and rare earth metal|assign1=US Phillips Corp.|inventor1-last=Hansen|inventor1-first=Peter}} as exact descriptions of its "calcined composition-modified barium titanate powder."

EEStor's US patent 7033406 mentions aluminum oxide and calcium magnesium aluminosilicate glass as coatings, although their subsequent US patent 7466536 mentions only aluminum oxide.

EEStor's latest (2016) US patent WO2016094310 mentions a polymer matrix which can include epoxy and ceramic powders including composition modified barium titanate (CMBT). The patent also mentions a layer thickness of 0.1 microns to 100 microns. It also indicates the CMBT particle density in the polymer matrix can be up to 95%. Phase 4 and Phase 5 testing reports used an epoxy/CMBT solution. More recent testing reports from March 2017 are showing samples with CMBT ratios of over 80% and in that same report EEStor mentions plans for near term samples with thickness of 70 microns with plans for greater levels of densification with near complete densification. A targeted near term goal of 110 W⋅h/L energy density 70 micron layer is in development currently.{{cite web|url=http://www.eestorcorp.com/release_march-27-2017.html |title=March 27 EEStor PR}}

In July 2005, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers invested $3 million in EEStor.{{cite news|url=http://www.kpcb.com/files/Fortune_article.pdf|title=Cleanup Crew|last1=Gunther|first1=Marc|last2=Lashinsky|first2=Adam|publisher=Fortune|page=82|date=26 November 2007|accessdate=2011-01-30|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103000403/http://www.kpcb.com/files/Fortune_article.pdf|archivedate=3 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/dealflow/archives/2005/09/kleiner_perkins_1.html|title=Kleiner Perkins' Latest Energy Investment|last=Hibbard|first=Justin|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=3 September 2005|accessdate=2011-01-22|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229130246/http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/dealflow/archives/2005/09/kleiner_perkins_1.html|archivedate=29 December 2010}}

In April 2007, ZENN Motor Company, a Canadian electric vehicle manufacturer, invested $2.5 million in EEStor for 3.8% ownership and exclusive rights to distribute their devices for passenger and utility vehicles weighing up to 1400 kg (excluding capacitor mass), along with other rights.{{cite web |url = http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=648733 |title = ZENN Motor Company Makes Equity Investment in Strategic Partner, EEStor, Inc. |accessdate = 2007-09-10 |publisher = Marketwire}} In July 2009, Zenn invested another $5 million for a 10.7% stake.{{cite web|url=http://www.zenncars.com/media/documents/FY09_Q3_Management_Discussion_Analysis.pdf|title=Zenn 2009 3rd Quarter report|publisher=Zenncars.com|accessdate=2013-11-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319213821/http://www.zenncars.com/media/documents/FY09_Q3_Management_Discussion_Analysis.pdf|archivedate=2012-03-19}} A Zenn press release indicates they were able to get a 10.7% stake because other EEStor investors did not increase their stake. In December 2009 Zenn canceled plans for the car but plans to supply the drive train.{{cite web |url=http://www.zenncars.com/media/press_rel/12_09/ZMC_OPERATIONS_Dec09.pdf |title=Zenn Motor Company Updates on Realignment of Its Business Operations |publisher=Zenncars.com |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301175332/http://www.zenncars.com/media/press_rel/12_09/ZMC_OPERATIONS_Dec09.pdf |archivedate=2012-03-01 }} By April 2010, Zenn had cancelled all production of electric vehicles, leaving ownership of EEStor and their rights to the technology as their focus. Zenn raised CAD$2 million in April 2012, mostly on the promise of EEStor's technology.{{cite news |title=Zenn raises $2-million, without its electric car |author=Tim Kiladze |date=April 19, 2012 |work=Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/streetwise/zenn-raises-2-million-without-its-electric-car/article2407706/ |accessdate=April 27, 2012}}

In January 2008, Lockheed-Martin signed an agreement with EEStor for the exclusive rights to integrate and market EESU units in military and homeland security applications.{{cite web |url=http://pressmediawire.com/article.cfm?articleID=4628 |title=Lockheed Martin Signs Agreement with EEStor, Inc., for Energy Storage Solutions |accessdate=2008-01-09 |publisher=Pressmediawire |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115112801/http://pressmediawire.com/article.cfm?articleID=4628 |archive-date=2008-01-15 |url-status=dead}} In December 2008, a patent application was filed by Lockheed-Martin that mentions EEStor's patent as a possible electrical energy storage unit.{{cite patent |status=application |country=EP |number=2137482 |pubdate=2009-12-30 |title=Garment including electrical energy storage unit |assign1=Lockheed Martin Corp. |inventor1-last=Thomas |inventor1-first=Toby D. |inventor2-last=Hoelscher |inventor2-first=David L.}}, since withdrawn.

In September 2008, Light Electric Vehicles Company announced an agreement with EEStor to exclusively provide EEStor's devices for the two and three wheel market.{{cite web |url=http://www.lightevs.com/2008-09-24LightEVsPressRelease.pdf |title=Light Electric Vehicles Company : Press Release |publisher=Lightevs.com |accessdate=2013-11-06}}

On December 30, 2013, ZENN announces completion of the purchase of Series A preferred shares of EEStor (includes Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers shares and other private holders shares) and the associated rights for US$1.5 million which gives ZENN a total ownership of 41% in EEStor.{{cite web|url=http://www.eestorcorp.com/assets/zenn-completes-eestor-share-purchase.pdf |title=Dec 30 ZENN PR}}

On May 8, 2014, ZENN and EEStor complete an exchange offer which gives ZENN a total ownership of 71.3% in EEStor. Following the ZENN controlling ownership on May 19, Ian Clifford assumes role of CEO following the resignation of James Kofman.{{cite web |url=http://www.eestorcorp.com/assets/zenn-announces-completion-of-exchange-offer-for-eestor-shares.pdf |title=ZENN ownership to 71.3 percent}}{{cite web |url=http://www.eestorcorp.com/assets/zenn-announces-appointment-of-new-director.pdf |title=Ian Clifford assumes control as CEO}}

ZENN Motor Company Inc. has changed its name to "EEStor Corporation" to better reflect the focus and activities of the company.{{cite web |url=http://www.eestorcorp.com/assets/zenn_motor_company_announces_name_change_to_eestor-corporation.pdf |title=ZENN PR on name change to EEStor Corporation}} The name change was approved by shareholders at the company's annual and special meeting held on March 31, 2015. [http://www.eestorcorp.com/ EEStor Corporation] formerly (ZENN Motor Company) publicly trades on the Canadian exchanges as symbol ESU {{cite web |url=https://web.tmxmoney.com/quote.php?qm_symbol=ESU |title=EEStor Corporation [ESU] – EEStor Corporation Stock Quotes – TMXmoney |website=web.tmxmoney.com}} and on the US stock exchanges as OTC stock symbol ZNNMF.[http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/Stock/ZNNMF ZNNMF] EEStor Corporation holds 71% equity while the other percent is held privately.

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• [http://www.eestorcorp.com/ EEStor Corporation]

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Category:Capacitor manufacturers

Category:Companies based in Cedar Park, Texas

Category:Electric vehicle battery manufacturers

Category:Energy storage