THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC

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Humor me if I repeat myself here and there...


There is a component being developed, called the 'supercapacitor' 'ultracapacitor', that is about to revolutionize the automotive industry -- and doubtless many other industries -- by replacing batteries with something much better.

One could say it's a bit of a shame that ultracapacitor developer EEStor is partnered with Canada's Zenn Motor as opposed to, for a couple of examples, California's Aptera Motors or Tesla Motors, but then there's something to be said for being associated with a firm that delivers an affordable product. Let's just hope Zenn's 'highway speed vehicle' is blessed with better styling than their current, low-speed offering -- but I digress...

Capacitors store electrical energy. They can be charged quickly, and can discharge quickly. A super- or ultracapacitor is capable of storing much MORE energy. The quick charging time of capacitors was undoubtedly part of the inspiration for developing capacitors to 'super' and 'ultra' levels. Someone must have thought, "Hey, if the performance of capacitors can be significantly increased, they could replace rechargeable batteries -- and outperform them!"

But, creating something in a laboratory is one thing, and mass-producing it and offering it to the public is another thing altogether. And, if you've got something with this kind of potential, you'll want to keep your cards close to your chest. So, we'll have to wait and wonder, while the general public remains completely in the dark -- and manufacturers relying on battery technology officially dismiss the idea as fantasy.


Now, let's just suspend disbelief for a moment. If this new type of energy storage system can do what they say it does, batteries will soon be relegated to history. While it remains to be seen how much more quickly they will charge as compared to batteries at the input power level we're used to, a high-voltage, high-amperage system could fully charge an ultracapacitor-equipped electric vehicle in about five minutes (so they say).

What this means for the automotive industry, ultimately, is the abandonment of the internal combustion engine. When electric vehicles attain the kind of range we've come to expect, coupled with charging times quick enough to mimic refueling times (and once enough charging stations are in place), why would any vehicle manufacturer want to stick with internal combustion?

Early adopters will no doubt face a bit of a challenge, but let's just say for the sake of argument that at 220 volts, ultracapacitors will charge in about half the time as lithium-ion batteries. That becomes very significant when you're talking about a partial charge, and a 220-volt home charging station is a relative cakewalk to wire up.

I really have no idea what the specs are, or will be -- but for that matter almost no one does. You'd have to ask the scientists, engineers, and technicians involved. Expect them to be sworn to secrecy for a while, though, maybe for as much as a year. It could be that their systems' performance will outstrip early claims right out of the box. Then again, those estimates might not be met or surpassed for a while yet. And, who knows how much these systems will cost...


Right now, even if you have to scrounge up a used forklift motor and buy a truckload of golf cart batteries, it makes sense to convert an existing car to electric. There are more and more conversion specialists going into business, if you're not up to doing the job yourself.

Me, I'd open a place called 'Harmonic Conversions' and have my mechanics wear overalls with QUANTUM embroidered on their backs...


It would be, will be, completely natural for some of these conversion outfits to begin offering original product. Some may order kits to assemble for customers, as electric replicas / enhanced versions of classics. Others will no doubt go a step further, and roll out their own creations. Existing kit car manufacturers will likely begin to offer electric power options.

For that matter, there have already been kit car customers who intended from the beginning to install batteries and electric motors instead of fuel tanks and gasoline engines, dating way back to the early days of kitting.


Where does Tellurian Motors fit in? Well, I don't want to have to deal with government regulations more than I have to. Many kit car companies manage to offer turnkey vehicles, by separating component sales from assembly fees -- and some even manage to refuse to sell kits without assembly. This is a loophole I'd like to exploit, should I manage to reach the point where I'm not just building my designs for myself and a few close contacts. I wouldn't have to sacrifice any complete rollers to crash-testing, or lower myself to including airbags (which are never necessary if occupants are properly restrained and the vehicle is well-engineered -- or for that matter, if you're smart and diligent enough to avoid a serious collision).

Don't get me started about government.


The major manufacturers are about to be caught out. Hybrids? They're all proud of themselves for offering parallel hybrids, while plug-in series hybrids are much more efficient. Beyond that, any series hybrid is easily converted to pure electric. What are they thinking? They won't be able to switch over quickly enough.

No, they never should have 'killed' the electric car. Had they continued with their programs, they could have avoided being shown up by the much smaller companies that have since sprung up to (partially) fill the void.


We want electric cars, and we want solar panels. We want to rid ourselves of our dependence upon the enormous corporations that provide us with fuel and electricity. Will this level of liberty be allowed?

I say YES.

The times, they are a-changin'. The end of the world, as we know it, will not be a bad thing. Never mind political and/or social influences -- technological advances will have enough effect on their own. Sure, behind the scenes there has been a development that will assure that technology is no longer suppressed, but the vast majority will never know about it until their children and grandchildren tell them, wondering how they could have missed it.


Tellurian Motors, if it ever exists outside my own mind, will be building "vehicles for Planet Earth and beyond". They'll be rare, and sought after by discerning individuals, and powered by the latest technology available. If at some point I have to start designing flying saucers, so be it.


Stay crunchy.



Phil Smith
April 5, 2008

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