Ultracapacitors...?

[Bigmack]

I was going thru some of my old files, and ran into a piece I'd saved on ultracapacitors, and how they will replace batteries and improve performance in electric vehicles.

Heard nothing about it since.

There was a post on DU in April, but nothing specific.

Is this another "cold fusion"?

Anybody....?

[tridim]

1. I would guess the danger of electrocution could be a problem.

[ingac70]

2. ....

http://www.maxwell.com/ultracapacitors/index.asp

[im1013]

3. Reeeaaaallllly?????

I haven't seen that, but I'd love to if you're willing to share.
I was just thinking randomly this afternoon (I do that often) about so many other
ways to generate electricity in a moving piece of metal.....you know?
Wheels turn around and around.....
Wind power....
Static electricity.....
Also, I seem to remember from somewhere in electronic theory class, something about generating
a dc current on the surface of metal by wind resistance.
Anyway, if you have any info on these ultracapacitors, I'd love to check it out....sounds promising.

[DCKit]

4. Ultra Caps don't generate energy, they store it.

You have to charge them from an outside source.

There exists ongoing interest in using them to replace batteries in electric vehicles completely, to augment batteries and for efficient regenerative braking.

But the prices are still prohibitive.

Stumbled upon this. Should keep you busy and interested for a few hours (or days):

http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Wind#Oscillating_Wing

[GoesTo11]

6. They're pretty far from becoming practical

Look for lithium ion batteries for the near to midterm.

[im1013]

7. Right

that's why I was interested. Generating current from this type of source
is EXTREMELY erratic, to say the least. The size of the caps needed to smooth it out
is ridiculous! I will definitely check this out, using them for batteries will seriously
change the vehicle size and weight requirements....Thanks!!!

[bananas]

5. They are being used with batteries

http://www.theenergycollective.com/TheEnergyCollective/15817
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/01/22/plug_in_hybrids/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=85630

[DCKit]

8. Thank you for those links...

about the (currently) practical uses of UltraCaps.

Note how they're being used with Li-ion batteries (which already accept charge far faster/better than lead-acid) for regen braking. For city driving, Li-BatCaps could increase range dramatically.

[tinrobot]

9. EEStor

They have a deal with ZENN in Canada to supply ultracapacitors to power electric cars and with Lockheed for military stuff. Not much has been shown, though it appears promising.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EEstor

[skids]

10. EEstor has yet to be seen, but there are ultracaps on the market...

http://www.maxwell.com/ultracapacitors/products/modules/bmod0063-125v.asp

They are making headway just perhaps not as fast as was initially expected.