Rossi Provides New E-Cat Details

The interview Andrea Rossi gave to James Martinez of Cash Flow seems to have captured the the interest of many people following the E-Cat story, prompting a number of follow-up questions on Rossi’s own Journal of Nuclear Physics web site. Rossi has been quite willing to answer the questions, and in doing so gives some clarification about the E-Cat unit he plans to launch later this year and his business plan. Here are a few details.

Size

The E-Cat is small enough so that even three units stacked together would be smaller than a conventional 25 kW gas or electric heater. The E-Cat units will need to be connected to electricity and water supplies.

Cooling

Rossi has said that the early E-Cats will provide heat and cooling. Rossi now explains that the cooling will be provided through the use of a steam-driven heat pump.

Distribution

Rossi’s mention of being in talks with Home Depot as a distributor of E-Cat units caught a lot of attention. On the JONP he made a clarification saying, “We are in contact with Home Depot for the distribution of the E-Cat, but until the certification procedures are not completed the deal can’t be struck. This is a work in progress, not a work done.”

Installation and Servicing

It now turns out that Leonardo Corporation plans to use local HVAC contractors to serve has his installation, servicing and recharging team. When a person orders an E-Cat unit, Leonardo will ask the customer for the name of a local contractor and contact them providing instructions on how to install. These same contractors will also serve as recharging agents who will change out the E-Cat reactor cores every six months. Rossi states, “we will give preference to the assistance made directly by the already trusted installer or contractor of the Customer, so that he also will become a point of force for us.” Obviously, the contractors will have to enter into some kind of non-disclosure and security agreement with Leonardo.

National Instruments

It’s clear now that National Instruments are playing a very important role in the development of the E-Cat. Rossi says that the 1 MW plant that was sold to the first customer is being refitted with new control instruments, and the same controllers will be used in the small E-Cats that are now the focus of Leonardo’s production plans.

Not surprisingly, there are many who think that Rossi’s goals are extremely ambitious and unrealistic — and of course we have no way of knowing at this point whether the grand plan can be realized. But Rossi has showed himself to be a man of an iron will with a great capacity to work, and he seems satisfied that the partnerships he has made to this point will enable him to realize his goals. Once again we are waiting until the Autumn to see if Andrea Rossi can deliver on his projections.