Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Power Inductors Future: Minimal Losses and Compact Designs

    Bourns Unveils Automotive 3 Watt Gate Driver Transformer

    Murata Opens EMC Test Lab in Nuremberg to Enhance Automotive Support

    Percolation Phenomenon: Degradation of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC Converters

    Molex Acquires Smiths Interconnect

    Murata Integrates Component Models into Cadence EDA Tools

    Wk 42 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    Stackpole Introduces Automotive Thick Film Wide Termination Chip Resistors

    September 2025 ECIA US Components Sales Sentiment Continues in Optimism

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Power Inductors Future: Minimal Losses and Compact Designs

    Percolation Phenomenon: Degradation of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC Converters

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Efficient Power Converters: Duty Cycle vs Conduction Losses

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • PCNS
    • PCNS 2025
    • PCNS 2023
    • PCNS 2021
    • PCNS 2019
    • PCNS 2017
  • Events
  • Home
  • NewsFilter
    • All
    • Aerospace & Defence
    • Antenna
    • Applications
    • Automotive
    • Capacitors
    • Circuit Protection Devices
    • electro-mechanical news
    • Filters
    • Fuses
    • Inductors
    • Industrial
    • Integrated Passives
    • inter-connect news
    • Market & Supply Chain
    • Market Insights
    • Medical
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • New Materials & Supply
    • New Technologies
    • Non-linear Passives
    • Oscillators
    • Passive Sensors News
    • Resistors
    • RF & Microwave
    • Telecommunication
    • Weekly Digest

    Power Inductors Future: Minimal Losses and Compact Designs

    Bourns Unveils Automotive 3 Watt Gate Driver Transformer

    Murata Opens EMC Test Lab in Nuremberg to Enhance Automotive Support

    Percolation Phenomenon: Degradation of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC Converters

    Molex Acquires Smiths Interconnect

    Murata Integrates Component Models into Cadence EDA Tools

    Wk 42 Electronics Supply Chain Digest

    Stackpole Introduces Automotive Thick Film Wide Termination Chip Resistors

    September 2025 ECIA US Components Sales Sentiment Continues in Optimism

    Trending Tags

    • Ripple Current
    • RF
    • Leakage Current
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
    • Snubber
    • Low ESR
    • Feedthrough
    • Derating
    • Dielectric Constant
    • New Products
    • Market Reports
  • VideoFilter
    • All
    • Antenna videos
    • Capacitor videos
    • Circuit Protection Video
    • Filter videos
    • Fuse videos
    • Inductor videos
    • Inter-Connect Video
    • Non-linear passives videos
    • Oscillator videos
    • Passive sensors videos
    • Resistor videos

    Power Inductors Future: Minimal Losses and Compact Designs

    Percolation Phenomenon: Degradation of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC Converters

    Connector PCB Design Challenges

    Efficient Power Converters: Duty Cycle vs Conduction Losses

    Ripple Steering in Coupled Inductors: SEPIC Case

    SEPIC Converter with Coupled and Uncoupled Inductors

    Coupled Inductors in SEPIC versus Flyback Converters

    Non-Linear MLCC Class II Capacitor Measurements Challenges

    Percolation Phenomenon and Reliability of Molded Power Inductors in DC/DC converters

    Trending Tags

    • Capacitors explained
    • Inductors explained
    • Resistors explained
    • Filters explained
    • Application Video Guidelines
    • EMC
    • New Products
    • Ripple Current
    • Simulation
    • Tantalum vs Ceramic
  • Knowledge Blog
  • Suppliers
    • Who is Who
  • PCNS
    • PCNS 2025
    • PCNS 2023
    • PCNS 2021
    • PCNS 2019
    • PCNS 2017
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Passive Components Blog
No Result
View All Result

The Role of Ultracapacitors in Automotive Technologies

12.5.2017
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

source: Electronics 360 article
Shawn Martin, 10 May 2017. An ultracapacitor complements a primary energy source by supplementing power during periods of peak demand. They are able to quickly release or accept charge at a moment’s notice, and what an ultracapacitor lacks in storage capacity is overcompensated for by efficiency and life expectancy. They are able to quickly absorb energy, produce peak loads on demand and withstand repeated charge cycles without degradation. Essentially, they are a power storage device with an extended life expectancy.

In the automotive market, they have been integrated into conventional, electric (EV) and hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV) to help alleviate stress and extend the life of their batteries. They do so by adsorbing energy from an alternator or regenerative braking system and in turn supplying power during start up or propulsion. They are predominantly deployed in regenerative braking systems, start-stop systems and act as a short-term back-up power source during periods of high demand.

RelatedPosts

Power Inductors Future: Minimal Losses and Compact Designs

Bourns Unveils Automotive 3 Watt Gate Driver Transformer

Murata Opens EMC Test Lab in Nuremberg to Enhance Automotive Support

Start-stop Systems

A start-stop system reduces fuel consumption and emissions by shutting down and restarting the engine in stop and go traffic. The shift from battery based to ultracapacitor based start-stop systems was due to its enhanced performance and extended life expectancy and first appeared in the 2010 PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Ultracapacitor based start-stop systems are now a standard feature in the 2017 European car of the year (COTY), the Peugeot 3008. The technology also made its debut in the North American auto market last year when General Motors introduced the 2016 Cadillac ATS and CTS sedans and ATS coupes with Continental ultracapacitor-based voltage stabilization system (VSS).

The Continental ultracapacitor-based VSS is able to start an engine twice as fast as conventional systems within 400 milliseconds. It also significantly extends battery life and offers an improved driving experience as the expedited start-up minimizes vibrations offering seemingly continuous operation.

There are now over two million vehicles on the road featuring Continental Automotive Systems’ VSS powered by Maxwell Technologies ultracapacitors. They supply the needed power to start an engine as well as help stabilize the vehicle’s electrical system during periods of high demand. Continental Automotive Systems’ VSS technology has become the Cadillac of start-stop systems, no pun intended.

Regenerative Braking System

Regenerative braking systems, also referred to as kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS), are supplemental to friction brakes and absorb kinetic energy through electromagnetic induction. The retardant force is able to slow a vehicle and store the energy either in a flywheel, battery or bank of capacitors. They must be used along with friction banks to completely stop a vehicle, but they increase efficiency and reduce the amount of heat produced from friction brakes greatly extending their life expectancy.

Energy transfer during braking and acceleration exists over short periods of time. To efficiently capture, store and release an electrical load over these short periods, a device needs to respond quickly, making the ultracapacitor-based systems an ideal candidate to help optimize efficiency and maximize performance.

The power density and charge efficiency in an ultracapacitor is unparalleled and less affected by temperature extremes. Ultracapacitors like Kemet’s 1F FT0H105ZF and Maxwell Technologies’ 5F BCAP0005 exhibit high power density and an extended temperature range of -40° C to +85° C, which is needed to excel in these applications.

Toyota’s hybrid race car, the Supra HV-R, won the Tokachi 24-Hour Race in 2007 by a commanding lead of 19 laps. The results illustrated the enhanced performance of ultracapacitor-based KERS as Toyota used the technology to engineer a vehicle that was lighter and more efficient than its competition.

Conclusion

Use of ultracapacitors to augment the load on a battery enables car manufacturers to improve fuel efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, extend battery life and reduce weight. The technology penetrates all types of vehicles from high-efficiency conventional, EV and HEV non-commercial vehicles to public transit and even high performance sport vehicles.

Demands for dramatic improvements in CO2 emissions to satisfy stricter emissions standards are ever increasing and to meet these demands car manufacturers migrate toward technologies that increase fuel efficiency. Ultracapacitors have already played a large role in meeting these needs in the European auto market and their proven performance suggests greater market penetration in the years to come.

Featured Image credit: Continental Corporation

Related

Recent Posts

Bourns Unveils Automotive 3 Watt Gate Driver Transformer

22.10.2025
3

Murata Opens EMC Test Lab in Nuremberg to Enhance Automotive Support

22.10.2025
6

Murata Integrates Component Models into Cadence EDA Tools

21.10.2025
24

Stackpole Introduces Automotive Thick Film Wide Termination Chip Resistors

20.10.2025
6

Bourns Release Automotive 4-Terminal Shunt Resistors

17.10.2025
18

Vishay Releases Automotive TO-220 Case 50W Thick Film Power Resistor

16.10.2025
13

High Energy Density Polymer Film Capacitors via Molecular and Interfacial Design

15.10.2025
25

KYOCERA AVX Expands Stacked MLCC Capacitors Offering

14.10.2025
41

YAGEO Unveils Compact 3.6kW LLC Transformer for OBC EV Charging

13.10.2025
139

KYOCERA Releases Shielded Board-to-Board Connectors for Reliable EMI Protection

13.10.2025
25

Upcoming Events

Oct 20
October 20 - October 23

Digital WE Days 2025 – Virtual Conference

Oct 21
October 21 @ 12:00 - October 23 @ 14:15 EDT

Space and Military Standards for Hybrids and RF Microwave Modules

Oct 28
8:00 - 15:00 CET

Power Up Your Design: SN6507 and the Ready-to-Use Development Kit

View Calendar

Popular Posts

  • Buck Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boost Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • LLC Resonant Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flyback Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ripple Current and its Effects on the Performance of Capacitors

    3 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 0
  • What is a Dielectric Constant and DF of Plastic Materials?

    4 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 0
  • SEPIC Converter Design and Calculation

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Dual Active Bridge (DAB) Topology

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MLCC and Ceramic Capacitors

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Flying Capacitors

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter Subscription

 

Passive Components Blog

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • EPCI Membership & Advertisement
  • About

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Knowledge Blog
  • PCNS

© EPCI - Leading Passive Components Educational and Information Site

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version