Third Generation Ultracapacitors Are Designed to Meet Automotive Reliability Standards
SAN DIEGO—Maxwell Technologies, Inc. a major developer and manufacturer of energy storage and power delivery components, recently introduced its new K2 Series large cell BOOSTCAP® ultracapacitors. About the size of a soda can, the K2 series BOOSTCAP cells operate at 2.7 volts and incorporate design and construction enhancements that are said to ensure high performance, durability, and long operating lifetime.
Primary applications for Maxwell’s K2 series products, which range from 650 to 3,000 farads, include automotive subsystems, hybrid and electric vehicle drive trains, renewable energy systems, back-up power, grid stabilization, electric rail system power, and many other transportation and industrial applications that require burst power and heavy cycling that cannot be efficiently provided by a battery or power supply alone. The company is currently shipping K2 cells in production volumes and multi-cell modules ranging from 16- to 125-volts.
The K2 cell design features a rugged welded electrical pathway with increased contact and higher surface area. The K2 replaces Maxwell’s previous MC series cell, which the company called “the most widely sold large cell ultracapacitor in the world with more than 1 million cells currently in service.”
“Rapidly increasing demand for large cell products provided the impetus for development of an enhanced cell platform that meets the most demanding electrical and environment requirements for a variety of applications and is well-suited for high-volume production,” said David Schramm, Maxwell’s president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “The K2 cell offers greatly enhanced mechanical robustness and low resistance for longer cell life and increased electrical performance.”
The K2 series ultracapacitor cells, which utilize proprietary material science and packaging technology, are said to offer ultra-low internal resistance, superior performance at extreme temperatures, and a lifetime of more than one million charge and discharge cycles.
Maxwell (www.maxwell.com) manufactures and markets additional BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor products ranging from 10 to 350 farads, as well as multi-cell modules based on those products, for wind turbines, smart utility meters, and a variety of other industrial, telecommunications, and information technology applications. The company also manufactures CONDIS® high-voltage grading and coupling capacitors.
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