Debunking Claims
Some of the claims we come across are immediately discarded because they violate the laws of physics. Others may be theoretically possible but so outrageous that they too must be tossed out the window.
Here’s a claim that a small EV battery provides a range of 1500 miles, and, considering it’s being held by the man’s fingers, it couldn’t possibly weigh more than, say, 10 pounds. The gravimetric energy density in the batteries used in the current Tesla models is 254 Watt-hours/Kg. A range of 1500 miles would weigh about 2500 Kg or 6000 pounds. A similar analysis also applies to volumetric energy density.
OK, what’s more likely: a) this guy, in super-competitive field, working against everybody and his dog, leaped ahead of present-day technology by a factor of 600, or b) this claim is BS?
Craig,
Hey, c’mon why all the doubt? Look, he’s wearing a white coat so he’s got to be a really serious scientist!
Hmmm,… however Craig , I don’t really know if Trevor Jackson’s (the person in the photo) claims are accurate of false.
Unlike you, I can’t see things that don’t exist and believe in investigating the evidence before I am willing to call someone a fraud.
Trevor Jackson is a British nuclear engineer and former Royal Navy officer. He claims to have invented an aluminum based battery/fuel cell that can be made smaller, lighter, cheaper and will store more energy than lithium based technology.
The idea of an aluminum fuel cell as an ESD is not new. By treating aluminum with chemical electrolytes it is possible to build a battery or fuel cell.
The problem has always been the process is very expensive and the ESD results are not spectacular.
Basically, Trevor Jackson claims to have developed a cheap, safe, non-toxic electrolyte which will react with low grade aluminum to a previously unobtainable degree of efficiency.
So far the story, although incredible, isn’t beyond the bounds of possibility.
But, then things start to look more and more flaky.
Trevor Jackson claims all sorts of experts have approved and confirmed his research after independently testing the prototype.
In reality, none of these sources confirm his claims. Some of the sources go as far as saying such a technology is possible, but none confirm his product.
He counters skeptics by claiming to be be the victim of a vast conspiracy of vested interests. (car makers, oil companies, battery manufacturers, etc in fact all the usual suspects).
I should declare at this point, that I was contacted by persons connected to Trevor Jackson, but when asked to comply with our standard conditions for due diligence to independently confirm the claims, we never heard from these individuals again.
This doesn’t mean the product isn’t genuine, maybe he just didn’t like me, or trust my team not to sell him out to the car companies.
But it does mean I can’t confirm the claims as being valid or the sincerity of the inventor either way.
however, like Craig, I remain highly skeptical!