The Economist on Ultracaps and Tribrids
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 3.08
The Economist does a good summary of ultracapacitors, saying "A new version of an old idea is threatening the battery industry." It first covers the XH-150 "Tribrid" covered in TreeHugger here, and then continues:
Eventually, the so-called ultracapacitors on which the XH-150 is based may supplant rather than merely supplement a car's batteries. And if that happens, a lot of other batteries may be for the chop, too. For it is possible that the long and expensive search for a better battery to power the brave, new, emission-free electrical world has been following the wrong trail."
They then provide a technical explanation of the difference between batteries and capacitors, noting that:
The whole process of ion movement and chemical reaction [in batteries] is slower than the movement of electrons in a capacitor. Hence the different advantages of the two storage systems: capacitors give speed; batteries, endurance.
They then give a tip of the hat to our old friends at EEStor, "a Texan firm that has developed a capacitor it claims can store “very high” levels of energy using a special insulator called barium titanate rather than an electrolyte. Its “Electrical Energy Storage Units” will go into production later this year."
Or so they say. ::Economist
Read also:
EEStor Capacitors- "This could change everything" :
EEStor Ultra Capacitors: The Science Explained
it all boils down to: how much more capacity does these new capacitors hold versus other capacitors? 10%? 30% Even 100% won't do much difference. And, at what cost?
What is needed is 1000% - or 10 times - the current capacity - at max double the current price (80% cheaper per joule stored). I don't think that is happening anytime soon.
"...I don't think that is happening anytime soon...."
actually it has already happened:
http://www.estarfuturecorp.com/infinity01slt1.html
@Rob the solar tile salesperson
NessCap makes an excellent product, yet your response is misleading. Solar tiles are a bit different than traction applications.
Price isn't nearly as important as energy density. Why do I say price isn't a factor? Because capacitors can be cycled 100,000+ times, which means that they have extremely long lives.
For example:
-Assume an EESU with a range of 100 miles
-Assume a 100,000 cycle life span
-Total life (in miles)= 10,000,000 miles, or longer than the life of the vehicle (or people for that matter)
Corporations could build such devices and "rent" them out to the consumer.
I noticed the website www.ultracapacitors.org.. does anyone know the exact pros and cons of ultracapacitors and batteries? I would love to see a spreadsheet or graph describing the differences.
thanks. JJ