Ultra-capacitor/li-ion battery "hybrids" being developed in China
When we're talking about the word "hybrid" in automotive circles, it doesn't always mean a gasoline engine with a powerful battery pack tied on. For Maxwell Technologies and Tianjin Lishen Battery, hybrid describes a new sort of energy storage product that combines ultracapacitors with lithium-ion batteries. The two companies recently announced they would partner up to produce this hybrid power source, and samples should be available early next year, possibly in EVs. The Maxwell press release doesn't give any details and simply says, that "The companies have identified a number of initial target applications for the new products, ranging from quick-charge cordless tools to electric vehicles."
David Schramm, Maxwell's president and chief executive officer, said this hybrid tech "will give end-users the best of both worlds in terms of the long cycle life, rapid charge/discharge characteristics and low temperature performance of ultracapacitors and the large energy storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries." Let's hope so.
[Source: Maxwell via The Energy Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eve 5:02PM (7/05/2008)
Li-ion is still inefficient in providing bursts of power required in accelerating the vehicle. Actually, AFS Trinity Power Corp. has re-engineered a Saturn Vue Green Line as a plug-in hybrid that uses Li-ion batteries and ultracapacitors. No known battery can function without the help of capacitors in a HEV as up to date.
For Steven and Dave, there's no need to be so sarcastic and prejudiced toward something just because it is nothing like the world you've been raised up and that it is not perfect.
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prithwi nileshwar 6:27AM (5/03/2009)
why cant u combine a lead acid battery with ultra capacitor..?
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steven 12:03PM (11/26/2007)
You made that car RED to be funny, right? I'm still waiting for my son's Thomas the Train Caboose Recall to be processed.
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Dave 1:45PM (11/26/2007)
Communist countries often restrict travel.
A perfect fit for EVs.
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Manu Sharma 8:08AM (11/28/2007)
It doesn't make much sense to me. Li-ion already is a high performance energy storage technology with high charge and discharge rates.
It makes much more sense to pair ultracaps with lead-acid batteries which do not have these advantages. One company has already done that...
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Smarter_Energy_Storage_For_Solar_And_Wind_Power_999.html
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