creativforce's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/227853/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/174787-fuel-systems-solutions-a-winner-in-the-alternative-fuels-industry?source=feed#comment-775097 775097 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:16:02 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/159355-the-non-stimulating-stimulus-bill?source=feed#comment-659087 659087 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:10:27 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/158422-how-phevs-and-evs-will-sabotage-america-s-drive-for-energy-independence?source=feed#comment-649037 649037 The Prius is a very good start, but that start was 10 years ago! We've spent 8 years in the wilderness under Bush. Thank the good Lord we are finally seeing some innovation. Can't wait to see what wins the X-prize. Hope I can bolt Poulsen Hybrid wheels on my 98 Corolla next year (that oughta be good for another 200,000 miles).]]> Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:45:52 -0400 The Prius is a very good start, but that start was 10 years ago! We've spent 8 years in the wilderness under Bush. Thank the good Lord we are finally seeing some innovation. Can't wait to see what wins the X-prize. Hope I can bolt Poulsen Hybrid wheels on my 98 Corolla next year (that oughta be good for another 200,000 miles).]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/145682-auto-batteries-short-term-revenue-growth-favors-lead-acid-by-6-to-1?source=feed#comment-566866 566866 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:21:07 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/145682-auto-batteries-short-term-revenue-growth-favors-lead-acid-by-6-to-1?source=feed#comment-566789 566789 Fromn Greencar congress:
"Sanyo To Hike NiMH Battery Output 3.5x in FY09 Due to Hybrid Car Demand
29 June 2009
Nikkei. Sanyo Electric Co. will more than triple its production of NiMH batteries for hybrids, citing growing demand for these vehicles.

In fiscal 2008, Sanyo made such batteries for hybrid cars at a rate of 1 million units a month. And when it announced its business results in mid-May, the company said it would boost production by 150% and make 2.5 million units a month in fiscal 2009. But now, Sanyo has decided to boost production by 250% to a monthly rate of 3.5 million batteries in fiscal 2009.

It said it will invest several billion yen to expand production lines at its Sumoto plant, in Hyogo Prefecture, which is the only plant where it makes NiMH batteries for hybrid cars.

Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries to Honda and Ford, and is looking for more customers."]]> Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:39:07 -0400 Fromn Greencar congress:
"Sanyo To Hike NiMH Battery Output 3.5x in FY09 Due to Hybrid Car Demand
29 June 2009
Nikkei. Sanyo Electric Co. will more than triple its production of NiMH batteries for hybrids, citing growing demand for these vehicles.

In fiscal 2008, Sanyo made such batteries for hybrid cars at a rate of 1 million units a month. And when it announced its business results in mid-May, the company said it would boost production by 150% and make 2.5 million units a month in fiscal 2009. But now, Sanyo has decided to boost production by 250% to a monthly rate of 3.5 million batteries in fiscal 2009.

It said it will invest several billion yen to expand production lines at its Sumoto plant, in Hyogo Prefecture, which is the only plant where it makes NiMH batteries for hybrid cars.

Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries to Honda and Ford, and is looking for more customers."]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/134253-tata-nano-about-to-give-detroit-a-run-for-its-money?source=feed#comment-484319 484319 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:24:08 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/134301-zenn-motors-speculative-battery-startup?source=feed#comment-484195 484195
One reason to remain in stealth mode is to accept a king's ransom from oil companies to NOT introduce the product for a decade or so. Is their oil money behind the Kleiner Perkins investments? Or more likely oil money behind the Lockheed Martin agreement?

Read all about it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Main article: Patent encumbrance of large automotive NiMH batteries

Critics claim that large-format NiMH batteries were commercially viable and ready for mass production, but Chevron and other oil-related interests suppressed the technology to forestall the introduction of plug-in hybrids.[40]

In her book, Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, published in February 2007, Sherry Boschert argues that large-format NiMH batteries are commercially viable but that Cobasys refuses to sell or license them to small companies or individuals.Boschert concludes that "it's possible that Cobasys (Chevron) is squelching all access to large NiMH batteries through its control of patent licenses in order to remove a competitor to gasoline. Or it's possible that Cobasys simply wants the market for itself and is waiting for a major automaker to start producing plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles." [41]

In an interview with the Economist, Stan Ovshinsky stated, "I think we at ECD we made a mistake of having a joint venture with an oil company, frankly speaking. And I think it’s not a good idea to go into business with somebody whose strategies would put you out of business, rather than building the business.[42]" In a later interview, however, when asked, "So it’s your opinion that Cobasys is preventing other people from making it for that reason?", he responded "Cobasys is not preventing anybody. Cobasys just needs an infusion of cash.".[43]

In October 2007, International Acquisitions Services, Inc., Innovative Transportation Systems AG and Neville Chamberlain filed suit against Cobasys and its parents for refusing to fill a large, previously agreed-upon order for large-format NiMH batteries to be used in the electric Innovan. [44]]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:16:57 -0400
One reason to remain in stealth mode is to accept a king's ransom from oil companies to NOT introduce the product for a decade or so. Is their oil money behind the Kleiner Perkins investments? Or more likely oil money behind the Lockheed Martin agreement?

Read all about it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Main article: Patent encumbrance of large automotive NiMH batteries

Critics claim that large-format NiMH batteries were commercially viable and ready for mass production, but Chevron and other oil-related interests suppressed the technology to forestall the introduction of plug-in hybrids.[40]

In her book, Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, published in February 2007, Sherry Boschert argues that large-format NiMH batteries are commercially viable but that Cobasys refuses to sell or license them to small companies or individuals.Boschert concludes that "it's possible that Cobasys (Chevron) is squelching all access to large NiMH batteries through its control of patent licenses in order to remove a competitor to gasoline. Or it's possible that Cobasys simply wants the market for itself and is waiting for a major automaker to start producing plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles." [41]

In an interview with the Economist, Stan Ovshinsky stated, "I think we at ECD we made a mistake of having a joint venture with an oil company, frankly speaking. And I think it’s not a good idea to go into business with somebody whose strategies would put you out of business, rather than building the business.[42]" In a later interview, however, when asked, "So it’s your opinion that Cobasys is preventing other people from making it for that reason?", he responded "Cobasys is not preventing anybody. Cobasys just needs an infusion of cash.".[43]

In October 2007, International Acquisitions Services, Inc., Innovative Transportation Systems AG and Neville Chamberlain filed suit against Cobasys and its parents for refusing to fill a large, previously agreed-upon order for large-format NiMH batteries to be used in the electric Innovan. [44]]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/132011-a-very-smart-plan-for-federal-smart-grid-grants?source=feed#comment-471426 471426 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:28:17 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/132011-a-very-smart-plan-for-federal-smart-grid-grants?source=feed#comment-471280 471280
What possible motive do I have for buying efficient battery storage for reliable, green, renewable, or digital technology?

I see a "build it and they will come" mentality at work here. The US government can give money to great ideas until it hurts. But just because a much better technology exists doesn't mean it will be purchased and used.

I see great inventions begging for a market, not a market begging for great inventions.

The US could spend nothing and force Mr. Burns to meet certain federally mandated standards (like the state government in CA has done). If Burns can't make money the old way, he will find a new way. In CA, PG&E and other local monopolies are scrambling to buy renewable energy because the law says they must.

Carbon trading could also create a big market for batteries and renewables.

The government could also rewrite laws to make distributed generation profitable for home owners and small businesses. That would be the most efficient, smart, safe and reliable way to solve the energy problem. And eventually it would make Mr. Burns obsolete. 100 million energy producers is better than a few hundred (plus it would create a dramatically more dynamic market for these products).

Large scale energy production and transmission is terribly wasteful. Those enormous smoke stacks and cooling towers aren't just "blowing smoke" they are wasting 25% of the energy they produce. Those crackling transmission lines aren't just making noise, they are wasting 30% of the energy that flows through them.

You can water and fertilize a seed all you want, but it won't grow in the winter. The government needs to change the season and the seeds will grow. Energy storage stocks would be the hottest thing since GOOG, if the government would focus their efforts on developing a market rather than on the financial problems within these wonderful small companies.

Hopefully the EPA's recent decision to regulate CO2 will force Mr. Burns to buy these products. Incentive should lead invention, because in the morning when we Americans have a problem we get to work and fix it. The way it is now, Mr. Burns has no problems.

]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:17:06 -0400
What possible motive do I have for buying efficient battery storage for reliable, green, renewable, or digital technology?

I see a "build it and they will come" mentality at work here. The US government can give money to great ideas until it hurts. But just because a much better technology exists doesn't mean it will be purchased and used.

I see great inventions begging for a market, not a market begging for great inventions.

The US could spend nothing and force Mr. Burns to meet certain federally mandated standards (like the state government in CA has done). If Burns can't make money the old way, he will find a new way. In CA, PG&E and other local monopolies are scrambling to buy renewable energy because the law says they must.

Carbon trading could also create a big market for batteries and renewables.

The government could also rewrite laws to make distributed generation profitable for home owners and small businesses. That would be the most efficient, smart, safe and reliable way to solve the energy problem. And eventually it would make Mr. Burns obsolete. 100 million energy producers is better than a few hundred (plus it would create a dramatically more dynamic market for these products).

Large scale energy production and transmission is terribly wasteful. Those enormous smoke stacks and cooling towers aren't just "blowing smoke" they are wasting 25% of the energy they produce. Those crackling transmission lines aren't just making noise, they are wasting 30% of the energy that flows through them.

You can water and fertilize a seed all you want, but it won't grow in the winter. The government needs to change the season and the seeds will grow. Energy storage stocks would be the hottest thing since GOOG, if the government would focus their efforts on developing a market rather than on the financial problems within these wonderful small companies.

Hopefully the EPA's recent decision to regulate CO2 will force Mr. Burns to buy these products. Incentive should lead invention, because in the morning when we Americans have a problem we get to work and fix it. The way it is now, Mr. Burns has no problems.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130460-lead-acid-batteries-how-cheap-beat-cool-at-google?source=feed#comment-462775 462775 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:36:01 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/130094-energy-storage-chrysler-a123-alliance-likely-to-spark-interest-in-sector?source=feed#comment-456575 456575 R) in Dedham to Generate On-Site Power with Fuel Cell Technology from UTC Power--PR Newswire]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:06:15 -0400 R) in Dedham to Generate On-Site Power with Fuel Cell Technology from UTC Power--PR Newswire]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130143-200-oil-is-coming-while-we-waste-a-perfectly-good-crisis-part-1?source=feed#comment-456513 456513
When you have the largest concentration of wealth in the world--oil money--working against you, how can you win? ]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:33:50 -0400
When you have the largest concentration of wealth in the world--oil money--working against you, how can you win? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/130094-energy-storage-chrysler-a123-alliance-likely-to-spark-interest-in-sector?source=feed#comment-456149 456149 news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20...

Cyberspies have hacked the energy grid!

Just one more reason why upgrading the grid is becoming an emergency, not an option. Of course I strongly disagree that we should help the energy monopolies upgrade so that we all become even more dependant on them. National and individual security would be better served if the grid was more like the web--a convenience that connected micro energy producers and storage rather than a lifeline that can be easily severed.

Electric transmission allows 30% + waste. Economies of scale don't apply when distribution is so expensive. Better in every way to generate and store energy locally. Also a consumer market would be much better for the storage industry.]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:23:16 -0400 news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20...

Cyberspies have hacked the energy grid!

Just one more reason why upgrading the grid is becoming an emergency, not an option. Of course I strongly disagree that we should help the energy monopolies upgrade so that we all become even more dependant on them. National and individual security would be better served if the grid was more like the web--a convenience that connected micro energy producers and storage rather than a lifeline that can be easily severed.

Electric transmission allows 30% + waste. Economies of scale don't apply when distribution is so expensive. Better in every way to generate and store energy locally. Also a consumer market would be much better for the storage industry.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/129570-lithium-ion-batteries-9-years-of-price-stagnation?source=feed#comment-453388 453388
A better question is why there hasn't been more progress in NIMH battery technology. Ever since Chevron sat its big bottom down on ECD (Cobasys) there has been zero progress out of Detroit.

However, Toyota, the only company that owned a NIMH manufacturing license before Chevron arrived at ECD has done amazing things with it. The new Prius at better than 50 mpg is a great example.

But Ford is encountering shortages from Sanyo and every battery coming from Cobasys is apparently flawed...Mercedes has sued them and GM received an order that had mysterious leaks according to industry news reports: "General Motors is also unable to take advantage of the hot hybrid market. GM recently said that its domestic supplier, Michigan-based Cobasys, shipped as many as 9,000 hybrid battery packs that leaked and had to be replaced. Anderman said that the Cobasys problem “did not surprise him." In an interview with HybridCars.com, a Cobasys executive claimed that media reports about its battery problems were "not entirely true."

Producing nickel-metal hybrid batteries to last the lifetime of the vehicle—as much as 150,000 miles—is “not a trivial task,” said Anderman. The next generation of hybrid batteries, using lithium ion, are expected to be even more challenging from a technical and planning perspective."

Can somebody tell me why an oil company is in charge of battery manufacturing and can't the government investigate these guys?

A decade ago, Cobasys made great batteries for the EV1, but they forgot how to do it? While Toyota hasn't reported a single problem with their Prius battery. In fact many Taxi companies that have been running Prius cars report better than 300,000 miles on the batteries with no problems.

Is CHP or AXPW working on a hybrid prototype to undercut the $25,000 + price of the Prius, Insight, and Fusion? If so, I'll be happy to invest. Where's the product? And where's the market? ]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:04:32 -0400
A better question is why there hasn't been more progress in NIMH battery technology. Ever since Chevron sat its big bottom down on ECD (Cobasys) there has been zero progress out of Detroit.

However, Toyota, the only company that owned a NIMH manufacturing license before Chevron arrived at ECD has done amazing things with it. The new Prius at better than 50 mpg is a great example.

But Ford is encountering shortages from Sanyo and every battery coming from Cobasys is apparently flawed...Mercedes has sued them and GM received an order that had mysterious leaks according to industry news reports: "General Motors is also unable to take advantage of the hot hybrid market. GM recently said that its domestic supplier, Michigan-based Cobasys, shipped as many as 9,000 hybrid battery packs that leaked and had to be replaced. Anderman said that the Cobasys problem “did not surprise him." In an interview with HybridCars.com, a Cobasys executive claimed that media reports about its battery problems were "not entirely true."

Producing nickel-metal hybrid batteries to last the lifetime of the vehicle—as much as 150,000 miles—is “not a trivial task,” said Anderman. The next generation of hybrid batteries, using lithium ion, are expected to be even more challenging from a technical and planning perspective."

Can somebody tell me why an oil company is in charge of battery manufacturing and can't the government investigate these guys?

A decade ago, Cobasys made great batteries for the EV1, but they forgot how to do it? While Toyota hasn't reported a single problem with their Prius battery. In fact many Taxi companies that have been running Prius cars report better than 300,000 miles on the batteries with no problems.

Is CHP or AXPW working on a hybrid prototype to undercut the $25,000 + price of the Prius, Insight, and Fusion? If so, I'll be happy to invest. Where's the product? And where's the market? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/129068-stick-with-gold-and-the-oil-stocks?source=feed#comment-451087 451087
Here's a scenario that keeps running through my mind. Imagine the great Northeast Blackout of 2003 happening in January when the temperature is hovering below zero. Imagine it lasts two days instead of one. How many of the 55 million people affected have backup generators or adequate fireplaces? How much violence would result in major cities as backup generators "change hands"? What would the cost be for frozen plumbing? When frozen plumbing thaws it can literally destroy a house ... how many homes would be lost? How many accidental fires would start as people try to stay warm? What about the riots as refugees overwhelm warm-up centers? How many people would die of carbon monoxide poisoning? How many people would freeze to death?

It's a pretty easy scenario to imagine, since a catastrophic blackout has already happened in the summer. Our antiquated, inefficient power grid is run by local monopolies that have absolutely no financial incentive to change. Smart grid initiatives are a joke when our tax dollars are going to dumb monopolies.

The solution to this danger is simple and it solves a lot of problems at once--reduces dependence on foreign oil, reduces green house gas emissions, reduces air pollution, reduces overall energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent, creates a dynamic new green business.

Home fuel cells running on natural gas with battery backup systems.

Deregulate the monopolies. Use incentives to create a consumer market for power generation. In a consumer market, gas powered fuel cells that provide heat and electricity would be no more expensive than a furnace and water heater is today. Over a 20 year period most homes need to replace these appliances anyway. Fuel cells like to run at a constant speed, so battery systems would handle peak loads, excess could be sold back to a nationalized grid. Home energy production is 30 to 40 percent more efficient than our current system so even though it would run on NG the CO2 would be greatly diminished. A battery system with enough capacity to handle summer air conditioning would get a home through a day or two running the furnace blower if the NG pipeline is disrupted. Cheap back up tanks of LP could substitute.

The technology is here now. These systems are already on the market in Japan. It won't happen unless we can develop the political willpower to reorganize the local power companies. With deregulation there would be a free for all of capitalism developing lots of better ideas.

We would all be richer, safer, and healthier for it.
]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:32:21 -0400
Here's a scenario that keeps running through my mind. Imagine the great Northeast Blackout of 2003 happening in January when the temperature is hovering below zero. Imagine it lasts two days instead of one. How many of the 55 million people affected have backup generators or adequate fireplaces? How much violence would result in major cities as backup generators "change hands"? What would the cost be for frozen plumbing? When frozen plumbing thaws it can literally destroy a house ... how many homes would be lost? How many accidental fires would start as people try to stay warm? What about the riots as refugees overwhelm warm-up centers? How many people would die of carbon monoxide poisoning? How many people would freeze to death?

It's a pretty easy scenario to imagine, since a catastrophic blackout has already happened in the summer. Our antiquated, inefficient power grid is run by local monopolies that have absolutely no financial incentive to change. Smart grid initiatives are a joke when our tax dollars are going to dumb monopolies.

The solution to this danger is simple and it solves a lot of problems at once--reduces dependence on foreign oil, reduces green house gas emissions, reduces air pollution, reduces overall energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent, creates a dynamic new green business.

Home fuel cells running on natural gas with battery backup systems.

Deregulate the monopolies. Use incentives to create a consumer market for power generation. In a consumer market, gas powered fuel cells that provide heat and electricity would be no more expensive than a furnace and water heater is today. Over a 20 year period most homes need to replace these appliances anyway. Fuel cells like to run at a constant speed, so battery systems would handle peak loads, excess could be sold back to a nationalized grid. Home energy production is 30 to 40 percent more efficient than our current system so even though it would run on NG the CO2 would be greatly diminished. A battery system with enough capacity to handle summer air conditioning would get a home through a day or two running the furnace blower if the NG pipeline is disrupted. Cheap back up tanks of LP could substitute.

The technology is here now. These systems are already on the market in Japan. It won't happen unless we can develop the political willpower to reorganize the local power companies. With deregulation there would be a free for all of capitalism developing lots of better ideas.

We would all be richer, safer, and healthier for it.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128803-cleantech-optimism-squared-and-the-battery-industry?source=feed#comment-448394 448394 wired.com/science/... Everyone should read this article! It sounds like the biggest utilities, Duke, Xcel and the rest see the smart grid as a way to consolidate power. That scares me even more than the miserable place we're in now. Imagine how badly the Internet would suck if it were owned by Microsoft and everyone had to pay to use it. That's where we are headed if the Feds don't mandate a public grid with open standards. ]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:17:54 -0400 wired.com/science/... Everyone should read this article! It sounds like the biggest utilities, Duke, Xcel and the rest see the smart grid as a way to consolidate power. That scares me even more than the miserable place we're in now. Imagine how badly the Internet would suck if it were owned by Microsoft and everyone had to pay to use it. That's where we are headed if the Feds don't mandate a public grid with open standards. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128803-cleantech-optimism-squared-and-the-battery-industry?source=feed#comment-447896 447896
It's a pretty easy scenario to imagine, since a catastrophic blackout has already happened in the summer. Our antiquated, inefficient power grid is run by local monopolies who have absolutely no financial incentive to change. Smart grid initiatives are a joke when our tax dollars are going to dumb monopolies.

The solution to this danger is simple and it solves a lot of problems at once--reduces dependence on foreign oil, reduces green house gas emissions, reduces air pollution, reduces overall energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent, creates a dynamic new green business.

Home fuel cells running on natural gas with battery back up systems.

Deregulate the monopolies. Use incentives to create a consumer market for power generation. In a consumer market, gas powered fuel cells that provide heat and electricity would be no more expensive than a furnace and water heater is today. Over a 20 year period most homes need to replace these appliances anyway. Fuel cells like to run at a constant speed, so battery systems would handle peak loads, excess could be sold back to a nationalized grid. Home energy production is 30 to 40 percent more efficient than our current system so even though it would run on NG the CO2 would be greatly diminished. A battery system with enough capacity to handle summer air conditioning, would get a home through 2 or 3 days if the NG pipeline is disrupted. Cheap back up tanks of LP could substitute.

The technology is here now. These systems are already on the market in Japan. It won't happen unless we can develop the political willpower to reorganize the local power companies. With deregulation there would be a free for all of capitalism developing lots of better ideas.

We would all be richer, safer, and healthier for it.]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:52:50 -0400
It's a pretty easy scenario to imagine, since a catastrophic blackout has already happened in the summer. Our antiquated, inefficient power grid is run by local monopolies who have absolutely no financial incentive to change. Smart grid initiatives are a joke when our tax dollars are going to dumb monopolies.

The solution to this danger is simple and it solves a lot of problems at once--reduces dependence on foreign oil, reduces green house gas emissions, reduces air pollution, reduces overall energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent, creates a dynamic new green business.

Home fuel cells running on natural gas with battery back up systems.

Deregulate the monopolies. Use incentives to create a consumer market for power generation. In a consumer market, gas powered fuel cells that provide heat and electricity would be no more expensive than a furnace and water heater is today. Over a 20 year period most homes need to replace these appliances anyway. Fuel cells like to run at a constant speed, so battery systems would handle peak loads, excess could be sold back to a nationalized grid. Home energy production is 30 to 40 percent more efficient than our current system so even though it would run on NG the CO2 would be greatly diminished. A battery system with enough capacity to handle summer air conditioning, would get a home through 2 or 3 days if the NG pipeline is disrupted. Cheap back up tanks of LP could substitute.

The technology is here now. These systems are already on the market in Japan. It won't happen unless we can develop the political willpower to reorganize the local power companies. With deregulation there would be a free for all of capitalism developing lots of better ideas.

We would all be richer, safer, and healthier for it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126371-stimulus-how-smart-grid-could-make-out?source=feed#comment-432731 432731 The Feds need to build a state-of-the-art interstate grid, and any entrepreneur in America who can sell power to the grid should be allowed to do so in futures style trading.]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:06:15 -0400 The Feds need to build a state-of-the-art interstate grid, and any entrepreneur in America who can sell power to the grid should be allowed to do so in futures style trading.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/125555-smart-grid-powering-us-out-of-recession?source=feed#comment-424847 424847 1. Nationalize the grid,
2. Micro-localize energy production and storage.
The local monopolies held by power companies are preventing forward progress. We have too many "Mr. Burns and Homer Simpsons" running the power supply ... one blinded by greed, the other satisfied to sit on his ass forever. Look at the lightning speed with which communications changed once Ma Bell was broken up. Look at how quickly the federal government was able to develop the Interstate system.
Central production of energy is wasteful (a large proportion is lost in transmission and friction) and it's strategically dangerous.
We have been lucky so far that the giant blackouts in the North have only happened in the summer. Try one in the middle of a cold winter and thousands of people could die … millions could become refugees. During the Great Depression you could chop up the furniture and stick in the boiler to get heat. Today a modern gas furnace won't even light without grid power. Even the gas is supplied by an electronic valve that stops working without electricity.
If the outage lasted long enough to freeze pipes the damage would be in the Trillions and make 9/11 look like a holiday.
A NG powered fuel cell in every basement that supplies heat and power would be more efficient than grid electricity, greener, and with economies of scale probably no more expensive than what the average home owner pays for a furnace and water heater.
Supplement that with solar and wind where appropriate and everyone would be happier, healthier and safer. PLUG, GE, and United Tech...all have fuel cell products ready to go, but it will take a disaster before anyone unseats Mr. Burns.
Ask yourself, has the power plant in your area done anything new in 30 years? How much more black coal smoke do we need in the atmosphere? Has the electric meter or wires coming to your house changed in the last 50 years? If not, maybe it's time.
In the early 80s we could not have imagined the iPhone. Imagine what a consumer market could do for energy!
]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:23:47 -0400 1. Nationalize the grid,
2. Micro-localize energy production and storage.
The local monopolies held by power companies are preventing forward progress. We have too many "Mr. Burns and Homer Simpsons" running the power supply ... one blinded by greed, the other satisfied to sit on his ass forever. Look at the lightning speed with which communications changed once Ma Bell was broken up. Look at how quickly the federal government was able to develop the Interstate system.
Central production of energy is wasteful (a large proportion is lost in transmission and friction) and it's strategically dangerous.
We have been lucky so far that the giant blackouts in the North have only happened in the summer. Try one in the middle of a cold winter and thousands of people could die … millions could become refugees. During the Great Depression you could chop up the furniture and stick in the boiler to get heat. Today a modern gas furnace won't even light without grid power. Even the gas is supplied by an electronic valve that stops working without electricity.
If the outage lasted long enough to freeze pipes the damage would be in the Trillions and make 9/11 look like a holiday.
A NG powered fuel cell in every basement that supplies heat and power would be more efficient than grid electricity, greener, and with economies of scale probably no more expensive than what the average home owner pays for a furnace and water heater.
Supplement that with solar and wind where appropriate and everyone would be happier, healthier and safer. PLUG, GE, and United Tech...all have fuel cell products ready to go, but it will take a disaster before anyone unseats Mr. Burns.
Ask yourself, has the power plant in your area done anything new in 30 years? How much more black coal smoke do we need in the atmosphere? Has the electric meter or wires coming to your house changed in the last 50 years? If not, maybe it's time.
In the early 80s we could not have imagined the iPhone. Imagine what a consumer market could do for energy!
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/124726-cost-effective-energy-storage-the-orphan-stepchild-of-alternative-energy?source=feed#comment-420432 420432 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:55:06 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/123322-long-live-the-cleantech-revolution?source=feed#comment-409839 409839
However, there is no incentive for power companies to do anything about that. It's not like we as consumers can easily unplug if they don't meet our needs for reliable green energy.

The consumer market has always been the only place where dynamic change takes place. If it weren't for the break up of Ma Bell, we'd all be dialing phone numbers and listening to our neighbor's phone calls as we waited for them to get off the multi-party line. Instead, today, we get to interact with your blogs on our i-phones.

The gas and electric meter on the side of my house is the same one that was there when I was born in the 50s and the energy is delivered over the same pipes and lines. The electricity is generated at the same coal-fired plant. Do you really think they are going to make huge investments to become more reliable, green and efficient today because they should? Do you really think all that free government money pouring into Homer Simpson's power plant will get him up off his ass ... or will he just use the money to buy more donuts?

Look at where the changes are happening today in the US--wind mills and solar plants are popping up in rural cooperatives (where the public owns the utility), on military bases where they are forced to consider efficiency and where paranoia makes them consider becoming energy independent, and in CA where the mountains don't blow the coal smoke to Canada or the next state over (somebody else's problem).

Europe is making great strides because they have to buy their NG from Russia, and that's enough to scare anyone into being green.

The only other signs of progress are public relations stunts such as solar panels on the Children's Museum, etc..

What incentives will drive this sweeping revolution you keep talking about? ]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:52:07 -0500
However, there is no incentive for power companies to do anything about that. It's not like we as consumers can easily unplug if they don't meet our needs for reliable green energy.

The consumer market has always been the only place where dynamic change takes place. If it weren't for the break up of Ma Bell, we'd all be dialing phone numbers and listening to our neighbor's phone calls as we waited for them to get off the multi-party line. Instead, today, we get to interact with your blogs on our i-phones.

The gas and electric meter on the side of my house is the same one that was there when I was born in the 50s and the energy is delivered over the same pipes and lines. The electricity is generated at the same coal-fired plant. Do you really think they are going to make huge investments to become more reliable, green and efficient today because they should? Do you really think all that free government money pouring into Homer Simpson's power plant will get him up off his ass ... or will he just use the money to buy more donuts?

Look at where the changes are happening today in the US--wind mills and solar plants are popping up in rural cooperatives (where the public owns the utility), on military bases where they are forced to consider efficiency and where paranoia makes them consider becoming energy independent, and in CA where the mountains don't blow the coal smoke to Canada or the next state over (somebody else's problem).

Europe is making great strides because they have to buy their NG from Russia, and that's enough to scare anyone into being green.

The only other signs of progress are public relations stunts such as solar panels on the Children's Museum, etc..

What incentives will drive this sweeping revolution you keep talking about? ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119404-smart-grid-s-enabler-alternative-energy-storage?source=feed#comment-382392 382392
The trouble as I see it is the Homer Simpson effect. Once your home plugs into the grid, they have you by the short hairs for life. Homer gets a paycheck no matter how much he charges, no matter how short sighted he is, and no matter how much he screws up. If we could deregulate energy like we did the phone companies, then cool stuff would start happening. If AXPW sold their batteries at Home Depot, I'd buy a windmill and enough batteries to disconnect. The off-grid battery systems available today are dangerous, require constant maintenance and have very short life spans. But the incredible life span of these batteries you have written about here make it seem like you could count on them for decades like you do your furnace. If they could develop a turn-key home energy system for under $30,000, it would be the biggest revolution since the PC.

I like Fuller's utopian dream of sharing free energy, but since that ain't gonna happen, I want my own.]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:23:57 -0500
The trouble as I see it is the Homer Simpson effect. Once your home plugs into the grid, they have you by the short hairs for life. Homer gets a paycheck no matter how much he charges, no matter how short sighted he is, and no matter how much he screws up. If we could deregulate energy like we did the phone companies, then cool stuff would start happening. If AXPW sold their batteries at Home Depot, I'd buy a windmill and enough batteries to disconnect. The off-grid battery systems available today are dangerous, require constant maintenance and have very short life spans. But the incredible life span of these batteries you have written about here make it seem like you could count on them for decades like you do your furnace. If they could develop a turn-key home energy system for under $30,000, it would be the biggest revolution since the PC.

I like Fuller's utopian dream of sharing free energy, but since that ain't gonna happen, I want my own.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119362-battery-wars?source=feed#comment-381428 381428 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:13:00 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/119362-battery-wars?source=feed#comment-381351 381351
So now we learn that the NIMH battery revolution failed, not because of oil company interference, and a deep, abiding faith in the profit power of planned obsolescence at GM ... but because Toyota cornered the market on lanthanum? The story just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

It would make more sense if oil money paid everyone involved to keep the technology on ice for a decade...just think of the billion$ the lack of an electric alternative has saved Big Oil until now!!

Lockheed Martin also makes most of their money on war in the middle east, providing the funds to keep EESTOR locked up for another decade or two seems like money well spent to me.

It's not that I want to believe in conspiracies, but any detective will tell you to follow the money. So rather than all these back room dealings we suspect, we now must believe that it all comes down to profound stupidity at GM. Well, I guess that's not too hard to believe either.]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:27:10 -0500
So now we learn that the NIMH battery revolution failed, not because of oil company interference, and a deep, abiding faith in the profit power of planned obsolescence at GM ... but because Toyota cornered the market on lanthanum? The story just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

It would make more sense if oil money paid everyone involved to keep the technology on ice for a decade...just think of the billion$ the lack of an electric alternative has saved Big Oil until now!!

Lockheed Martin also makes most of their money on war in the middle east, providing the funds to keep EESTOR locked up for another decade or two seems like money well spent to me.

It's not that I want to believe in conspiracies, but any detective will tell you to follow the money. So rather than all these back room dealings we suspect, we now must believe that it all comes down to profound stupidity at GM. Well, I guess that's not too hard to believe either.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/116718-li-ion-batteries-a-speculative-field-of-dreams?source=feed#comment-367757 367757 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:51:27 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/115257-lead-carbon-a-game-changer-for-alternative-energy-storage?source=feed#comment-363313 363313 Outlook: Lithium Industry Will Be Pushed in to Oversupply through 2013
22 January 2009
Lithium consultants TRU Group Inc. says that its updated lithium outlook for presentation at the IM Lithium Supply & Markets Conference Santiago 2009 will conclude that the industry is not immune from the global recession and will be pushed into oversupply this year through 2013.

Global use of lithium will decline sharply by at least 6% in 2009 and demand is unlikely to bounce back any time soon as consumers put off buying laptops or cell phones containing lithium batteries.

It is likely now that some expansions and new projects will be delayed or cancelled until market conditions improve. However, new and large uses for lithium will start having a major impact on demand within the five-year horizon: Lithium use in electric vehicle batteries and lithium alloys for aircraft.

TRU forecasts that demand will be strong and sustained in these two segments over the long term 2020. The industry does need at least one of the announced pipeline production projects to come into production and also could do with another new project as the market tightens around 2015-2017.

New lithium producers still will need to be cost-competitive with existing salt lake brine based producers in South America and China. Emerging technology may make some of the undeveloped medium-sized (brine) lithium resources quite attractive. The industry through expansion and development of new resources will have no problem meeting demand, the outlook concludes.

TRU Group Inc., based in Toronto, Canada and Tucson, USA, are industrial management and engineering consultants with a strong capability in lithium project development. The firm is a world leader in resource evaluation, salar exploitation, brine and mineral lithium extraction and processing technologies—those in use, prospective, and leading edge.

TRU has evaluated and modeled most of the known existing lithium properties and advised a number of players on a wide variety of lithium resource, engineering, process, business and investment issues.

The outlook presentation will be posted on the site after the conference on 27 January 2009 at the link trugroup.com/Lithium-M...
]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:01:41 -0500 Outlook: Lithium Industry Will Be Pushed in to Oversupply through 2013
22 January 2009
Lithium consultants TRU Group Inc. says that its updated lithium outlook for presentation at the IM Lithium Supply & Markets Conference Santiago 2009 will conclude that the industry is not immune from the global recession and will be pushed into oversupply this year through 2013.

Global use of lithium will decline sharply by at least 6% in 2009 and demand is unlikely to bounce back any time soon as consumers put off buying laptops or cell phones containing lithium batteries.

It is likely now that some expansions and new projects will be delayed or cancelled until market conditions improve. However, new and large uses for lithium will start having a major impact on demand within the five-year horizon: Lithium use in electric vehicle batteries and lithium alloys for aircraft.

TRU forecasts that demand will be strong and sustained in these two segments over the long term 2020. The industry does need at least one of the announced pipeline production projects to come into production and also could do with another new project as the market tightens around 2015-2017.

New lithium producers still will need to be cost-competitive with existing salt lake brine based producers in South America and China. Emerging technology may make some of the undeveloped medium-sized (brine) lithium resources quite attractive. The industry through expansion and development of new resources will have no problem meeting demand, the outlook concludes.

TRU Group Inc., based in Toronto, Canada and Tucson, USA, are industrial management and engineering consultants with a strong capability in lithium project development. The firm is a world leader in resource evaluation, salar exploitation, brine and mineral lithium extraction and processing technologies—those in use, prospective, and leading edge.

TRU has evaluated and modeled most of the known existing lithium properties and advised a number of players on a wide variety of lithium resource, engineering, process, business and investment issues.

The outlook presentation will be posted on the site after the conference on 27 January 2009 at the link trugroup.com/Lithium-M...
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/115911-first-solar-and-suntech-power-to-build-solar-farm-in-abu-dhabi?source=feed#comment-362905 362905 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:41:20 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/113884-lithium-unicorns-and-alternative-energy-storage?source=feed#comment-349837 349837 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:39:35 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/109525-how-will-temporary-decline-in-oil-prices-impact-energy-sector?source=feed#comment-325510 325510
I think Aptera is going to prove you wrong, however, with the first successful battery powered American car. By using lighter materials, less materials, recycled materials and advanced aerodynamics, they have created a vehicle that has the power requirements of your Chinese bicyclist (their drag coefficient is less than Lance Armstrong's). They are selling the initial units at $30,000--a huge premium over economy commuter cars. But when they ramp up production, they have suggested that they could be profitable selling for around $15,000. That would be a game changer. They have also totally reinvented how a car is assembled. When the factory gets going, it will probably look like a desktop PC assembly line with plug-in components being added to a basic shell. And their three-wheel design allows them to skirt archaic govt. requirements, qualifying the vehicle as a motorcycle. It's a shame they are rolling out the first units during the worst possible scenario--a recession and low fuel prices. Any reader who hasn't been to aptera.com owes themselves a peak at the future. I know it's all pie in the sky sales brochure stuff now, but it sure looks and sounds plausible.]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:45:37 -0500
I think Aptera is going to prove you wrong, however, with the first successful battery powered American car. By using lighter materials, less materials, recycled materials and advanced aerodynamics, they have created a vehicle that has the power requirements of your Chinese bicyclist (their drag coefficient is less than Lance Armstrong's). They are selling the initial units at $30,000--a huge premium over economy commuter cars. But when they ramp up production, they have suggested that they could be profitable selling for around $15,000. That would be a game changer. They have also totally reinvented how a car is assembled. When the factory gets going, it will probably look like a desktop PC assembly line with plug-in components being added to a basic shell. And their three-wheel design allows them to skirt archaic govt. requirements, qualifying the vehicle as a motorcycle. It's a shame they are rolling out the first units during the worst possible scenario--a recession and low fuel prices. Any reader who hasn't been to aptera.com owes themselves a peak at the future. I know it's all pie in the sky sales brochure stuff now, but it sure looks and sounds plausible.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108408-alternative-energy-storage-is-an-investment-tsunami?source=feed#comment-318287 318287 evalbum.com/. This rebellion has gone from one or two "nuts" to thousands in the last year. And I believe it would jump from a few thousand to a few million if we could buy conversion kits with NIMH or Firefly batteries at Pep Boys. Either of these technologies would give us 500 pound battery packs coupled with a 75 pound motor (about the same weight as the engine, gas tank, and exhaust system we would be tossing) delivering highway speeds and a range of about 50 miles. That's all we need to get to work and back. It's not a sexy market like Tesla, but what's the profit on a million 500 lb battery packs?]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:02:48 -0500 evalbum.com/. This rebellion has gone from one or two "nuts" to thousands in the last year. And I believe it would jump from a few thousand to a few million if we could buy conversion kits with NIMH or Firefly batteries at Pep Boys. Either of these technologies would give us 500 pound battery packs coupled with a 75 pound motor (about the same weight as the engine, gas tank, and exhaust system we would be tossing) delivering highway speeds and a range of about 50 miles. That's all we need to get to work and back. It's not a sexy market like Tesla, but what's the profit on a million 500 lb battery packs?]]>