Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Energy Conversion Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (2828)	12/31/1998 11:02:00 AM
From: Michael Latas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

Sid,(Following is for the benefit of some of the more recent members of this thread) Toyota Prius uses an old early model NiMH battery that goes back some years ago since the patents have expired. Patents used to have a seventeen year life, but in recent years have been extended to twenty years from date of issuance (USA). Matsushita is not required to have a license to mfg'r these older, inferior NiMH batteries. As a result, ECD does not receive royalties. I have discussed some of these weaknesses over this past year. To cut to the chase, even this older outdated NiMH battery is superior to the lead acid batteries in GMEV1, but falls considerably short of our "advanced" NiMH batteries. The biggest drawback for HEV's is that HEV's carry considerably fewer batteries than an EV, and therefore less power proportionally to accelerate a hybrid. That's why Toyota and Honda are going to have to address this slow acceleration speed for the USA and Europe with a vastly improved battery over their current outdated model, by their own admission. Ours is the only current technology that can address that problem and the cost factors are really insignificant, especially since hybrids use considerably fewer batteries, therefore, fewer to buy vs an EV. And now, with our license/venture arrangement with Sanyo, Toyota, Honda and whomever can purchase these truly "advanced" NiMH batteries directly in Japan from a Japanese Mfg'r, that is their common practice vs from an American company. The more hybrids the better. It helps us get our production volume up and our costs down, while at the same time weening over the ICE owners to the vast benefits of electrically driven vehicles. It has been predicted that the hybrids will lead the progress in EV's. That's great because HEV's, along with fuel cells still need our batteries. And before someone brings up li-on batteries, Nissan has admitted to Automotive news that they cannot continue to go it alone in the development of alternative fueled vehicles. They are in big trouble in Japan and in the process of cutting back their production by approx. twenty-percent and will be closing some plants. They are the number two automaker in Japan in spite of their problems. There are very serious cost and safety factors that they have not been able to overcome. Again, perhaps Matsushita, who is already a royalty paying licensee of our consumer batteries will be pressured into becoming an EV/HEV royalty paying licensee. Wouldn't that be nice. What choice do they really have? I Personally feel it is simply a matter of negotiations and time before this happens. Ours is a vastly superior technology and it will prevail. Regards.