PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- With their inherent potential
to deliver instantaneous power, ultracapacitors provide a distinct advantage
over conventional batteries and are slowly penetrating various niche
applications that demand quick bursts of power. However, with their costs
estimated at three to five times that of batteries, their ability to compete
with the conventional batteries in terms of cost is likely to decide the pace
of adoption of this technology in the market.
Materials used in the ultracapacitor accounts for approximately 50 to 65
percent of the system's total cost. Among these materials, activated carbon
is one of the most expensive used. It attracts few suppliers because it is
not used by any other industry and is produced in small quantities.
However, in an attempt to make the ultracapacitor technology cost
competitive with respect to competing technologies, leading research
institutions and companies are working at producing alternate materials that
are less expensive and at the same time store more energy.
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The two main types of carbon being researched by ultracapacitor
manufacturers are the phenyl resin-based carbon and the pitch-based carbon.
While pitch-based carbon costs about one-fifth to one-tenth the cost of phenyl
resin carbon, it does not offer the flexibility to control its pore size,
resulting in 30 percent less capacitance when compared to the phenyl-based
carbon.
Also, despite their high power density, high cycle efficiency and long
cycle, ultracapacitors suffer from low energy densities compared to
rechargeable batteries. In addressing this concern, researchers and industry
participants are working on tailoring the porosity of carbon so as to achieve
a higher energy density.
"Researchers at the electrochemistry laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute,
Switzerland have carried out fundamental research on the capacitance limits of
activated carbon, degradation mechanisms, and lifetime aspects and have
reported that carbons with surface area greater than 1500 m2/g do not increase
capacitance," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Viswanathan Krishnan
Among the competing battery technologies, lead acid batteries and Li-ion
batteries are considered the most formidable threat to ultracapacitors. While
the price pressure currently applied by lead batteries on the development of
ultracapacitors is very high, ultracapacitors can be seen as having certain
advantages over alternate battery technologies and factors such as
performance, price and speed of implementation are likely to determine the
predominance of either technology.
"The ultracapacitors' competence to meet the power burst requirements of
applications such as regenerative braking and catalyst pre-heating has
motivated automobile manufacturers to pursue this technology," says Krishnan.
"In addition, apart from being considered for various applications such as
consumer electronics, computer electronics, industrial and power applications,
ultracapacitors also find use in renewable applications such as fuel cells
that demand power surges."
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Ultracapacitors - Global Trends and Developments (Technical Insights)
Contact
Trisha Bradley
Corporate Communications - North America
P: 210.247.3870
F: 210.348.1003
E: trisha.bradley@frost.com
Magdalena Oberland
Corporate Communications - Europe
P: +44 (0) 20 7915 7876
F: +44 (0) 20 7730 3343
E: magdalena.oberland@frost.com
Pramila Gurtoo
Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific
DID: (603) 6204 5811
Gen: (603) 6204 5800
Fax: (603) 6201 7402
E: pgurtoo@frost.com
http://www.frost.com
http://www.technicalinsights.frost.com
Keywords in this release: ultracapacitors, activated carbon, phenyl resin-
based carbon, pitch-based carbon, power density, cycle efficiency, energy
density, regenerative braking, catalyst pre-reheating, research, information,
market, trends
SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
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CONTACT:
Trisha Bradley, Corporate Communications -
North America, +1-210-247-3870, or fax, +1-210-348-1003, or
trisha.bradley@frost.com , or Magdalena Oberland, Corporate
Communications - Europe, +44-0-20-7915-7876, or fax,
+44-0-20-7730-3343, or magdalena.oberland@frost.com , or Pramila
Gurtoo, Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific, DID,
+603-6204-5811, or Gen, +603-6204-5800, or fax, +603-6201-7402,
or pgurtoo@frost.com , all of Frost & Sullivan
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