GM looking into supercaps with li-ion batteries for next-gen E-Flex
Like Indiana Jones and some sort of Ark or Tomb or Crystal Skull, today's automotive engineers are always looking for better ways to capture, store and release electrical energy for future hybrids and EVs. Green Car Congress says that GM is "actively exploring" at combining supercapacitors with li-ion batteries for the next generation of E-Flex vehicles (read: don't expect in the 2010 Volt). Speaking at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) this week in Tampa, Forida, GM's Mark Verbrugge - the materials and processes lab director - said that a supercap/li-ion combo might help not only with capturing excess power but also with the trouble li-ion batteries have in cold weather. What the battery gives up in power density might be made up for in a lower operating temperature. GCC quotes Verbrugge saying:We're running the Volt power versus time profile through this combination with and without the supercaps. We wanted to show it [the early work], perhaps it will be compelling to those who want to provide ESS [energy storage system] to the automotive industry.
Compelling? Yes.
[Source: Green Car Congress, h/t to Paul]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rei 10:32PM (5/17/2008)
You mean, like the Aptera already does?
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Tim 8:55AM (5/18/2008)
AFS Trinity is working to sell their tech to GM. Their extreme hybrid concept uses ultracaps to buffer energy flow which allows for a less expensive battery pack to be used. Here’s a 3-D animation video of exactly how the system works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk7xbcnzxks
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