Ultracapaci- What?!
Last Tuesday, Mark Vaughn of AutoWeek gave an advice on how motorists can improve their EPA mileage.
At the start of his story, he expressed his disappointment on how people tend to disregard a solution if it is easy and simple. He mentioned the reaction he got with a previous suggestion he had to double a vehicle’s mileage just by putting another person inside the car. I agree with him that indeed, many people would prefer an “immediate, transparent solution that is thought up and implemented by someone else”, at no cost to them. People are always hasty to point their fingers to other people asking for solutions to the problems that ail them.
This week, Mark gave another suggestion that proves to be more substantial, complex and noteworthy. Though it has nothing to do with yogurt farms, bicycles or raising goats, the solution he came up with is pretty interesting.
What was his suggestion? His solution was to use ultracapacitors in cars to derive energy from regenerative braking. These will in turn power a motor that will power the non-driven wheels of a car. He compared this to having some friends give your car a push every time you leave a traffic light. 
Looking at ultracapacitors, I have found that a lot of research has been going into this technology. Last January, a secretive Texas startup called EEstor, came up with a breakthrough ultracapacitor that they claim can replace all electrochemical batteries used in hybrid and electric cars. They claim that this technology can quickly outperform the best lithium ion batteries in use today.
Ultracapacitors are more like Science fiction devices than normal auto parts or car parts. These work by storing energy in an electrical field between two closely spaced conductors, or plates. An electric charge builds up on each plate when voltage is then applied to it.
The amazing thing about ultracapacitors is that they can completely absorb and release charges at mind blowing rates and in a virtually endless cycle with little degradation. Because they are not as effective at energy storage, ultracapacitors can act more effectively as a complement to batteries than as a replacement.
The suggestion by Mark has already produced significant results as done by Maxwell technologies. In ending his story, he stated how an ultracap complement can save thousands of dollars to motorists.
Taking this suggestion further EEstor has just mad a partnership with ZENN motors for their small and medium sized vehicles. They are hoping that with their revolutionary Barium-Titanate ultracap, they can make a vehicle run 500 miles with just $9 worth of electricity versus about $60 worth of gasoline.
Hopefully, this technology proves to be effective. Though conflicting views and comments have been given on the subject, this is definitely one innovation that can change the way we power our cars in the future.
