Advanced Supercapacitors: Present Status, Prospects for Higher Energy Density, and Vehicle and Stationary Applications (Electric Vehicles: Everything is Changing)

In this paper, the present status of advanced electrochemical supercapacitors will be reviewed based on testing of commercially available devices and proto-type devices being developed in various countries around the world. The devices tested included a carbon/carbon cell from Skeleton Technologies (Estonia), a hybrid carbon/metal oxide cell from Yunasko (Ukraine), and a lithium ion capacitor device from DAE (China). Additional data are taken from the literature for other advanced carbon/carbon and hybrid lithium Ion supercapacitors. When cycle life data are available, they are also presented. Calculations have been made for other supercapacitor chemistries including those using titanate oxide and graphite in the negative electrode and lead oxide and NiOOH in the positive. These calculations indicate that energy densities in the range 20-50 Wh/kg seem possible with power densities comparable to carbon/carbon devices. The applications considered will include hybrid passenger cars, trucks, and buses, renewable electric energy generation (solar and wind), and grid transmission quality/frequency regulation. For these applications, the advantages of higher energy density devices will be evident.

Dr. Burke holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Institute of Technology, a M.A. degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University.

 

Since 1974, his career work has involved many aspects of electric and hybrid vehicle design, analysis, and testing. Dr. Burke joined the Research Faculty of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis in July 1994. He has performed research on and taught graduate courses on advanced electric driveline technologies specializing on batteries, ultracapacitors, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicle design, control and simulation. Dr. Burke has authored over 120 reports and papers on electric and hybrid vehicles, batteries, and ultracapacitors.

UC Davis is one of the nation's top public research universities. As one of 10 campuses of the world's pre-eminent public university system, the University of California, we are located in the heart of the Central Valley, close to the state capital and San Francisco Bay Area. UC Davis lays claim to being one of the few remaining college towns where we cherish our close relationships on campus and within the Davis community.