Stan Ovshisky, has passed away.

October 18, 2012 11:37 AM

The inventor of NiMH batteries, hydrogen fuel cells and thin film photovoltaics, Stan Ovshinsky was an inventor with a purpose. He made it his mission to change the way we use energy one invention at a time, but all with the ultimate goal of removing the need for carbon based fuels for transportation. A fixture in Michigan for decades, he was the quintessential innovator. Almost single-handedly he changed the course of discussion about the future of cars. Previously.
posted by BillW (13 comments total)

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posted by radwolf76 at 11:52 AM on October 18, 2012

Stan and his wife also appeared in Who Killed the Electric Car? and they were adorable.

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posted by mullingitover at 11:52 AM on October 18, 2012

This post is all the more poignant given the two posts that frame it.
posted by CynicalKnight at 12:08 PM on October 18, 2012

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posted by mkb at 1:02 PM on October 18, 2012

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posted by scruss at 1:04 PM on October 18, 2012

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posted by Cash4Lead at 1:31 PM on October 18, 2012

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posted by limeonaire at 1:36 PM on October 18, 2012

I was moved by Metafilter's own Joi Ito's tweet: "A very sad day for me. I lost my mentor today - Inventor, solar innovator Stanford R. Ovshinsky dies at 89".
posted by Nelson at 1:45 PM on October 18, 2012

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and I drive one of the fruits of his efforts.
God Speed, old boy.
posted by twidget at 1:47 PM on October 18, 2012

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posted by smoke at 2:49 PM on October 18, 2012

What is the secret of NiMH batteries? That they were designed by hyperintelligent rats?
posted by JHarris at 3:08 PM on October 18, 2012 [2 favorites]

He's a hero. I wish he could have lived to see the culmination of his life and research.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 4:26 PM on October 18, 2012

I suppose that he changed "the course of discussion" but he didn't change the course of the actual technology. But we can give him points for a good try.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:47 PM on October 18, 2012