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: Don Devlin who wrote (3475)	4/1/1999 8:12:00 PM
From: fred whitridge	Respond to of 8393

Today's circuit section of the NYTimes carried an article on the amazing things being done with miniature storage: nytimes.com (oops, URL may be too long: after articles/ it is 01memm.html) it was exactly on point with Tyler's briefing at the meeting. The need for speed in digital imaging. The need for compactness, low drain, lots of megabytes, etc. The Sony Memory Stick which seems to be Flash and a controller was particularly on point. Just as Tyler said, Sony has incorporated it into their Vaio (Viao?) line of laptops. peppy prices too.....

To: Don Devlin who wrote (3475)	4/1/1999 9:40:00 PM
From: Michael Latas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

Don, you are absolutely correct. I have been fully aware that the sale/lease of GM/EV's are limited to California and Arizona. However, I concluded that it was merely a matter of time before they expanded their market. With that thought in mind I wanted to put my bid in to be the first GM/EV owner/leasee with our NiMH batteries in St Louis. Again, I cannot even get the time of day from the Saturn dealers. They don't have the foggiest idea in the world when, if ever, they will get electric cars in St Louis. I tried every way possible to get some time frame estimate, to no avail. I proceeded to call Saturn in Detroit yearly, with even less success, if that is possible. For what it's worth they handled my call as though I was an alien calling from outer space. I told them I would be happy to fill out any paperwork required and/or put down a deposit in order to hold my place in line. If anyone doubts the veracity of my statements, try calling your local Saturn dealers in Texas, Illinois, Conn., or any other state outside of Calif. or Ariz. Better yet, you should all do the same by calling your Saturn dealers. Unfortunately, this is all part of the automakers' diabolical plot to delay EV's as much as is humanly possible. Our progress in this area will be in direct proportion to the pressure from the EPA, or other state legislatures forcing them to do so. I do believe the facts support my opinion. All I can say is thank God for the need for the new and improved S/L/I batteries to meet the new upcoming 42V electrical systems in vehicles. There is a nice article in the March 22 issue of Automotive News, on page 26 that states: Automakers' next objective: Reinventing the power grid. It goes on to state that "Automakers are preparing to triple voltage in order to meet growing demands from luxury accesories. It further states that the first European luxury vehicles with 42-volt systems are expected to reach the market in 2002. That is only two years from this fall. Any vehicle mfg'r who wished to meet such a short deadline will have to place their orders with their suppliers, if they have not already done so. The good new for us, at long last, is that this new paradigm shift from 12V to 42V electrical systems will benefit the vehicle industry since they can now really load up the vehicles with every conceivable whistle and bell imaginable, and there are simply scads of new options and electronic gizmo's that are all revenue-producing. They get to keep their Ice (geese that continue to lay their golden eggs fore-ever more) vehicles humming right along, literally having their cake and eating it too. Lead acid batteries simply won't do the job. Our NiMH technology is by far and away the front-runner to address this massive market. There are 43 vehicle mfg'rs in the world that produced 56 million vehicles last year. How many years do you think it would take to develop the EV market to begin to approach even 25% of this number? And, for those of you that were around in 1955, when the change over from six to twelve volt systems took place, the transformation took place virtually overnight, because it will be profitable for them. How sweet it is. And the best part is that all of our development work and investment into EV/HEV batteries will apply to the new S/L/I 42V electrical system batteries. To me, it is a classical case of poetic justice. As much as the auto industry has fought us, they now need us. What a refreshing change. Our good fortune in having Ken Baker join ECD from General Motors makes this victory even sweeter. Please understand, these are my observations only, made over some period of time. An earlier Auto/News article stated BMW would probably be the first, with Mercedes also pushing for the new 42-Volt system as the new standard. There are a growing number of articles on this subject in Automotive News each week, for those of you who care to keep up with them. There is entirely too much to begin to post here. Enough for now. Regards.