Supercapacitor enables longer battery life, smaller batteries

CAP-XX Ltd. has developed a supercapacitor module, which supplies the cranking current to start the engine in Stop-Start vehicles (also known as start-stop, idle-stop, or micro-hybrid vehicles), reducing wear on the battery and eliminating the need for larger, more expensive ones.

Stop-Start technology, which turns the engine off when stopped in traffic and restarts it when the driver releases the brake or engages the gears, is gaining momentum worldwide as a means to save fuel and reduce emissions. The downside is the increased number of starts over a Stop-Start vehicle's life -- potentially more than 100 per day -- which means a standard car battery may last less than 18 months.

CAP-XX's prototype Stop-Start supercapacitor module supports the battery by supplying the peak current (up to 300A) needed for each engine start. Containing six of the company's thin supercapacitors, the module is about the size of six DVD cases so it integrates easily into a vehicle's floorpan, engine bay, or other tight spots.

CAP-XX's prototype Stop-Start supercapacitor module delivers 150F at 14V, and an ESR of just 4.5 milliohms. It offers the energy necessary to support frequent start cycles in all weather and traffic conditions. It includes the control electronics to manage Stop-Start functions, balance the voltage across each supercapacitor cell, and limit the battery current during each restart.

With the supercapacitor module installed, the vehicle battery only needs to support continuous power functions such as air conditioning, navigation and lights, enabling longer battery life or smaller batteries. The battery also charges the supercapacitors for their first start, but once driving, the alternator keeps them charged. Additionally, the supercapacitor module will start the engine in low temperatures (cold cranking) where a battery would falter, and can store energy in vehicles with regenerative braking systems (also known as Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems or KERS).

For Stop-Start test results: Click here.

For a video showing a similar module starting a car (cold cranking): Click here.