Apr 14, 2009

Are There Zinc Balls in Your Future?

Though some might consider them new as tomorrow, electric vehicles have been with us for a long time. In fact, a small railway train operated by a miniature electric motor built in 1835 might be considered the first EV. In generations since, several attempts at popularizing consumer electric automobiles have been made, and early in the previous century they enjoyed some success, but EVs traditionally suffered some serious limitations. In fact, the problems that doomed electric vehicles in the 1910s are still with us: relatively high cost and performance obstacles such as high voltage control, long recharging time, and limited speed and range due to the low energy density of batteries compared with fuel. Pound for pound, a gallon of gasoline can take you a lot farther than a battery can. But Dr. Robert Kang is out to change that.

“While certain barriers have hampered the widespread acceptance and viability of electric cars in the past, new innovations, coupled with passionate consumer support of environmental initiatives, make today a new dawn for electric vehicles,” said Kang, who is chairman and CEO of Leo Motors Inc. “Only one power alternative is readily available for automobiles today: electricity. As entrepreneurs and major auto manufacturers enter the arena, the EV industry is poised to become one of the fastest-growing businesses in the world.”

Leo believes that its patented technology will remedy some of the problems that have long plagued EVs. Using a combination of smaller motors, Leo’s multi-motor system (MMS) allows vehicles to operate from one low-powered motor to four, depending on driving mode. Additionally, its multi-channel battery management system (BMS) controls the electricity flow when charging and discharging the battery pack, keeps stable battery temperature and maintains cell balance to prevent domino cell drop-down. Finally, by using zinc, one of the most abundant minerals on earth, the company’s Zinc Air-Fuel Cell (ZAFC) Generator is said to produce electricity that can be transmitted to car batteries using tiny zinc balls. These innovations might have the potential to become the standard EV technology for high-performance highway driving and larger vehicles, such as trucks and buses.