Death Knell for the Internal Combustion Engine?

 

This article at CNN pointed out a recently issued patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,406, in which the article opined “energy insiders spotted six words . . . that sounded like a death knell for the internal combustion engine.” 

The ‘406 patent is titled: Electrical-energy-storage unit (EESU) utilizing ceramic and integrated-circuit technologies for replacement of electrochemical batteries.  The invention relates to so-called “ultracapacitors”  – battery-like devices that store and releases energy quickly.  The assignee of the patent, EEStor, and its licensee ZENN Motor Co., believes the technology may revolutionalize the electric car industry.  An interesting read, if you have a few minutes to spare.