Hasta ahora se han comercializado, con mas o menos exito, los autos hibridos. Disminuyen la contaminacion pero no son realmente una solucion como fuente alternativa al combustible fosil. Sin embargo algunas empresas ya prometen un gran progreso en esto. Al menos eso dice ZENN Motors.
Can’t we have a car that goes 250 miles on a single charge? Can’t we recharge it in five minutes? And drive it at 80 M.P.H.? Don’t dismiss it as wishful thinking! A Toronto-based firm ZENN Motors promises such a highway capable model in near future with no gasoline engine, no batteries, and no emissions!
“cityZENN” model will use “Electrical Energy Storage Units” (EESUs), containing ultracapacitors, also known as supercapacitors. These capacitors use barium tinanate coated with aluminum oxide and glass which will help in conquering the disadvantages of chemical batteries. They are more powerful than basic capacitors. Ultracapacitors can absorb power or send a charge faster than chemical batteries because of activated carbon at their cores. They also score over durability and have better tolerance for extreme temperatures.
Safety is a serious concern for vehicles whether powered by petrol, diesel, batteries or ultracapacitors. The storage devices shouldn’t burst into flames under extreme conditions. The new ultracapacitors are supposed to instantly discharge to the ground in case of a crash.
Many have cast doubts over “cityZENN” claims and apprehensive about its deliverables but the analysts and researchers are hesitant to dismiss the possibility of “cityZENN” entirely. Joel Schindall, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who is using nanotechnology to improve ultracapacitors, says “I don’t doubt that they have built a device on a small scale that does store the amounts of energy they are talking about. I just don’t know if they can manage the process of scaling it up … for commercial applications.”