Hi guys!
What an interesting wiki page! I was researching MEMS tech on a completely unrelated project and sure enough one of the primary applications of electrostatic motors is in MEMS.
So 'electrostatic motors' are the
dual of magnet based motors. They rely on high voltages at low currents as opposed to the other way round in the electric motor.
What I found particularly interesting is this quote:
Also, the molecular machinery which runs living cells is often based on linear and rotary electrostatic motors.
So these things have real application in biomimetic nanotechnology as they are easy to manufacture relatively speaking (which is why nature uses it).
In essence our cell machinery (and therefore us) is powered by MEMS technology! Fascinating!
Coming back to the video in the OP... I suppose the only issue I have with it be an electrostatic motor in the conventional sense is the electrical layout or topology.
I've tried to draw just the wiring in the image attached so there is no structure, just the electrified bits. As you can see, the electrostatic motor to the right has a 'static part that is electrified and then the rotating part, while the setup in the video has no 'static' part to leverage against.
Which brings us to the thought that it is, as CWatters said, a 'lifter' variant. The issue here is the fact that the 'lifter' is encased in resin which should stop any ion displacement.
It is also, correct me if I am wrong, going in the opposite direction to what a lifter should...