Powering up

The march of the ultracapacitor is accelerating. The energy storage system that can release rapid bursts of power looks set to find a place in more new vehicles.

Leading ultracapacitor (UC) manufacturer

of Rossens, Switzerland, has teamed up with wire harness and component maker

of Abensberg, Germany to develop a high-efficiency, low-cost starter system for cars.

Ultracapacitors are already used in the Toyota Prius to store electricity from regenerative braking before releasing it to boost acceleration. Other manufacturers are investigating their potential to help meet ever-stricter emissions laws, improve fuel economy and deliver enough electricity to power everything from in-car entertainment systems to satnav and aircon.

Demonstrable benefits

The benefits of ultracapacitors have already been shown on demonstrators from major marques. Honda's FCX has them to supplement the hydrogen fuel cell stack. BMW's X3 Concept Hybrid SUV uses them with the six cylinder direct injection engine to improve acceleration. Their small size allowed BMW to tuck the UCs neatly away under the door sills.