Capacitors beginning to replace starting batteries....

[Yo Hoot]

Maxwell Technologies Introduces Ultracapacitor-Based Engine Start Module for Commercial Trucks and Other Heavy Vehicles - MarketWatch



‪Maxwell Technologies Engine Start Module‬‏ - YouTube

 

[Mhannink]

looks interesting

 

[Road Dog]

Ultracaps have been around a long time. They tend to self-discharge at a high rate (compared to rechargeable batteries) so they're only good for short term (minutes) storage like for regenerative braking.

 

[PWirth]

Before you get too excited about them, check out this link to Mouser to look at the cost:

Mouser Electronics Maxwell BMOD0500



$1110 is way too high to be realistic yet. I think that the idea is great, we could replace one of the two batteries and get great starting performance down to -40C (which is also -40F). They are not good enough yet to go without the battery at all. And they need to cost closer to $250 before they will penetrate the market very deeply.

 

[fox]

Capacitor technology needs to improve, and it will with sales. Caps are the answer to electric cars! They can store much higher voltages than batteries. Time of storage, or leakage is the issue that has to be improved on.