After months of attempts, I finally was able to have a conversation with Mort Topfer about EEStor Inc. It was brief. Here's why: as of 3 months ago, he is no longer associated with the EEStor project. His decision was based on the fact that he did not want to be involved with "such an early stage startup company." He cited his age, 73, as a key factor.
B: Does your leaving EEStor imply that you do not believe they have the technology they claim to have?
Topfer: I don't know the answer to that question. They claim to have the technology and I've seen it demonstrated but they haven't gone to product yet so I really don't know.
B: But you've seen it *demonstrated*???
Topfer: Yes.
(pause)
B: And so..... it has the energy density that they say that it has?
Topfer: Well, they showed me reports that say that. Correct.
B: Your departure, is it based on anything you felt was amiss with EEStor?
Topfer: No, I just decided that I didn't really want to be involved with an early stage startup company. I'm 73 yrs old. I think it's got a reasonable amount of time...to go forward and I didn't want to be associated with such an early stage company.
My sense was that Mr. Topfer genuinely wanted to focus on other things... perhaps notably the Topfer Family Foundation which serves a number of excellent charity causes related mostly to children.
Image Source: CNET.
