Moller International
Letter
from the President
April 2008
Click here to download the full version of the Letter from the
President in PDF format (377kb size)
Volume 8, Issue 1
By Paul S. Moller, Ph.D.
HIGHLIGHTS
I apologize for the delay in providing my usual update newsletter but
so many exciting developments are underway and I have been waiting to
present them in their final form. I have now decided to give you
a current update with a promise that I will provide a follow-up
newsletter within the next 60 days to cover those soon-to-be-completed
activities and agreements.
JETSON UPDATE
We have completed the Jetson Firefly’s airframe as shown and are
in the process of completing the undercarriage system that will be used
on all Jetson models. The new undercarriage has a full 12 inches
of travel for maximum impact safety.
Two additional M200G airframes will be completed shortly. The
quadruple-redundant stability system is progressing well under the
direction of our in-house electronic design consultant. This
system is sufficiently generic that it will function with minor
software changes for the M400 Skycar as well.
FUNDING THE M400 SKYCAR FAA CERTIFICATION AND PRODUCTION
It is understood that the M400 Skycar will require FAA certification
before it can be readily used by the public, but many individuals and
companies have indicated an interest in participating in its future
well before it is certified.
This interest is reflected by a potential funding opportunity I
recently encountered whereby Moller International would consider
allowing the interested funder an opportunity to market the Skycar
volantors in the future. I had the honor of being invited to
speak at the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
This conference was held in Dubai and was attended by people from over
50 countries. Following the conference I was invited to meet with
individuals and companies from a number of countries to discuss
immediate marketing of the Jetson and, following its FAA certification,
the M400.
Certainly one could not find a better market opportunity for both the
Jetson and the Skycar than in Dubai where huge tracts of land are being
created as man-made islands (see
http://guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/living/dubai/the_world_islands.php).
There are no connections between the islands, which are expected to be
occupied by hundreds of thousands of relatively wealthy people from all
over the world. For example, it was recently reported that Sir
Richard Branson has purchased his own island in Dubai. What
better way to get to your island than by Jetson or Skycar?
A steady dialogue has been maintained with these interested parties since my return.
MARKETING THE JETSON
We have established that various Jetson models have a role to play in a
number of paramilitary and civilian applications. To aid us in
our effort to connect with many of the potential users, we have hired a
consultant to assist in business development. This individual
oversaw the Department of Defense's major acquisition programs under
the Reagan and Bush administrations as well as exercised oversight of
international programs and U.S. Arms Control Compliance activities.
If you would like to review our current business plan, including the
anticipated marketing and production ramp up of the M200 Jetson
volantors please contact Bruce Calkins at
bruce@moller.com or (530) 756-5086.
ENGINES AND ENGINE RELATED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We have successfully completed our initial tests on our 27cc Rotapower
engine, developed for the power tool and recreational product
markets. We achieved 2.5 hp from this 4-pound engine. The
picture below illustrates the size of the Rotapower 27cc engine with
that of a 4-stroke piston engine of similar horsepower.
[Picture: Rotapower 27cc engine next to piston engine]
Our 150cc Rotapower engine has undergone extensive testing both on our
dynamometer (“dyno”) and coupled to a generator. We
integrated the engine into a motor-generator set to demonstrate its
ability to reduce the size of a standalone electrical power-generating
source. Shown is a comparison of two motor gen-sets with
comparable power output.
This is one of the most exciting developments within both Moller
International and Freedom Motors. As you are probably aware,
Freedom Motors is the exclusive licensee for non-aircraft use of the
Rotapower engine. The Rotapower gen-set is unique in its ability
to address the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) car market and
both Moller International and Freedom Motors have been approached by
hybrid car manufacturers and are participating in plans to put the
Rotapower engine into volume production in a number of countries.
I will have far more to say about this in my next newsletter.
For anyone interested in an extensive report on the attributes of the Rotapower engine, please contact Bruce Calkins at
bruce@moller.com or by phone at (530) 756-5086.
LOW-COST BIOFUEL DEVELOPMENT
University of Maryland researchers have created a process to convert
large volumes of plant products, from leftover brewer's mash to paper
trash, into ethanol and other biofuel alternatives to gasoline.
Developed by University of Maryland professors Steve Hutcheson and Ron
Weiner, the technique, called the Zymetis process, produces biofuels
from cellulosic sources including waste paper, brewing by-products,
leftover agriculture products including straw, corncobs and husks, and
energy crops such as switchgrass.
The secret to the process is a Chesapeake Bay marsh grass bacterium,
which scientists found has an enzyme that quickly breaks down plant
materials into sugar, which can then be converted to biofuel. The
Zymetis researchers were unable to isolate the bacterium in nature, but
they discovered how to produce the enzyme in their own laboratories.
The result was Ethazyme, which degrades the tough cell walls of
cellulosic materials and breaks down the entire plant material into
processable sugars in one step, at far lower cost and with fewer
caustic chemicals than current methods.
Scientists estimate the technology could potentially produce 75 billion
gallons of carbon-neutral ethanol annually. Hutcheson projects a $5
billion enzyme market for biofuels.
This is an exciting development because, given the choice of fuels to
use in the Jetson and Skycar, we would choose either ethanol or
biodiesel.
Visit
http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20080318A2 to learn more.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE LIASON
About two years ago Moller International engaged a consultant to help
with our ongoing effort to educate the California Legislature of the
potential benefits of the Rotapower engine. In addition we wished
to inform policy makers and their staff of the potential changes that
may occur as Personal Air Vehicles like the Skycar become more readily
available.
The two key messages we want to send are (1) the Skycar and related
products are good for California economically and environmentally; and
(2) the Rotapower engine’s low emissions characteristics are
superior to technologies in common use today.
These messages are being delivered to the Governor’s office, the
State Legislature, various Governmental Departments and local municipal
governments.
So far our actions have resulted in the following accomplishments:
1) We have established active communications with the
Governor’s office. They have been provided with material on
the Skycar and Rotapower engine technology, as well as position papers
and letters on related issues.
2) We have completed several direct discussions with
Legislators and their staff regarding the Skycar and the Rotapower
engine. We provided a Legislative agenda and needs document as
well as established public positions on introduced legislation.
3) Initial department-level discussions were
undertaken, to include briefing California’s Department of
Transportation (CALTRANS). This organization recently created a
committee dealing with alternative transportation, and we anticipate an
active supporting role to this body.
4) We have established relationships with
environmentalists, scientists and other businesses with like-minded
goals and objectives. MI has taken a position on various pieces
of proposed or amended legislation, joining with others in support or
opposition of various measures. In doing so we networked with a
variety of groups from large to small. They included, the California
League of Conservation Voters, The Motor Vehicle Dealers Association,
Azure Dynamics, The Gas Technology Institute, California Professional
Scientists, Sempra Energy, The Silicon Valley Leadership Group and over
three dozen other business and governmental entities.
5) Legislative positions
a) MI took position(s) on 40 + pieces of Legislation
b) MI was represented in meetings with staff over 48
times to discuss legislative positions that resulted in or from
position papers
c) MI was listed in 42 separate legislative analysis/reports
d) MI was represented before committees almost 50 times
e) The Sierra Club and MI were listed in the same analysis 18 times
f) The Union of Concerned Scientists and MI were listed in the same analysis 14 times.
g) California State Auto Association and MI were listed in the same analysis 9 times.
h) Friends of the Earth and MI were listed in the same analysis 6 times.
6) We had the opportunity to make presentations on
our technologies to several of the Senate and Assembly Standing
Committees, including: Natural Resources and Wild Life, Environmental
Quality, Revenue and Taxation, and Appropriations.
In conclusion, this program has achieved a number of successes in the
short time it has been underway. Creating a foundation for future
public policy decision-making is a long and difficult process, but we
believe that there is a general awareness that Moller International is
a willing and qualified participant and we look forward to assisting
the California Legislature in any way that we can.
GOODBYE TO A GOOD FRIEND
It is with sincere sadness that we inform you that Wolfgang Borgstede
has passed away. Wolfgang was a member of the Board of Directors
for Freedom Motors, as well as a very active participant in both Moller
International and Freedom Motors activities. His energy, wit and
enthusiasm will be sorely missed.
"SAFE HARBOR" Statement:
This newsletter may contain forward-looking statements. The words
"estimate", "possible" and "seeking" and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date the
statement was made. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new
information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements
are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot
be predicted, or quantified. Future events and actual results could
differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or
underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties
to which forward-looking statements are subject include, but are not
limited to, the effect of government regulation, competition and other
material risks.
SkycarÒ, Aerobot®, RotaFan™ and Rotapower® are
trademarks of Moller International in the USA and other countries. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
