Vu1 Corporation sees bright future for ESL light bulbs
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 17th 2009 4:44PM
posted September 17th 2009 4:44PM
Rivalries. Controversy. Government intervention. The life of a light bulb isn't easy these days, and it looks like things are about to get even more complicated. While CFLs and LEDs may now be fighting it out to replace traditional incandescent light bulbs, Seattle-based Vu1 Corporation says it has developed a new type of bulb that's better than either of 'em, and could hit the market by mid-2010. Making use of ESL technology (or electron stimulated luminescence), the new bulbs seem to be the cure-all many folks have been looking for, with them promising to provide a more natural light than CFLs or LEDs, turn on as quickly as an incandescent bulb, and eliminate some of the pesky problems associated with CFLs (like their use of mercury). According to the company, they'll also be about as efficient as CFLs, although they will cost about $20 a pop to begin with, which Vu1 says is comparable to a dimmable CFL reflector bulb. Some bold claims to be sure -- claims made even bolder by the must-see "documentary" after the break.
O.K people listen to what they are actually saying. These people are not idiots. They know new tech is expensive when it first comes out. Both the CFL and especially the LED did not start at their current prices they started very much higher than $20 dollars in their ealier years on the market. So what does company do when they know that they are at a price disadvantage at the start? They target specific areas in the market that they can be competitive. The price you saw was for a Flood light. CFLs suck as a Flood lamp replacement. Also natural color accuracy is very important in the commercial field. Light affects mood of people, how objects appear on the show floor. So, with this in mind, lets go back to what the video said...
Vu1 is targeting the "Commercial" and Resident Floodlight market first and currently working on home screw-in replacement bulbs next. Color accurate, dimming, commericial, CFL floodlights are still expensive and these new bulbs are priced right for the type of bulb they are selling. CFLs started around the $40-$60 range and were no where near as bright as these ESL bulbs. This ESL bulb is starting at a fantastic price for a first time to market bulb, and in Five years, we should see this bulb priced easily in a consumer price range. I know of several people who refuse to buy CFLs and still use incandescence bulbs because of the light and flickering - so there is a very health market in Residential as well. I don't like the light CFLs produce as well so I pay more than most people for the Natural light CFLs (yes they do exist). The new generation LEDs are currently coming into the $50 to $60 range now. That is still a chunk of change when having to buy them in large quantities commercially and the cost savings won't be felt instantly. I could spend $20 per bulb on ESL and get instant savings over LED and bet that the prices will go down for ESL more quickly than LED bulbs or i could just suck up the Long term cost of and ESL Bulb by justify the fact that I have a Flicker free very dimmable natural light bulb....
and cool new tech... ; )
I think these folks are on to something. I look at it like this. They aren't even out of the gate yet and they've already got a serious contender that doesn't have the pitfalls of CFLs or LEDs, and both CFLs and LEDs have had years of development behind them. If they live up to their hype, these Vu1 bulbs should prove to be a very disruptive technology that will only get better with time. I'll buy one as soon as they're available.
I'll second that.... I have several in ceiling lights that I have to use CFL Bulbs to cut down on my energy bill because the bulbs that were originally in there used a lot of power. I'm all for new green tech and the dimmable LED is still way expensive. This just might do the trick.
If ESL is shooting electrons at a coating of phosphor then essentially they will change colors exactly like how LEDs will end up changing colors over time. LEDs also use a phosphor coating to change the light to different colors and that is what degrades over time.
They basically took a bunch of unused CRT technology adapted to another purpose. There is a lot of unused CRT capacity in the world because people wish for flat screens.
This fails on several counts:
They don't mention how they will make the directional CRT-like gun spray in a spherical array.
They don't mention efficiency - the most efficient technology will win, and LED is it.
i hated esl... they kept speaking to me in spanish... im from ukraine... those dumbasses
sorry guys, but this ESL is definitely all marketing and hype.
It is just another fluorescent technology (see the production line footage, that's phosphor coating) - which makes the physical properties of the light the same as White LED (phosphor powder) and CFL (tri-phosphor). I can't believe that are claiming that they have better color rendering (Ra Index) when it is fundamentally all the same. Yes, the physical design of the glass bulb creates a surface that is more efficient that your spiral shaped CFL, and yes, CFL has mercury problems and i don't use it.
However, there is another technology that offers the same benefits BUT with 60,000 hrs lifespan like LED promised (but failed to deliver) - inductive lighting or induction lamps. Yes, you may argue that there are EMI/EMC issues but they've already passed CIPRS15 tests and you will be seeing a lot of them this year - it is the champion over LED street lamps in over 20 states and installations are just happening. At the recent IES show at Philadelphia, a speaker showcased both LED and Induction with Induction the clear winner.
I like the idea of a round mini-CRT with selectable colors. Whatever happened to Field Emission Displays? Those might make good lighting too.
They'll take my incandescent bulbs away from me when they unscrew them from my cold, dead hands!
Thank you for your redneck perspective Karl. It has added so much to this discussion.
Friends, when the volunteer comes to your door seeking donations for the United Humor-Impared Foundation, please give generously, won't you? With your help we can beat this disease, and end senseless tragedies like the one you've just seen.
Thank you.
Pure Spectrum has now patented a CFL buld that is fully dimmable(no flicker or dying out), instant on, cold to the touch, highest power factor(.96), and the energy usage is proportional to the dimming level, the light output is that of an incadescent and the price will be in the $4-$6 range. This is the answer to the NEW CFL!
The have numerous patents and are manufacturing and filling orders now worldwide. Utility companies are buying them up in the droves for their free distribution program. The utility companies love them becasue it costs them less to deliver the power to these bulbs due to the extrememly High Power Factor. ...which means the utility companies charge you less!
The also have a dimmable balast for linear flouresecents(yes, you will be able to dim flourescents), also at a fraction of the cost of normal ballast due to the fewer parts that they use in the balast. This will be huge, imagine a high rise office building in which the flourescent lights dim with the amount of sunlight coming in,....daylight harvesting at a fraction of the cost...HUGE SAVINGS.
Hopefully the bulbs will be on Home Depot and Wal Mart shelves soon.
Seriously? No one noticed this wasn't a documentary but rather an investment pitch?
I've won enough "free prizes" to know when someone is building up to asking me for a distrubing amount of money when I see it.
Revolutionary concept indeed. It's a white CRT tube with a diffused electron gun. I wonder how hot that sucker gets (and if it breaks, just how wickedly high the voltage step up is....) At least the fabrication technique should be easy to figure out - they have only been making them for over a hundred years now.
I would be very interested to see the 4' flourescent tube replacements - ought to be interesting. Esp. if they deliver on the drop in replacement promise.
If you really want efficient white light, check out the emitters produced by Luxim:
http://www.luxim.com/
120 lumens/watt 92% efficient.
30,000 hours to 65% output.
Dimmable
28 volts and 8.9 amps. (DC)
Granted, they are not "instant on" (30 sec to full bright, with a 60 sec. restrike time), but as a source for fibre-optic lights (think yards) this rocks.