Ultracapacitors, the new thinking in the automotive world

Automotive manufacturers, facing the continuous increase in worldwide gasoline prices and ongoing public and governmental pressure for a more environmentally friendly and fuel efficient means of transportation, are developing product lines that incorporate true alternatives to fossil fuel driven vehicles. Ultracapacitors that offer a long cycle life, extreme temperature survivability, and a power rich design necessary for peak load performance, are proving to be effective electric energy storage components for hybrid electric vehicles. They come in different form factors as single cells and modules rated at higher voltages to fulfill the requirements in applications where high power bursts and high charge/discharge efficiency are required. Several automotive firms have announced programs for using ultracapacitors in vehicle powertrains, due to their advantages and availability to meet their business and technical requirements.